Dear Parents,
Happy Lunar New Year from all of us at TWC!
For the festive month of February, we have selected quite a few books for younger readers to keep them engaged during and between all the house visiting. Featuring the legendary Nian Monster, the Chinese zodiac animal of 2019 (and his other 11 friends!) and fables that are easily understood, these reads should keep the young ones entertained. For older readers, we have books that set them thinking about what it means to love your family, especially in this time of reunion and gathering. We hope that you and your child(ren) will find these reads enjoyable and meaningful.
'The Empty Pot' by Charlotte Guillain
Age Group [6-8+]
"This illustrated book tells the story of the Empty Pot, a traditional Chinese folk tale. In it, the hero of the story learns that it is better to be honest than to cheat, and that honesty will bring real rewards."
- Book Depository
'The Pandas and Their Chopsticks: and Other Animal Stories' by Demi
Age Group [4-8+]
"Eating bamboo shoots with chopsticks three feet long? Impossible, you say. Not if you are a playful panda and learn to share and work together with your friends! In her beautifully illustrated book, award-winning author, Demi, presents ten classic animal stories, each containing important moral lessons for little hearts and minds to absorb. Cunning kitties, helpful hummingbirds, talkative turtles and hasty hedgehogs, all bring these meaningful fables to life. Through her magical illustrations and whimsical storytelling, Demi teaches the importance of being humble, the dangers of being too proud, the importance of generosity and sharing, and how everyone, no matter how small, has a part to play in life."
- Book Depository
'The Nian Monster' by Andrea Wang
Age Group [4-8+]
"Tong tong! The legendary Nian Monster has returned at Chinese New Year. With horns, scales and wide, wicked jaws, Nian is intent on devouring Shanghai, starting with Xingling! The old tricks to keep him away don't work on Nian anymore, but Xingling is clever. Will her quick thinking be enough to save the city from the Nian Monster?"
- Book Depository
'Ruby's Chinese New Year' by (Author) Vickie Y. Lee , Illustrated by Joey Chou
Age Group [4-8+]
"Ruby has a special card to give to her grandmother for Chinese New Year. But who will help her get to grandmother's house to deliver it? Will it be clever Rat, strong Ox, or cautious Rabbit? Ruby meets each of the twelve zodiac animals on her journey. This picture book includes back matter with a focus on the animals of the Chinese zodiac."
- Book Depository
'Charlotte's Web' by E. B. White
Age Group [8-10+]
"Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spider web tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter.
E. B. White's Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, love, life and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. It contains illustrations by Garth Williams, the acclaimed illustrator of E. B. White's Stuart Little and Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series, among many other books." - Book Depository
'The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City' by Jodi Kendall
Age Group [8-12+]
"This delightful middle-grade novel is a modern-day homage to Charlotte's Web, perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Cammie McGovern.
A little pig in a big city leads to lots of trouble!
Josie Shilling's family is too big, their cramped city house is too small, and she feels like no one's ever on her side. Then, on Thanksgiving Day, her older brother, Tom, brings home a pink, squirmy bundle wrapped in an old football jersey – a piglet he rescued from a nearby farm. Her name is Hamlet.
The minute Josie holds Hamlet, she feels an instant connection. But there's no room for Hamlet in the crowded Shilling household. And whoever heard of keeping a pig in the city? So it's up to Josie to find her a forever home.
The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City is a heartwarming tale of family, belonging and growing bigger when you've always felt small."
- Book Depository
'Where the Mountain Meets the Moon' by Grace Lin
Age Group [9-12+]
"Newbery Honor Winner
In the Valley of Fruitless Mountain, a young girl named Minli spends her days working hard in the fields and her nights listening to her father spin fantastic tales about the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon. Minli's mother, tired of their poor life, chides him for filling her head with nonsense. But Minli believes these enchanting stories and embarks on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man of the Moon and ask him how her family can change their fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest.
Grace Lin, author of the beloved Year of the Dog and Year of the Rat, returns with a wondrous story of happiness, family, and friendship. A fantasy crossed with Chinese folklore, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a timeless adventure story in the classic tradition of The Wizard of Oz."
- Book Depository
'Little Ironies: Stories of Singapore' by Catherine Lim Age Group [13-16+] "One of the earliest collections of short stories by a local author, Little Ironies was instantly lauded for its keenly observed portraits of ordinary Singaporeans who, in their pragmatic zeal and quest for material success, lose sight of the very things that matter, such as love and forgiveness." - https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/tomes-that-show-us-how-we-live