Happy New Year again everyone, because today is Chinese New Year and the first day of The Year Of The Horse! The Year Of The Horse is said to bring health, prosperity and good luck and I wish that for all of you!
In celebration of Chinese New Year, I have the perfect picture book, hot off the presses from Natasha Yim. She will be doing an interview here soon, which may supply even more resources for this book, so keep an eye out for that. Meanwhile, here’s the book (which is also perfect in view of Multicultural Children’s Book Day which was Monday :)):
Title: Goldy Luck And The Three Pandas
Written By: Natasha Yim
Illustrated By: Grce Zong
Charlesbridge, January 2014, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: retelling of classic tale, holidays (Chinese New Year), taking responsibility
Opening: “When Goldy Luck was born her mother said, “Year of the Golden Dragon – very lucky year. This child will have good luck.”
“She has a face as round as a gold coin,” said her father. “This child will bring great wealth.”
But Goldy had neither great wealth or good luck. In fact, she could never seem to keep money in her piggy bank, and she had a habit of breaking things.”
Brief Synopsis: Goldy Luck is sent to deliver turnip cakes to the Chan family for Chinese New Year in spite of the fact that she’s sleepy and hasn’t had breakfast yet. When she arrives, the Chans are not home, so she samples their congee, tries out their chairs, and naps in Little Chan’s bed, leaving chaos in her wake.
Links To Resources: the back of the book includes an author’s note about traditions of Chinese New Year, a diagram and explanation of the Chinese zodiac, and a recipe for turnip cakes.
Why I Like This Book: I love retellings of classic tales, and this is a fun one. It takes Goldilocks and the Three Bears to China to celebrate Chinese New Year 🙂 Although the story follows the basic format of the original, it departs after the Chans (panda bears in this version :)) come home. Goldy initially runs away (as she does in the original story) but her conscience gets the better of her and she decides to take responsibility for her actions and returns to the Chans’s home to help tidy up. The ending makes for a big improvement over the original 🙂 And I love that so much back matter is included, making it so easy to expand on the use of the book. The art is bright and engaging, ending with a sweet picture of Goldy and Little Chan sharing turnip cake, the rug underneath them a depiction of the Chinese zodiac 🙂
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
Before we all take our leave for the weekend, let me take a moment to remind you of the ongoing high jinx and shenanigans around here: Phyllis’s Fun Fashion Show! There are already a number of FANTASTIC Phyllis’s up: Steampunk Phyllis, Divergent Phyllis, Opera Phyllis, Done With Glum Phyllis, Olympic Phyllis, Punxsutawney Elvis, Glow-In-The-Dark Phyllis, Mardi Gras Phyllis, and Rock Star Phyllis ready to sing with Bruno Mars at the Super Bowl! Don’t miss all the great entries (link list HERE) And there’s still time to enter YOUR Fashion Phyllis! (Contest guidelines also HERE).
Sunday (GROUNDHOG DAY!) we will have a special post with a line up of all the Fashion Show Phyllises so you can see them all and vote for your favorite… and also find out what Phyllis’s prediction will be: 6 more weeks of winter or early spring?
PPBF bloggers, please be sure to leave your post-specific links in the list below so we can all come see what you picked this week!
Looking forward to seeing everyone Sunday!!! Happy Weekend, y’all! 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Thanks for sharing about this one! It sound like such a fun way to learn about Chinese traditions! It would be great for a classroom.
I've been meaning to read that book too because I do like a pun and a reworked fairy tale. Plus, I was also born in the year of the dragon and while I think I'm fairly lucky, I'm not golden-y lucky, so I feel for poor Goldi. 😉
I want to read this book. Looks great. We just finished celebrating the Lunar New Year with my in-laws.
You know I've seen this book mentioned so much, I thought it was already out!
And how to tell if your hubby is golden: next time he cuts himself, look to see if he bleeds gold bullions. 😉 Any, he is always golden to you, I'm sure!
Ah! So it's scientific 🙂 He does not bleed gold bullions! But you're right – he is golden to me 🙂
And that's all that matters! 🙂
You had me at the title … how clever and creative! Thanks for another book I can add to my culture stack.
So true 🙂
I hope you like it, Barbara! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this book – what fun! I love retold tales, and this puts a neat twist on an oft-told story. It's also great for New Year's…
What a perfect pick for today, Susanna! I look forward to trying that recipe too!
Love the look of the art work and sounds like a fun version of the 3 bears! Question for everyone – I was trying to find a link that listed special 'book' days like the Multi-cultural Day. Any suggestions?
Susanna…thank you so much for bringing this to PPBF…I LOVE this retelling of Goldilocks…it is familiar, yet different…and the unique twist shows me just how a fairy tale should be fractured.:) Great pick for both Multicultural Children's Day AND Chinese New Year…you are pretty awesome!
Congratulations…I see you are a guest blogger for RhyPoIdMo…do you never run out of time? Looking forward to Making Picture Book Magic – which starts in only ONE day!!!!
What a creative community this is…can't wait to see all of the fashionista statements for Phyllis.:)
What a neat story! I can't wait to see the turnip cakes lol. And I look forward to the interview too. I've got a lot of reading to do with all the poems from MoP to finish reading but I am totally squeezing in those Phyllis's once I'm back from my friend's house 😉
Hi Laura…this one might help:http://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks…you can also check: http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/calendar/ and/or http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/index.htm?utm_source=BenchmarkEmail&utm_campaign=Nov%2002_2011_Email&utm_medium=email
Hope these help.:)
This looks like a fun retelling. A very unique twist. I don't know why I'm always surprised there are so many versions of the Goldilocks story.
Happy Chinese New Year to you! This book looks like a real treat! turnip cakes sound yummy! Even though I don't know anything about turnips. I'll be on the lookout for this book. Thanks!
I've heard amazing things about this book. Your review will finally get me off my duff to check it out.
And I cannot WAIT to see Phyllis show off her wardrobe.
Happy Chinese New Year! And what a great book.
I can't wait to see Phylys's new wardrobe contest. They are fun! 🙂 I like the sound of them.
And I like all things Chinese New Year. And this book is no exception. 🙂
Thanks, Vivian. I appreciate the info. I tried ALA, just didn't get to the right place and then had to do something else. I knew someone here would have a resource!
Natasha Yim has some wonderful books! This sounds like a great mash-up that I need to find! B&N did send a coupon today. . . .
I handed off the drawing of Phylys to my 8-year-old granddaughter and will send you a PDF file later today. She is so much more artistic than I am. Thanks for this book review. I hadn't heard of this book, but ordered it right up. It sounds wonderful.
Yay! Another great book for my classroom. Thank you for sharing it!
What a wonderful retelling of a classic tale with an emphasis on the Chinese New Year and an unusual twist. This is a great pick for Multicultural Children's Book Day. Thanks for sharing.
Fairy tale retellings never grow old! Thanks for sharing this unique version of Goldilocks!
*whew*,… just made it! Love your choice today Susanna. Anything multicultural is a must read for me. Unfortunately I just plain ran out of time to register for the Monday Multicultural day….But I am enjoying the variety of books out there. Have a great weekend, I am right at this moment sitting at the table cooking with the sun and blue sky above…lol. Sorry, I know you lot over there must be freezing. We see alot of the problems you are all having with the snow and ice. Take care, all.
I'm glad you like the book, Diane. And I know what you mean – I didn't get a book up for Monday either… but I'm hoping better late than never 🙂 And I'm glad you're enjoying warm weather and sunshine – someone should be! 🙂
I don't know what it is about fairy tale retellings, but I'm always so drawn to them! And they always seem to be fun 🙂
Glad you like it, Pat. I especially love all the resources at the back. I have yet to actually try making turnip cakes… but I COULD! 🙂
You're welcome, Barbara! I hope you like it as much as I do! 🙂
It just came out this month, so it's brand new and very fun. I hope you like it. And I got Grace's fabulous drawing and posted it on the Monday post, and it will be included in the Fashion Show line up on Sunday! 🙂
So thoughtful of them, just when you need one… 🙂
Phyllis's wardrobe is getting quite the expansion 🙂 What a fashionista! Happy Year of the Horse to you 🙂
Thanks, Beverly, to you too! And I'm glad you like the book. I love that Goldy takes responsibility for her actions in a way that Goldilocks never did! 🙂
I hope you like the book, Mike. Now. About Phyllis's wardrobe. WHERE is your entry???!!! After that gorgeous stamp, Phyllis was depending on your for something awesome! 🙂
I hope you like it, Rhythm. I think it's one that your young reader friends would enjoy very much!
I know! Goldilocks does seem to be a very popular one for the retellings. But they're all so fun! 🙂
There's something about Turnip Cake that sounds like an oxymoron, but as long as it's got the word cake in it, I'm game 🙂
I think this is what's known as 2 birds with one stone, Vivian 🙂 And yes, I do run out of time which is why I'm so woefully behind on updating PPBF! Phyllis's fashions are rolling in this afternoon – quite a few new ones – very fun!!! Iza and I were at Merritt today and signed your books for you 🙂
It is a fun one, Laura! I think you'll like it. And I'm very glad Vivian answered your question because I would have had to go hunting and probably not found the right link! 🙂
Let me know how that goes, Julie! I'm a little afraid of turnips 🙂 Oh and hey, if you're ears were burning today it's because Iza and I were talking about you at lunch and how much we love your art 🙂
It is a fun one! I hope you like it, Sue 🙂
Isn't a portrait enough? Sheesh! She is a demanding little thing. She's lucky she's so ding dang cute.
I'll get her a whole woodchuck wardrobe next year. I promise!
She is very demanding. Be glad you don't live with her! 🙂
Wait just a minute! You write PICTURE books and you are afraid of turnips? PB writers are like the EVIL KNIEVELS of kid-lit! I think it's time you, me and Phyllis had a serious cup of tea! Ha! And now I'm all jealous that you and Iza were chillin'! But, it's Friday, there is still a piece of my neighbor's avocado pie left in the fridge, AND I have a pile of untouched PBs right next to me! So I'll let you off the hook tonight! Have a lovely above freezing weekend!
Phyllis and I would LOVE to have a cup of tea with you! And Iza and I would have love to have lunch with you. Today we were lunching with Scott from Merritt Books, though. Have a lovely weekend!
Poor little Goldy Luck. She really did try to stay on task but she was so sleepy and hungry lol!! I love this choice, Susanna. It's great learning about different cultures and this picture offers a nice blend of the familiar with something new to take in 🙂
Hurray!!!! Thank you so much, Susanna (and Iza)…I and my little ones will treasure them.:)
I've been wanting to read this one. I saw Natasha's post about how the story came to be and found it fascinating.