Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats

'Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats'. Such a fun fun book. I profiled it briefly in my Happy Chinese New Year roundup of books. At that time, I had seen it, but hadn't bought it. I went ahead and bought it, and guess what. IT'S GREAT.

What's so great about it? The art. The stories. There are fun and simple recipes. (we're going to make the moon cake cookies, which are basically molasses cookies with a vanilla glaze. I'm down with the vanilla glaze! When we make them, I'll profile it here OF COURSE. Don't you worry!) There are sweet rice balls, egg rolls, tea eggs, noodles, dumplings and other yummies.

Note from the rest of the world: we weren't worried, Melissa.

And there are little history notes! No, not boring history, cool and interesting history! No, no page after page of history, a few little paragraphs here and there of relevant facts and customs pertaining to each of the Chinese holidays profiled.

And the holidays include: Chinese New Year, Qing Ming and the Cold Foods Festival (what???), the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.

AND.......there are crafts. Shadow puppets, which Julia really wants to make. Lanterns. Chinese calligraphy, pinwheels, kites, noisemakers and fragrant herb bags.

This book is PACKED with stuff. And it has great folk tales in it too! It's one of those books that really delivers, you know?

I'll be back with moon cake cookies.