The artwork in this book is phenomenal and the story is incredibly touching. I loved the bits of Chinese interspersed within the sentences. I'm ABC (American Born Chinese), and while I am conversational in Chinese, this book taught me a couple of new words! :)
Highly recommend this book for any Chinese diaspora babies, and also for anyone who loves to have a library of diverse "Own Voices" books available for their kids (teachers or parents!) Additionally, the book has a few pages at the back that provides more context and information that might be helpful for curious kids or for parents who want to learn more.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this picture book.

An interesting and personal history. I felt that the Chinese-to-English was helpful though I think a different layout would have been more pleasing to the eye.

I was given Why We Eat Fried Peanuts by Zed Zha by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Having recently been gifted fried peanuts from China, this book fell neatly into my virtual lap. A slip of a book, its message is to explain, through some carefully chosen scenarios, some Chinese words that convey the cultural pull of the country's north. A girl is intrigued by why they eat peanuts in the new year, to which her dad explains (no spoilers) that they've seen as a symbol of prosperity and that they neatly tie up with an element of their family history.

It takes minutes to go through the book, but there's a warm, rosy glow that remains, as well as a little fact sheet to round off your knowledge and a recipe for fried peanuts, which I shall try. Alternating between lengthy novels and true crime, I found this book to be the perfect palate cleanser and I wish Zha great luck with this work.

I really enjoyed this book! I art was very pretty, and the story is definitely heartwarming. I really like the addition of Chinese words, a recipe at the end, and facts about Chinese New Year. A great children's book!!

Rich in Chinese History, family history and connections that transcend generations, this is a stunning book that is rich in culture. Based around a discussion between father and child this explores elements of the celebration that I've not read in other childrens books on LNY. The Lunar New Year element is minimal, however this doesn't detract from what is a heartfelt story on shared histories, valuing the verbal passing down of knowledge between generations.

I loved the inclusion of Mandarin throughout, although at times, as a person who has no Mandarin knowledge I did find this a little overwhelming, however I can see with repetitive reading or someone fluent/learning the language, this wouldn't be such an issue. I predict this being a beloved book read multiple times by families and in classrooms, which would build familiarity with Mandarin.

A fascinating story about family traditions, kindness, and remembrance. Mèng and her family are celebrating Lunar New Year, and her father is especially excited about the fried peanuts they've prepared. When Mèng asks why they eat fried peanuts, she is told a beautiful story of her great-grandmother, whose kindness, courage, and sweetness of spirit lived on in her children's memories.

With engaging illustrations and informative back pages (along with a yummy recipe for fried peanuts!), this is sure to be a hit.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Why We Eat Fried Peanuts is a super cute story about a young girl who learns more about her family when they are celebrating Lunar New Year. I loved this one! The illustrations are fun and warm, and the text had just the right amount of story & education. I loved that Chinese words were included throughout the story.

Thanks to NetGalley, Zed Zha, and Quarto Publishing for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own!

Why We Eat Peanuts" is a beautifully designed and educational picture book that touches the heart and conveys an important message. The adorable illustrations are full of details, inviting readers to pause and explore. The book is perfect for reading together with children—even those who cannot read yet. The pictures tell the story so clearly that children can easily understand what’s happening.

The story itself is a reminder of the importance of kindness, of being there for one another, and of supporting each other. This way of living enriches not only ourselves but also those around us. One particularly exciting aspect is how the book introduces Chinese traditions. A highlight is the inclusion of Chinese words that are explained throughout the story.

At the end of the book, there is a summary of important terms and traditions, along with a great recipe for roasted peanuts, which inspired the title of the story. "Why We Eat Peanuts" is a lovingly crafted book with a meaningful message that I wholeheartedly recommend.

Delightful read about Chinese history, culture and traditions! 🤗 I love how it also highlights the difficult plights that women find themselves in during olden times and how they often are nameless or forgotten. A wonderful children's book rich in both illustrations and meaning.

Written by Zed Zha and illustrated by Sian James, this book is perfect for young children who are interested in other cultures. I love that this book includes words in Mandarin, along with instructions on how to pronounce them. I’ve studied Mandarin, and the pronunciation is tough, but this book makes the task seem so easy!

The story’s word length is a bit long for a regular picture book, so children will need to have an adult nearby to help them. While I absolutely loved the story, it left me with a lot of unanswered questions. For example, it would have been better if the great-grandmother’s name was given rather than leaving it as a mystery. Also, it seems unreasonable to not know a close relative’s name; I know all of my great-grandparent’s names and on top of that, the illustrator show a grave, so why can’t the name be included?

The illustrations were beautifully vivid and I love the details the illustrator included, such as the design on the great-grandmother’s gown.

I received an ARC of “Why We Eat Fried Peanuts: A Celebration of Family and Lunar New Year Traditions,” by Zed Zha from Quarto Publishing Group and becker & mayer! kids in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Lovely story, education and respectful art. I learned something new about the culture and a family's history that I found charming. For a book geared towards children, I thought the story relatable and a new angle not yet explored in other Lunar New Year books I've seen. I appreciated the cultural wrap-up and recipe at the end. Well done by this team.

Very cute children's book about food and traditions. I'm not Chinese, but it helped provide helpful insight about a different culture.

A beautifully illustrated family story with Mandarin vocab in the Chinese characters and pinyin and a pronunciation guide. Provides an introduction to elements of northern China's culture and immigrant traditions as it would be explained to a child in that family.
A brief but warm story on one family's honouring of a deceased family member and her impact on the family.

As Meng and her dad share fried peanuts at the beginning of the Lunar New Year celebration, Meng learns the story about her great grandmother. Through this simple, yet deep story Meng hears about the meaning of peanuts in her culture and how her grandmother saved a baby right before the Chinese Civil War in the late 1920s. She learns about kindness, respect, and the importance of honoring one’s ancestors. The story is engaging and heartfelt.

The illustrations are colorful and detailed without being overwhelming. There is a Q and A at the back of the book. There is also a recipe for fried peanuts at the back (with a caution to always have an adult help).

This book is great for readers of all ages who enjoy rich picture books and those who enjoy stories about food culture and history.

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Yum! Dad, Why do we eat fried peanuts every New Year?"
"When I was a little boy, your tài nai nai always told me to eat more peanuts so I could live long and be strong. And everyone always listened to your tài nai nai!"

A big thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of Why We Eat Fried Peanuts by Zed Zha, a delightful graphic novel that beautifully blends culture, history, and family values!

I absolutely loved the simplicity and lightheartedness of this book. It portrays the importance of honoring our ancestors and keeping their memory alive in our daily lives. The story of tài nai nai’s bravery and kindness during the era of China’s Civil War added a touching historical dimension, making this book not only a celebration of family traditions but also a piece of historical fiction., and I adored how Chinese traditions, such as eating peanuts as a symbol of prosperity, were woven into the narrative.

"Peanuts have many lucky meanings in Chinese culture. Because each shell contains multiple nuts, peanuts represent prosperity. They are also called longevity fruits, which mean good health and lasting youth for those who eat them."

The vibrant and exquisite illustrations added so much charm to the story! As a teenager, I still cherish children’s books for their wisdom, and this one didn’t disappoint. Highly recommended!

Release Date: January 14, 2025

This book doesn't just talk about why many people eat fried peanuts during the Lunar New Year, but it also tells a story about family, identities, and kindness. The story is told through a conversation between a girl called Meng and her dad. What a lovely story about Meng's great grandma, and her strong and kind heart! I love how the author includes different Chinese words (and how to pronounce them!) at different parts of the book. It's a perfect book not only for children who come from Chinese background, but also for everyone else to learn more about Chinese cultures and language.

Why We Eat Fried Peanuts is a picture book for children that focuses on Lunar New Year. I liked that it was a mixture of fiction and non-fiction. It told the story, but also included additional information and even a recipe for fried peanuts. I think this was a sweet way to explain the history to children. The illustrations are colorful and soft.

Thanks to Quarto Publishing - becker and mayer! for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

I love this book! I love the inclusion of words in Mandarin, though I wish there were pronunciations next to them in every instance so I didn’t have to flip.

My six year old loved this book, his favorite part of the book was being able to learn mandarin words. And when he saw the recipe, he insisted that we make it ASAP!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Zed Zha for this arc in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was such a special read. It was a heartwarming story, full of culture, language, and encouragement to have compassion for others.

As I was reading it, I was thinking, “Man I need to find a recipe for fried peanuts.” I was so pleasantly surprised to find the exact recipe and instructions in the back of the book! What a fun way to celebrate the Lunar New Year while also imparting wisdom on our little ones.

The artwork was beautifully done, and I can’t wait to order a hard copy of this for my little guy.

This book is like eating a peanut - cosy, nourishing and biteful. The message was beautifully panned out, coupled with remarkable illustrations.