I'm a big fan of exploring the culinary histories across cultures, more so because, while food has always been inherently political, recent years and the worsening climate crisis have also created a reckoning for traditional ways of cooking and eating. That's the thought I went into this book with.

Well, that was a heavy kickoff for a children's book review. The peanuts were only a segue for the book, hah!

This book subverts a few mechanics of the reading experience — the linguistic challenge of portraying other cultures is embraced rather than shied away from, the traditions have been gently explained, as if to delight and fascinate, knowing well it's a subversion of the usual stereotyping. There was so much warmth in the piece: the way the father describes the grandmother and all the many tidbits of their own family's oral history that were being passed in the exchange.
A very refreshing departure from the usual template of a children's book.

Such a cute one for Lunar New Year. And once again, I love that they call it LNY for inclusivity. More people than the Chinese celebrate this holiday.

Beautiful story. Beautiful illustrations. Loved learning some Mandarin words. 新年快乐!

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and becker&mayer! kids

A wonderful storybook that introduces Lunar New Year celebrations, culture, and traditions to young ones. The story also teaches importance to family, respect to ancestors, and how we can be kindhearted to strangers when they need it the most.

Quick Summary: An educational reading experience

My Review: Why We Eat Fried Peanuts: A Celebration of Family and Lunar New Year Traditionsby Zed Zha and illustrated by Sian James is a 2025 "Children's Fiction | Children's Nonfiction | Reference" book.

About the Book: "Celebrate Lunar New Year through a story of ancestral bravery while learning about Chinese history, language and food."

In My Own Words: Learn about Chinese culture, history, and family traditions in this beautifully illustrated, well composed story. As you read this book, you will not only learn some important words in Mandarin, but you will also be exposed to the Pinyin spelling system, as well as Chinese characters. There is even a yummy recipe included. From beginning to end, this book is both informative and memorable.

About the Illustrations: Sian James is the illustrator for this work. She captured the essence of the story so well. I loved every single drawing.

My Final Say: This was a brilliant book. I absolutely loved it! I hope that there will be more to come from this author and illustrator. Every aspect of this story and every element of the art work was meaningful. Bravo!

Other: This children's story would be an incredible addition to any home, school, and/or public library. It is filled with culturally informative information. The educational significance is noteworthy.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend:Yes
Audience: Children
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Besties-of-All-Time: Yes
Status/Level: 💫

Sincere thanks and appreciation is extended to the author, to the illustrator, to the publisher (Quarto Publishing Group – Becker & Mayer! | Becker & Mayer! Kids), and to NetGalley. I am so grateful for the opportunity that was afforded me. It was an absolute pleasure to review this very special work.