Our Moon Festival by Yobe Qiu Children’s Book Review
The story highlights different families and their diverse traditions as they observe Zhong Qiu Jie, Tết Trung Thu, and Tsukimi! In all three stories, children will learn about foods, traditions, dances, parades, and poetry involved in the celebration of the Moon Festival. Just like “Our Lunar New Year” by the same author, children will be so captivated by the celebrations that they will feel part of holiday too!
Have you ever heard the idea that no matter how far apart we might be from one another, we all look up to see the same moon? Our Moon Festival is a wonderful reminder that though we may come from different cultures, there is plenty we have in common.
This book, written in simple prose for early readers, tells the story of the moon festivals in China, Vietnam, and Japan. In each section, a child shares about how the moon festival is observed in his family. Each country celebrates the moon in a unique way, and though each family has different traditions, there are many similarities. In each household, there is special food that is prepared and special rhymes or poems that are recited. Some of the celebrations feature dancing and puppet shows; others are quiet and peaceful. All the families enjoy spending time together and participating in the traditions.
As a parent, I’m always looking for ways to help introduce my kids to customs that look different than our own. Learning about other cultures’ special events and holidays can help reinforce the idea that we are all people who love to celebrate together. No matter if your special family holiday is a moon festival or something else, it’s easy to find the comparisons.
This lovely story with colorful illustrations provides a window into unique cultural values. It’s a great springboard for discussions about why different countries celebrate in different ways and how our own traditions are the same and different. Younger children will love hearing all the new words for interesting dishes, and older kids would even enjoy conducting their own research to learn more. Our Moon Festival could even provide a centerpiece to a holiday or traditions unit, and students could even find out more about how to prepare dishes on their own to try!
Where Can I Find "Our Moon Festival?"
Other Books by Yobe Qiu
Pre-Order! Asian Adventures A-Z
Join us for a captivating journey through Asia! Each page highlights traditions and cultures of Asia’s beautiful countries. Traveling through cities and capitals, you will learn about a variety of foods, traditions, fashions and cultures across the continent.
You can order your book HERE!
About the Author, Yobe Qiu
“Growing up in NYC, Yobe benefited from the diversity the city has to offer and loved learning about different cultures! As an early childhood educator, she focused on teaching families to embrace love, diversity and different communities.
Through the years working in the classrooms and closely with other educators, she noticed the lack of multi-cultural resources that represent children of color. That is when Yobe decided to create multi-cultural children stories and celebrate diversity & strive for equal representation in children’s literature! Yobe loves spending time with her daughter, reading to children and talking long walks during the day!”
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All in all, my family and I have really enjoyed this book and we know you will too! Please feel free to leave me any comments or questions about this review. I look forward to hearing from you!
* This book was kindly sent to me by Author, Yobe Qiu in exchange for an honest review.
