Illustrated by Sebastià Serra
4 stars
A humorous retelling of The Talking Pot with a Robin-Hood-style twist that emphasizes sharing without others.
Ming’s mother sends him to market to trade eggs for rice to make a Spring Festival meal to share with their neighbors. But when Ming meets a man offering a rusty wok, he strikes an unexpected deal. Once cleaned up, the wok surprises them all with its special ability and sets the stage for a prosperous New Year feast.
Though Ming’s family has little, they demonstrate generosity and kindness to others, sharing what they can. A fun story that admonishes the hoarding of wealth and taking advantage of others.
At the end of the book is a note from the author with more information about the Spring Festival, the meaning of the foods traditionally served, and a short history of woks. There is also a recipe for Festive Stir-Fried Rice.
The illustrations are bright, colorful, and often humorous. A fun, silly story perfect for celebrating the New Year.