A sweet introduction to a significant Chinese tradition, glimpsed through the eyes of a loving family.
A family observes the Chinese holiday of Qing Ming, also known as Tomb Sweeping Day.
The young narrator notes that today the family will be visiting Yeh Yeh’s (Grandfather’s) grave. The child’s memories of Yeh Yeh are floating away, and the little one frets: “I close my eyes and see Yeh Yeh’s face…But I have trouble remembering the sound of his laugh.” And the child remembers painting calligraphy with Yeh Yeh but struggles to recall “how his hand steered mine.” But, as Mama and Baba point out, visiting the gravesites of loved ones helps keep their memories alive. Arriving at the cemetery, the family sweeps leaves and weeds from the grave, puts out Yeh Yeh’s favorite foods, lights incense, and prays. The child tells Yeh Yeh about highlights from the family’s year (“Mama’s art is famous!” “And I’m starring in the school play!”). Wen’s soft, colorful gouache, pencil, and brush pen illustrations include a glowing figure of Yeh Yeh floating from the tombstone to enjoy the family’s offerings and stories. When the family burns joss paper, the protagonist also includes a few drawings of things that Yeh Yeh might enjoy in the afterlife, like a bicycle and a calligraphy brush. With this warm story, Liao highlights the love between a grandparent and grandchild while also clearly explaining a major Chinese holiday that gets little attention in the West.
A sweet introduction to a significant Chinese tradition, glimpsed through the eyes of a loving family. (author’s note, glossary) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2026
ISBN: 9780593806975
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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