The Tray of Togetherness
by Flo Leung (Author)
A delicious ode to food, family, and togetherness that celebrates Lunar New Year.
A little girl and her family are hosting a New Year party, an event marking the Lunar New Year. There's a lot to do before the guests arrive! First, a trip to the market to fill up the Tray of Togetherness, a special candy box for the partygoers. Each of the eight lucky snacks in the Tray has an auspicious meaning: peanuts for a long life, pistachios for happiness, candied coconut for strong family ties . . . As the family returns home, they pass out delicious good wishes to the friends and neighbors they meet along the way.
After the tray has been prepared and the decorations set up, it's time for the party! A diverse group of relatives and friends gathers, ready to celebrate the New Year with the Tray of Togetherness.
This sensory, food-focused story is brought to life with eye-catching illustrations and a little girl's cheerful narration. Debut author/illustrator Flo Leung encourages readers to explore culturally specific Lunar New Year practices, while offering a universal message about carrying on traditions and creating community.
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A young girl narrates her excitement and family's preparations for a Lunar New Year celebration; in particular, gathering the eight foods for the Tray of Togetherness. She and her grandmother travel to the market to buy the symbolic foods, including candied kumquats for wealth and peanuts for a long life. On the way back, she gives away some of their goodies to friends and neighbors, sharing the holiday treats and wishes "From me, to you, and you!" Extended family and friends then gather, some on a computer screen, for the party she has been helping prepare for all day. Cozy illustrations showcase the warmth of the winter holiday. The bouncy rhythm and repetition of certain lines makes this a strong choice for reading aloud to young children. A brief author's note at the end explains the Tray of Togetherness, a tradition not often highlighted in Lunar New Year picture books, to readers who are unfamiliar. The main character's mother reads as East Asian, and her father as white; extended family and neighbors feature a range of skin tones. VERDICT A sweet read focusing on a young child's infectious excitement over holiday traditions. Recommended for most collections.—Jennifer Rothschild
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
JUV050000 - Juvenile Fiction | Cooking & Food
JUV017080 - Juvenile Fiction | Holidays & Celebrations | Other, Non-Religious
JUV074000 - Juvenile Fiction | Diversity & Multicultural
