The Runaway Rice Cake

It's the Chinese New Year, and the Chang Family has only enough rice flour to make one nian-gao, a special New Year's rice cake, for the entire family to eat. But this delicious little nian-gao has other ideas. "Ai yo! I don't think so!" it cries, coming to life and escaping.Ming, Cong, little Da and their parents chase the nian-gao all over the village until it runs into a hungry, old woman and sends her tumbling to the ground. Though Da is a small boy, his heart is big enough to share the treat with her, even though that leaves Da's family with nothing to eat for their own celebration. But the Changs' generosity doesn't go unnoticed. When they return home, they find the Kitchen God has left a wonderful surprise for them.Ying Chang Compestine's heartwarming story conveys an important and poignant message about sharing and compassion. Tungwai Chau's soft and evocative illustrations complete this tender holiday story.

Ying Chang Compestine was born in Wuhan, China, and came to the U.S. when she was twenty-three. Growing up in China during the lean years of the Cultural Revolution, Ying often dreamed of the kind of Chinese New Year celebrated in this book. Aside from playing with her young son and his friends, Ying loves to write, cook, eat, and travel. Consequently, she spends a lot of time writing stories for children and cookbooks for adults. She lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband and son.