Book Review: Why We Eat Fried Peanuts

Why We Eat Fried Peanuts by Zed Zha, illustrated by Sian James, tells a sweet story of a woman’s kindness and the family that remembers her.

A child asks her father why they eat fried peanuts for Lunar New Year, and he says that his grandmother always told them to eat peanuts for long life and strength. He goes on to tell the story of his grandmother, whose name is not known, but whose kindness literally saved the life of a baby (who would become the girl’s great uncle).

The story is not really about Lunar New Year, but it uses it as an entry point for telling the story and acknowledging the importance of ancestors in Chinese culture. It would be a good choice to read in the classroom around Lunar New Year or when you are talking about China.

The book includes Mandarin vocabulary, with each phrase shown in the corner of the page in Mandarin characters, transliterated, spelled phonetically and with the definition of the term. This makes it a lot easier to read aloud and to understand the important words being expressed.

At the back of the book you’ll find answers to some questions such as what is Lunar New Year and the Qingming Festival (a time to honor ancestors by sweeping their tombs, which usually happens in April), why are peanuts a special treat and what does an èr hú look and sound like (it’s a two-stringed instrument that features in the story). And there’s a recipe for fried peanuts, too.

I wouldn’t say this should be your only Lunar New Year book (because it really barely touches on the holiday at all despite the subtitle being “A Celebration of Family and Lunar New Year Traditions”) but it is a sweet story and would be a nice addition to a shelf of new year books or to read aloud at home or at school.

About the book: 32 pages, paper over boards. Published 2025 by becker&meyer kids. Suggested retail price $18.99.

Explaining Dia de Los Muertos to kids can be difficult because most of us don’t generally talk about death or what happens when we die a lot with our kids. But Dia de los Muertos is actually a happy, not scary occasion that allows us to remember loved ones, share stories and come together as a community.

While it is mostly celebrated by people of Mexican heritage, the day has become more well known thanks to movies and other media representations. And there are some great children’s books to help explain and allow you to celebrate the holiday if you want.

Dia de Muertos by Jaque Jours, illustrated by Alejandra Ruiz (48 pages, hardcover, published 2025 by words & pictures, suggested retail price $14.99) tells the story of a family getting their ofrenda (altar for the dead) ready and how they remember people who have died through decorations, food and sharing stories.

It covers the classic decorations and rituals of Dia de los Muertos including using cempasúchil (in English we call them marigolds) and papel picado (cut paper banners), pan de muerto and la catrina, the elaborately dressed, skull faced women that are a common site at Dia de los Muertos gatherings.

The back of the book explores how the day is celebrated throughout Mexico as well as the meanings of different symbols. There’s a recipe for pan de muerto, a tutorial for making papel picado and tips for doing makeup to look like like la catrina/el catrin.

Want to try more traditional foods? The Dia de Los Muertos Cookbook is a companion to The Dia de Los Muertos Story, both of which are by Andrea Jáuregui de la Torre and illustrated by Laura González (52 pages, hardcover paper over boards, published 2026 by becker & meyer kids!, suggested retail price $19.99).

The book opens with some discussion of the meaning of Dia de los Muertos and why food is an important part of the day. The recipes included are easy enough for kids to make with minimal help, and all based on food memories from her childhood.

There are recipes for hibiscus iced tea, Mexican corn and salsa, tortillas, molletes (open faced sandwiches with beans and cheese), jicama fries and sugar skulls to name a few.

Other activities in the book include papel picado, coffee filter marigolds, making your own playlist and making an ofrenda.

Together these books give young readers insight into this holiday that might be new or confusing to them, while also giving you a chance to get in the kitchen together and make your own Dia de los Muertos memories.

Have you read?

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