A Sweet New Year for Ren

by Michelle Sterling

First published 2022

Ren watches her family prepare for Lunar New Year each year. She sees relatives roll dough for pineapple cakes and breathes in their sweet aroma. The cakes are her favorite treat, but everyone tells her she's too small to help make them. Year after year, Ren observes the kitchen rituals from the sidelines. She waits for her chance to join the baking tradition. The story follows her patient longing to participate in this special family custom. Sterling captures a child's desire to belong and contribute to cherished celebrations. New York Times bestselling illustrator Dung Ho brings the festivities to life with vibrant artwork. The book includes a recipe so readers can create their own pineapple cakes at home.

Genres: family-life, contemporary, food-and-drink

Vibes: emotional, intimate, whimsical

Tropes: belonging, found-family

Setting: New York

Period: Lunar New Year

32 pages · Hardcover · A Paula Wiseman Book/Beach Lane Books

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