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Young Xingling faces a fierce foe in Andrea Wang’s The Nian Monster

By Andrea Wang

Illustrations by Alina Chau

Albert Whitman & Company, 2024

Paperback, 32 pages, $9.99

By Kathleen Liermann

The Asian Reporter

Andrea Wang’s The Nian Monster begins in Shanghai three days prior to the Lunar New Year. A market in the city is alive with vendors, families, and vibrant colors drawn by the book’s illustrator, Alina Chau.

In the story, readers soon meet Xingling and her grandmother, who are hanging a red lantern — the last of their New Year decorations.

"Po Po, why are they all red," asks Xingling.

Together with Xingling, we learn about the ancient legend of the Nian Monster.

"Long ago," Po Po says, "the Nian Monster lived in the mountains. His jaws were as wide as caverns. His teeth were sharper than swords. And he was filled with a terrible hunger. Each new year, Nian ate whole villages."

Xingling gasped, but was soon reassured by her smiling grandmother: "Every monster has a weakness. Nian had three — loud sounds, fire, and the color red. Our traditions have kept Nian away ever since."

When Po Po leaves to buy more noodles, Xingling takes over in the kitchen, stirring a pot of pork and cabbage, when a horrible beast appears on the balcony.

"Ai ya," Xingling says defiantly to Nian.

Nian roars and growls, "I have come to devour this city!"

While all the buildings in the city shake from the sounds, Xingling tries to scare away Nian with gongs, drums, and red lanterns and banners to no avail.

"You will make a tasty appetizer," Nian says to the girl, licking its lips.

Xingling tries to delay the scary monster: "Have a bowl of long-life noodles first."

Nian replies: "You are wise, little one. Noodles first, then you, then the city."

Xingling enlists the best noodle shop in town to create the dish, which delays the monster. "My stomach is too stuffed to eat more … I will devour the city tomorrow," Nian groans.

Upon Nian’s return the next day, brave Xingling yells at the monster, "Wait! Eat fish first so you will have a good fortune all year long."

Nian again replies: "You are wise, little one. Fish first, then you, then the city."

Xingling enlists the best fishing fleet in Shanghai to catch milkfish for the hungry monster, to which Nian concludes, "I will devour the city tomorrow."

The next morning, Nian’s wide, wicked jaws confront Xingling yet again, to which the girl says, "Tonight is New Year’s Eve. You need some rice cakes to sweeten your future."

"You are wise, little one. Rice cakes first, then you, then the city," says Nian.

Do the rice cakes send Nian away for another year? Are firecrackers successful in concluding the old year in order to allow the welcoming of the new one? Will dancing dragons appear?

To find out if Xingling is able to expel Nian, readers must check out a copy of Andrea Wang and Alina Chau’s The Nian Monster, which is an adorable and entertaining way to introduce young ones to the traditions of the Lunar New Year.