Rabbit Mooncakes

Online Media Kit for Rabbit Mooncakes

  • Book Information
  • What Makes This Book Special
  • About the Author/Illustrator
  • Press Release
  • FAQs
  • Book Reviews
  • Promotion and School/Library Visits
  • Free Lesson Plan!

Book Information

Title: Rabbit Mooncakes
Author and Illustrator: Krakauer, Hoong Yee Lee
Format: Hardback with dust jacket, 8" x 10", smythesewn reinforced binding, 40 pages
ISBN: 978-0-9790920-7-7
Publication Information: MoonRattles, 2007, First Edition
Barcoded Price: $16.00
Distribution: Baker & Taylor or direct from MoonRattles

What Makes This Book Special

Chinese American author Hoong Yee Lee Krakauer shares her family memories of Mid Autumn or Harvest Moon Festival with readers of all ages. Her characters show the blending of cultures and traditions many parents today will not only find familiar, but wish to enhance or communicate to children.

This book, originally published in 1994 by Little, Brown and Company, garnered praise from reviewers and interest from librarians, teachers and families in the United States, Canada and UK Commonwealth. Unfortunately, the book went out-of-print after a first successful print. MoonRattles is proud to bring a new edition to a new generation of families. The new edition includes additional original artwork and the author's family recipe for rabbit mooncakes. 

About the Author/Illustrator 

Hoong Yee Lee Krakauer grew up in Queens, New York. Her parents immigrated from China as teenagers and, in raising their children, tried to retain as much of their Chinese culture as possible. Hoong Yee and her younger sister spoke mostly Chinese at home, not learning English until kindergarten.

Hoong Yee now lives in Belle Harbor, New York, with her husband and three children, where she is the Executive Director of the Queens Council on the Arts.

Hoong Yee is a firm believer in the power of the arts to mobilize and transform community.

Press Release 

Please read the press release here.

FAQs

  1. Why did Hoong Yee write this book?

    "On a trip to china, my mother brought Hoong Wei, my younger sister, to see the family books that have recorded the history of my family for generations. Imagine how puzzled Hoong Wei must have been to see no trace, no mention of her name or of mine! She said to me, 'Hoong Yee, you are #1 daughter and you are not in the book. And, if you are not in the book, I am not in the book either!  What kind of family history is that?' The only names that she saw were those of my uncles and my male cousins. Upon learning this, I became just as indignant, incredulous and intrigued. I decided to write another kind of book about my enigmatic family. My book would include everyone, especially the star of the story, Hoong Wei."


  2. Who is the intended audience?

    "I wrote this story for curious children of all ages, particularly ones who share different backgrounds or cultures and for the grown ups who love them."

  3. How does this book benefit readers?

    "Not only will you enjoy getting to know Hoong Yee and Hoong Wei, you will be a special guest at their large, suburban, Chinese immigrant family's harvest moon festival celebration in Queens, New York. Here, you will learn some Chinese expressions, read a famous Tang Dynasty poem and follow my mother's treasured recipe to make your own rabbit mooncakes."

  4. What is Hoong Yee doing now?

    "I am writing new stories about other chinese holidays that we celebrated as a big family and how, over the years, these gatherings became the central focus of so many cultural influences. These stories are about how children just like Hoong Yee and Hoong Wei discover who they are and what they value in a constantly changing cultural landscape."

  5. Did Hoong Yee's family celebrate other holidays?

    "Yes, as my family grew, we celebrated both Chinese New Year and Jewish New Year as well as the Hungry Ghost Festival, Halloween and the Mexican Day of the Dead. We had red egg   parties, bar mitzvahs and mixed weddings. At these gatherings, there was always music, great food and mah-jong games."

  6. Besides mooncakes, what other foods does Hoong Yee remember her mother making?
    "Dumplings, jiaozis, pot stickers: some were shaped like crescent moons, some looked like puffy pincushions. They were steamed, fried and sometimes filled."

  7. Does Hoong Yee still play the piano?
    "Yes, and no matter what Hoong Wei thinks, I do make mistakes."

Book Reviews

  • AsianWeek review , 9/20/2007, MoonRattles edition

  • From Publishers Weekly for 1994 Little, Brown edition
    "Krakauer's enthusiastic, autobiographical debut recounts her family's celebration of the Harvest Moon Festival, a Chinese holiday of thanksgiving.
    At the center of the tale is Hoong Wei, the author's spunky younger sister, who fears that their relatives will make fun of her piano playing when she and Hoong Yee accompany the family sing-along. After a day filled with cooking, eating and playing, Hoong Wei convinces Hoong  Yee to hide with her in their favorite crab apple tree. When the girls realize they are missing all the fun of the music, they scamper eagerly to the keyboard. ...
    The antic, cartoon-like illustrations, meanwhile, are ripe with details that reflect a comfortable mix of Eastern and Western cultures. Chinese idioms, sprinkled throughout the dialogue, are defined in a glossary preceding the text. "

  • From School Library Journal for 1994 Little, Brown edition
    "A warm, authentic Chinese family story.
    Krakauer draws on childhood memories for this story of a suburban Chinese immigrant family celebrating the Harvest Moon Festival, the 'Chinese version of Thanksgiving.' While her family prepares for the evening festivities, Hoong Wei worries. Expected to play the piano, she fears that her relatives will laugh at her mistakes. To make matters worse, her older sister plays perfectly. Though Hoong Wei tries to escape several times, her performance-and her loud mistake-is inevitable. Yet her family's reaction comes as a surprising epiphany.
    The bilingual text for one of China's most famous poems is included, but it is not attributed to the Tang Dynasty poet, Li Po [correctly attributed in MoonRattles edition]. ... "
    Margaret A. Chang, North Adams State College, MA

  • From Booklist for 1994 Little, Brown edition
    "There's an upbeat tone to this story of a Harvest Moon Festival celebration in a Chinese American extended family. Two sisters, Hoong Yee and Hoong Wei, look forward to the feast and the guests, but they don't enjoy having to play the piano in front of everyone. Hoong Wei is sure she'll make mistakes and everyone will laugh. The fear of failure and the reassurance of family will touch kids...
    There's one fascinating page of Chinese calligraphy, with the English words in translation, and a glossary explains some Chinese greetings and terms that are featured in the dialogue."
    Hazel Rochman

Promotion and School/Library Visits

Hoong Yee is available for school visits. Please download the School Visits document for more information on how to book your author visit. 

Free Lesson Plan

Download our free Year of the Poodle lesson plan for K-5 grade and enjoy a great activity with your classroom.