AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 18, 2025
A delightful Lunar New Year adventure inspired by the Vietnamese, Gurung, and Malay zodiac traditions—filled with friendship, teamwork, and delicious desserts!
Description
Monkey’s Sweet Surprise: A Lunar New Year Mix-Up whisks young readers to the Jade Empress’s grand banquet, where a charming cast of Zodiac animals—including the Mousedeer (from the Malay zodiac) and the Cat (from the Vietnamese and Gurung zodiacs)—are preparing their finest festive dishes. Determined to redeem himself after last year’s kitchen catastrophe, Monkey sets out to make the Empress’s favorite dessert—pineapple tarts. But along the way, he discovers that the sweetest surprises come from helping his friends and working together.
Set in a whimsical world inspired by these rich zodiac traditions, this beautifully illustrated picture book blends Southeast Asian cultural heritage, imaginative storytelling, and a deep love of food. Perfect for ages 4–8, it celebrates the spirit of Lunar New Year while sharing timeless lessons in friendship, teamwork, and forgiveness.
Reviews
“Friendship and forgiveness are the essential ingredients of this deliciously original and truly sweet entry in the rich tradition of Asian zodiac tales.” — Richard Ho, author of Two New Years and Year of the Cat
“Monkey’s Sweet Surprise is a fun twist on the Lunar New Year tales. A story about delicious foods, community, kindness and lifting up one another. A great addition to your Lunar New Year reads!” — Benson Shum, author of Anzu the Great Kaiju