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Boy Dumplings(Picture Book) Holiday House, August 2009
Begin with one hungry ghost
Add a plump, delicious looking boy
Mix them with an outrageous recipe!
This crowd-pleaser will make a delicious storytime alternative — Booksense
Children will delight in the ghost's gullibility.... Compestine's haunting tale is an entertaining,not-too-scary offering. — Publisher's Weekly
...a classic trickster tale, developing both characters and premise with humor. — Kirkus Reviews
A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts Henry Holt, October 2009
* Selected as a Notable Book for 2010 by the Children's Literary Assembly *Selected by the AARP as a Grandparent's Book for Children.
According to Chinese tradition, those who die hungry or unjustly come back to haunt the living. Some are appeased with food. But not all ghosts are successfully mollified. In this chilling collection of stories, Ying takes readers on a journey through time and across different parts of China. From the building of the Great Wall in 200 BCE to the modern day of iPods, hungry ghosts continue to torment those who wronged them.
At once a window into the history and culture of China and an ode to Chinese cuisine, this assortment of frightening tales — complete with historical notes and delectable recipes — will both scare and satiate!
New! Revolution now available in Paperback! Henry Holt, October 2009
A vivid account of one of the sad follies of history, made rich with details that only an impressionable young witness could supply — The Christian Science Monitor
In her spare, lyrical style, [she] vividly portrays a world turned upside down — San Francisco Chronicle
A "gripping account of life during China's Cultural Revolution" Publisher's Weekly Starred review
"The Chinese Revolution is up close and personal in this touching historical novel" — Book Sense Picks for Autumn 2007
Lyrical yet gripping — Kirkus Reviews
"An excellent addition to historical fiction about this period in China's history." — School Library Journal
"Compestine's engaging tale brims with intriguing details of the traditions that surround the holiday..." – Publishers Weekly
"...many libraries will want to add this, considering the depth of material about Chinese New Year." — Booklist
D Is for Dragon Dance Holiday House, 2005 ISBN: 0-8234-1887-1
Recommended by ALSC for 2006 holidays!
A is for Acrobats. B is for Balls. C is for Calligraphy. D is for Dragon Dance. From firecrackers to noodles, from red envelopes to the zodiac, young readers are introduced to the exciting traditions of the Chinese New Year.
"Warm [and] charming.... The artwork ... is cheerful and bright, rather stylistic, with appealing repetitive details that will draw kids right in.... [It gives] a sense of both community and ordinary life during a special time of year." — Booklist
The Story of Chopsticks Holiday House, 2001 (32 pages, ISBN: 0-8234-1526-0)
"This story is rooted in Chinese culture and offers American readers an authentic glimpse of its traditions." – School Library Journal
"...a delicious blend of fact and fiction... Compestine's charming tale deserves a place in the multicultural curriculum... Xuan's richly colored traditional Chinese cut paper illustrations lend authenticity." — Kirkus Reviews
The Story of Noodles Holiday House, 2002 (32 pages, ISBN: 0-8234-1600-3)
"This story may leave your mouth watering for noodles and your chopsticks at the ready.... An appetizingly funny story...." - Kirkus Reviews
"Compestine's almost tongue-in-cheek tale is a nearly unbeatable combination of slapstick humor, fast pace, and food." — The Bulletin
The Story of Kites Holiday House, 2003 (32 pages, ISBN: 0-8234-1715-8)
Catch up with the latest adventure of Kuai and his brothers, as they create one of China´s most famous inventions -- with a few spills along the way!
The Story of Paper Holiday House, 2003 (32 pages, ISBN: 0-8234-1705-0)
What kind of trouble have Ting, Pan, and Kuai gotten into now? They were caught playing at school instead of doing their math!
e UPCOMING BOOKS f
The Runaway Wok(Picture Book) Penguin Dutton, Fall 2010
Cooking with an Asian Accent Harvard Common Press, Fall 2010!
Cooking with Green Tea Avery/Penguin Putnam, 2000 (194 pages, ISBN: 1-58333-065-8)
"…well written, colorful, and filled with delicious and easy-to-follow recipes that are right for every kitchen. They are certainly right for mine, and I wouldn't trade them for anything…not even for all the tea in China." — Chef Martin Yan, Yan Can Cook
"…a complete guide to cooking with this healthy beverage. Vegetarians will find satisfying recipes, and even meat eaters may be interested in the three-day diet and cleansing program." — Taste for Life
Secrets from a Healthy Asian Kitchen Avery/Penguin Putnam, 2002 (307 pages, ISBN: 1-58333-127-1)
"Compestine (Cooking with Green Tea) delivers another health-oriented book specializing in Asian cuisine and culture. Filled with tips, variations, cultural notes and anecdotes the book is well-thought-out, accentuating health and applying it to a popular cuisine." — Publishers Weekly
Secrets of Fat-Free Chinese Cooking Avery/ Penguin Putnam, 1997 (153 pages, ISBN:0895297353)
"Whether you have heart disease, hypertension, or are healthy and want to stay that way, I trust you will agree that this book provides a new chance to eat the Chinese dishes you love without sacrificing great taste. Give it a try and your heart will be happy." — Ronald B. Jenkins, M.D., Director, Boulder Heart Institute Boulder, Colorado
"Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will find plenty of pleasing fare…" – Women's Magazine
Cooking with an Asian Accent