Weiwei's Winter Solstice: A Dongzhì Story

91QlJyfGABL
Age Range
4+
Release Date
October 07, 2025
ISBN
978-1547614844
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This captivating picture book introduces the customs and traditions of an important Chinese holiday in a story that bursts with color and light to warm even the darkest days of winter.

It's Dongzhì, the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. Weiwei's family has moved to a new place, where instead of hummingbirds, palm trees, and chrysanthemum bushes, all she sees is a blanket of snow. This frozen place feels nothing like home.

But Dongzhì is all about finding warmth through togetherness, even in the depths of winter. With her family by her side, maybe Weiwei can do more than just endure the cold.

Like the chickadees that sing and the méihua that bloom, can she open her heart and embrace the season?

Informational back matter provides further context about the holiday and its history, along with a recipe for tang yuan, a traditional Dongzhì treat.

Editor review

1 review
Winter Solstice, a Chinese Family Story
(Updated: June 04, 2026)
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
Welcoming winter with Weiwei's Winter Solstice, a Dōngzhì story about food, family, and celebrating heritage. Little Weiwei loves everything about Dōngzhì - the birds and the flowers, for example - but since her family has recently moved to another country (and climate), this year's solstice seems unfamiliar with cold and snow. But, though the world is different, inside the house the tasty food and traditions remain the same, and she begins to look forward to all of the new memories ahead.

This book is so cute and wintery, with little things to learn about the solstice festival, or the tasty tāng yuán (recipe included), or the family's immigrant experience. Although Weiwei's family celebrated the Chinese festival, a note at the back also explains the significance of Dōnghzhì to other asian cultures, and how some of the traditions vary. I'm super curious to ask my family if they have any traditions to share, because I don't recall ever hearing about it before, maybe because the end of the year is so packed with holidays.

Pick this up for a story of family, adapting to change, and a hopeful holiday, whether it's a part of a different culture or your own.
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