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Shanté Keys and the New Year's Peas Hardcover – Picture Book, November 1, 2007

4.8 out of 5 stars 321 ratings

Shanté Keys loves New Year's Day! But while Grandma fixed chitlins, baked ham, greens, and cornbread, she forgot the black-eyed peas! Oh no―it'll be bad luck without them! So Shanté sets out to borrow some from the neighbors.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Bright, colorful illustrations portray Shanté's energy and determination to save her family tradition…this is a simple way to introduce young children to other cultures and traditions. The recipe for Grandma Louise’s Hoppin’ John provides a fun activity for families."―Kirkus Reviews



"In rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, this upbeat story celebrates family, community, and multiculturalism, highlighting an African-American family's New Year's food traditions, including 'lucky' black-eyed peas…The story, with abundant dialogue, is written in couplets, with all lines ending in a long 'e' sound, and the expressive art warmly portrays characters' interactions in bright, rich hues and lively detail."―Booklist



"The lighthearted rhyme presents various cultural food customs associated with the holiday. A look at New Year's traditions around the world and a recipe for Hoppin' John are appended."―School Library Journal

About the Author

Gail Piernas-Davenport has enjoyed writing since she was in grade school. She used to go in her basement and write crazy stories and novels. She lives in Illinois.

Marion Eldridge is a graduate of the Boston Museum School and Tufts University. She has illustrated numerous books and has taught illustration at the New Hampshire Institute of Art. She lives in Massachusetts.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Albert Whitman & Company
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 1, 2007
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0807573302
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0807573303
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13 ounces
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 8 years
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.75 x 0.35 x 8.5 inches
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 9 - 3
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 321 ratings

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Gail Piernas-Davenport
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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
321 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a wonderful read-aloud that teaches about different cultural traditions, with charming and colorful illustrations. Moreover, they appreciate its fun approach to celebrating New Year's Day, and one customer notes how the rhyming text rolls easily off the tongue. Additionally, they value its effectiveness as a teaching tool, with one mentioning it's great for classroom use.

18 customers mention "Language"18 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's language, describing it as a cute story about different cultures, with one customer noting it's an adorable book for teaching cultural traditions.

"...I love the well-written story, and the mixture of cultures from around the world. The recipe in the back was perfect...." Read more

"...This is such a cute and informative book...." Read more

"...It’s a cute story about different cultures and how they celebrate or bring in the new year...." Read more

"...It also promotes acceptance and diversity, and is a great way to open up discussion of different traditions among my students...." Read more

13 customers mention "Fun story"13 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's celebration of New Year's traditions, with one customer noting how it illustrates various cultural practices.

"...This covered Chinese new year to Diwali! I hate I didn’t get this sooner." Read more

"This book is a simple and fun way to introduce the ways that other families and cultures celebrate the new year." Read more

"...So fun!" Read more

"...I appreciated the different backgrounds discussed in the story." Read more

8 customers mention "Read-aloud quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy reading this book aloud, with one noting that the rhyming text rolls easily off the tongue.

"This book is beautifully illustrated. I love the well-written story, and the mixture of cultures from around the world...." Read more

"...The rhyming text rolls easily off the tongue making it a perfect read-a-loud that kids will want to hear over and over. Great for the classroom too!..." Read more

"...In addition, it is written in a rhyming fashion which is a good teaching point for my students. A nice addition to my school classroom library." Read more

"...It's rhymes are pleasing to say and hear and makes it a great read-aloud book. The illustrations are well done and very colorful...." Read more

7 customers mention "Illustrations"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the charming and colorful illustrations in the book.

"This book is beautifully illustrated. I love the well-written story, and the mixture of cultures from around the world...." Read more

"...This is such a cute and informative book...." Read more

"...The illustrations are well done and very colorful. It easily presents different cultural celebrations for the New Year, in a subtle and fun way...." Read more

"Super cute! Wasn’t expecting much as it was one of the few books about NYE. But I was blown away!" Read more

3 customers mention "Teaching effectiveness"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book effective for teaching, with one mentioning it works well in the classroom.

"...Great for the classroom too! What teacher doesn't need more books on different cultural celebrations?..." Read more

"...addition, it is written in a rhyming fashion which is a good teaching point for my students. A nice addition to my school classroom library." Read more

"Great for kids and teachers alike!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2025
    Love, love loved this book for my pre-k classroom. We read this as we came back from winter break. I have several students who celebrate different holidays so I try to find books my students can see themselves in. This covered Chinese new year to Diwali! I hate I didn’t get this sooner.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2024
    This book is a simple and fun way to introduce the ways that other families and cultures celebrate the new year.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2023
    This book is beautifully illustrated. I love the well-written story, and the mixture of cultures from around the world. The recipe in the back was perfect. I love , love, and love the book.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2025
    I read this to my second graders when they came back from New Years and we read this and did some activities over it. So fun!
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2007
    Shante's mother tells her they need some black-eyed peas to celebrate good luck in the new year. In her quest to find some black-eyed peas, Shante discovers the different ways that her neighbors celebrate the New Year. This is such a cute and informative book. The rhyming text rolls easily off the tongue making it a perfect read-a-loud that kids will want to hear over and over. Great for the classroom too! What teacher doesn't need more books on different cultural celebrations? Gail Piernas-Davenport has captured the fun and diversity of a New Year's celebration. And the colorful illustrations by Marion Eldridge are as lively as the text.
    9 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2008
    What a delightful book! Charming and whimsical,
    entertaining and informative. My kids love it
    and so do I!
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2023
    I bought this book for my daughters to add to their collection of books. It’s a cute story about different cultures and how they celebrate or bring in the new year. I appreciated the different backgrounds discussed in the story.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2021
    As a teacher, I love this story right after winter break. At that time we're still in our Social Studies unit on Culture and Traditions, and this story touches on the New Year's traditions of several cultures. It also promotes acceptance and diversity, and is a great way to open up discussion of different traditions among my students. Eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day is a tradition in my own family, which makes the introduction of the story easy and personal.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Vicky
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 22, 2019
    We used this in our nursery to tie in with our new years planning.
    Fits in with many areas of the eyes.
  • Brenda
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on February 5, 2016
    Awesome book! Thanks!
  • R
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 4, 2014
    Lovely look at new year around the world