Name: The Runaway Wok
ISBN: 9781101642696

Ying Chang Compestine

When a boy goes to the market to buy food and comes home with an old wok instead, his parents wonder what they'll eat for dinner. But then the wok rolls out of the poor family's house with a skippity-hoppity-ho! and returns from the rich man's home with a feast in tow! With spirited text and lively illustrations, this story reminds readers about the importance of generosity.

A Chinese New Year Tale

The Runaway Wok

When a young boy from a poor Chinese family brings home a mysterious old wok instead of the food his parents instructed him to buy, the wok surprises the hungry family by rolling out of the house and returning full of delicious food given to them by a rich neighbor.

Sarah Sammis

The Runaway Wok by Ying Chang Compestine is a retelling of the Dutch story The Talking Pot. The story is moved to China and set around the Chinese New Year. Ming is sent to town to buy some food but comes home with a beat up but magical wok instead.

In previous magical pot stories I've read, the pot is always full. This one, though, has a life of its own and goes in search of food from those who can spare it but don't want to share. The wok seeks out a rich man's table and comes home with a feast for Ming's family.

The Runaway Wok includes a recipe for fried rice. We didn't try it but it's there for families who want to.

The book was a big hit with both of my children. They read it for Chinese New Year first at school and then at home. It was in their re-read pile for about a month.

The Runaway Wok A Chinese New Year Tale

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