Come celebrate the Chinese New Year at Prairie Lights!  Writers’ Workshop alum Aaron Hwang will read from and talk about his books The Chinese Zodiac: And Other Paths to Luck, Riches & Prosperity and a brand new children’s version,  A Kid’s Guide to the Chinese Zodiac: Animal Horoscopes, Legendary Myths, and Practical Uses for Ancient Wisdom.  In the books, Hwang explains that the Lunar New Year is an ideal moment to celebrate a new year, the coming of spring—and the new Zodiac animal that governs the year. In China, the holiday occurs on the new moon closest to the start of spring and the start of China’s Solar or Farmer’s Calendar. Traditionally, the celebration lasts for fifteen days, until the Lantern Festival on the next full moon. This year, the Chinese New Year falls on Saturday February 10th and is the Year of the Dragon!  The Chinese Zodiac is a beautifully illustrated introduction to eastern astrology, perfect for discovering what your sign—Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, or Pig—says about you. A Kid’s Guide to the Chinese Zodiac offers not only the history and lore behind this ancient classification system but also practical advice for middle-grade readers (and up) on how to show love, be heard, and feel grounded; how to navigate friendships and conflict; and how to apply oneself at school and at home, all based on the qualities associated with the twelve Zodiac animals. “This user-friendly book, complemented by charts and graphics, is an engaging exploration of the strengths and weaknesses of each element and animal…. For those who observe the Chinese zodiac, this comprehensive resource fills a cultural void.”– Booklist, starred review

Aaron Hwang is a graduate of Yale University and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. He is the author of The Chinese Zodiac: And Other Paths to Luck, Riches, and Prosperity; A Kid’s Guide to the Chinese Zodiac; and Chinese Mythology: Legendary Tales of Heaven, Earth, and Beyond. Interested in myth and fantasy since childhood, Hwang has been collecting stories from around the world since he was old enough to read books with chapters. He enjoys podcasts, board games, and all things nerdy, and is currently finishing a YA Fantasy novel about a pair of twins searching for their lost brother in the Spirit World. He was born in the year of the Wood Pig, and the hour of the Wood Dragon. He lives in Iowa City.