Recently released just in time for Chinese New Year comes one of China’s top grossing family films and Disney’s first Chinese language film, The Secret of the Magic Gourd. It’s the story of a young boy, Raymond, a daydreamer whose vivid imagination has made him an outcast at school.

On a solo fishing trip, Raymond reels in the mysterious Magic Gourd, who offers to make all his wishes come true. When each of Raymond’s seemingly simple wishes backfires, creating unintentionally hilarious consequences for the boy, he realizes that “there’s no such thing as an unearned reward,” but with a little hard work, he can create his own kind of magic and achieve his dreams.

If you love Chinese children’s folk tales, you’ll enjoy it since the movie is based on the Chinese children’s novel, The Secret of the Magic Gourd. In addition to the English soundtrack, Mandarin and Cantonese soundtracks are also available on the same DVD – great practice for all of you learning Mandarin or Cantonese!

High School Musical’s Corbin Bleu’s does the voice for the character of Bailey the Gourd. If that doesn’t get your reluctant tween to watch the movie, I don’t know what will.

My children enjoyed watching The Secret of the Magic Gourd. They have cousins who live in Hong Kong, and I know they’d love it, too.

A movie and a meal

There’s nothing like combining a movie with a meal. Since The Secret of the Magic Gourd is based on a Chinese story, get the kids in the kitchen to make some delicious Chinese dishes.

Here are a few ideas:

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  • Books, activities, and recipes for Chinese New Year – includes a recipe for Chinese Pork Dumplings.
  • Kung Fu Panda does dim sum – includes a recipe for Spicy Rice Balls and instructions on how to properly steam the dim sum you get in the frozen section of your local Asian market.
  • From About.com Scallion Pancakes – Children love rolling out the dough and shaping the pancakes. For dessert, try Hot Bananas in Coconut Milk or Mooncakes.
  • From suite101.com Chinese Food Recipes for Kids including Hot and Sour Soup, Beggar’s Chicken, and Sago Pudding Dessert.

Don’t forget the chop sticks!

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