Ying Chang Compestine

Ying Chang Compestine was born and raised in Wuhan, China.^[1] Her family was considered "bourgeois," so the Red Guard took her family's belongings and her father was put in jail twice.^[4] Because of the family's difficulties, Compestine was sent to live with her grandparents.^[4]

Compestine earned a degree in English and American literature and taught English in China.^[1] She also worked as an interpreter for China's Bureau of Seismology.^[1]

Compestine graduated with a master's degree in Sociology from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1990.^[5][6] She met her husband just before she finished graduate school.^[7] Before becoming an award-winning author, she taught sociology at various universities and colleges in the U.S. and China until 1998.

After immigrating to the United States, Compestine taught sociology and writing at universities in both the U.S. and China.^[8][1] Compestine has received various education awards including the Master Teacher Award from both Front Range Community College (1991-1992) and the International School of Beijing (2000).^[1]

Compestine has hosted several cooking shows on Chinese Language News Broadcaster for Phoenix North America Chinese Channel, as well as appearing as a guest on the Food Network, Discovery Channel,^[9] and HGTV.^[1] She also worked a food editor for Martha Stewart’s Body + Soul magazine^[7] and is a contributor for Cooking Light, EatingWell, Self, and Men's Health.^[10][11][12] Compestine is also a spokesperson for Nestle and Celestial Seasonings.^[13]

Compestine began writing after her son was born, creating the cookbook, Secrets of Fat-Free Chinese Cooking (1997).^[7] She began writing children's books after her parents died, because she missed China and her family.^[7] Since then she has written numerous children's books, and is actively writing today.

Her book Revolution is Not a Dinner Party (2007) is based on her life growing up in China.^[7] The book has been featured on several lists, such as the 2008 American Library Association's (ALA) Best Books for Young Readers, and Publishers Weekly's best children's books for 2007.^[14]

Compestine co-authored Secrets of The Terra Cotta Soldier, with her son Vinson in 2014.^[15][16]

Her most recent picture book, Growing Up Under a Red Flag (2024), illustrated by Xinmei Liu, is a memoir recounting her childhood during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. It has received three "starred reviews" from the School Library Journal,^[17] Publisher's Weekly,^[18] and Booklist^[19] as well as high praise from the Wall Street Journal,^[20] Kirkus Reviews,^[21] Book Riot,^[22] the Association of Children's Librarians of Northern California,^[23] Mother's Magazine,^[24] Bay Area News Group,^[25] ArcaMax Publishing,^[26] and more. It has also been awarded the Gold Standard Selection by the Junior Library Guild.^[27]

Her other recent picture book, Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu (2024) illustrated by Crystal Kung, has received praise from Kirkus Reviews,^[28] Publisher's Weekly,^[29] and the School Library Journal.^[30] It has also been featured on California’s notable stations, KQED^[31] and ABC7@7, and chosen as a Common Sense Selection by Common Sense Media.^[32]

Her most recent middle-grade novel, Morning Sun in Wuhan (2022) has received praise from The San Francisco Chronicle^[33] and The Mercury News.^[34] It was selected as A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year,^[35] an NCSS 2023 Notable Social Studies Trade Book,^[36] and was chosen as a Gold Standard Selection by the Junior Library Guild.^[37]

Her young adult novel, A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts, is currently being adapted into an animated TV series by 108 Media.^[38]

She has two upcoming books: The Chinese New Year Helper, a story of a young girl helping to celebrate the Chinese New Year, and an untitled Chinese comic cookbook.

Compestine has been a sought-after keynote speaker/chef at high-end cruise ships, resorts, and private jets, such as The World,^[39] Silver Sea, Crystal, Canyon Ranch, and TCS World Travel.

She presents on a wide variety of topics, from Rising above Adversity, about her life in China during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, healthy living and cooking, to writing/publishing books.

Common speaking themes include: Inspirational Speaking, Healthy Eating and Cooking, and Writing Programs. This includes her Writer-in-Residence Program, where she spends one to two weeks working with students and teachers to inspire growth in reading and writing.^[40]

• Buddha Jumps Over a Wall and Other Curiously Named Chinese Dishes. Chronicle Books. Release date: March 2025.
• The Chinese New Year Helper. Rocky Pond Books. Release date: December 2024.
• Growing Up Under a Red Flag. Rocky Pond Books. 2024. ISBN 978-0593533987.
• Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu. Rocky Pond Books. 2024. ISBN 978-0593533055.
• Dragon Noodle Party. Holiday House. 2022. ISBN 978-0823449507.
• Morning Sun in Wuhan. Clarion Books. 2022. ISBN 978-0358572053.
• Little Red Riding Hood and the Dragon. Abrams Books for Young Readers. 2022 ISBN 978-1419737282.
• D is for Dragon Dance (Chinese/English bilingual edition). Holiday House. 2018.
• Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party (German translation). Verlagshaus Jacoby & Stuart. 2018.
• The Chinese Emperor's New Clothes. Abrams Books For Young Readers. 2018. ISBN 978-1419725425.
• The Chinese Emperor's New Clothes (Audiobook Sample). Abrams Books For Young Readers. 2018.
• A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts: A collection of Deliciously Frightening Tales. Tumbling Dumpling Media. 2016. ISBN 978-0997218701.
• The Story of Chopsticks. Immedium. 2016. ISBN 9781597021203.
• The Story of Kites. Immedium. 2016. ISBN 978-1597021319.
• The Story of Paper. Immedium. 2016. ISBN 978-1597021234.
• Boy Dumplings: A Tasty Chinese Tale. Immedium. 2016. ISBN 978-1597021197.
• Secrets of The Terra Cotta Soldier. with Vinson Compestine. Abrams Books. 2014. ISBN 978-1419705403.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
• Cooking with an Asian Accent. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2014. ISBN 978-1118130759.
• Ying's Best One-Dish Meals: Quick & Healthy Recipes for the Entire Family. Sellers Publishing, Inc. 2011. ISBN 978-1416206439.
• The Runaway Wok. Dutton Books for Young Readers. 2011. ISBN 978-0525420682.
• Crouching Tiger. Candlewick. 2011. ISBN 978-0763646424.
• Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party. Henry Holt & Co. 2007. ISBN 978-0997218701.
• The Real Story of Stone Soup. Dutton Books for Young Readers. 2007. ISBN 978-0525474937.
• D is For Dragon Dance. Holiday House Inc. 2007. ISBN 9780823420582.
• The Story of Noodles. Holiday House. 2002. ISBN 0823416003.
• Secrets From a Healthy Asian Kitchen. Avery. 2002. ISBN 9781583331279.
• The Runaway Rice Cake. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. 2001. ISBN 0689829728.
• Cooking With Green Tea. Avery. 2000. ISBN 9781583330654.
• Secrets of Fat-free Chinese Cooking. Avery. 1997. ISBN 0895297353.

• Ying Chang Compestine