(1) K-3 It’s been a long wait for this fifth book in the early-reader series (the most recent was Ling & Ting: Together in All Weather, rev. 1/16), but this entry arrives just in time for Lunar New Year—a subject author-illustrator Lin has previously covered in picture-book and novel form. Indeed, twins Ling and Ting can be seen consulting Lin’s book Bringing In the New Year—a fun-to-spot meta-moment for fans. Like the newly independent readers of this book, the young sisters are on their own, with no adult help required: Lin’s vibrantly colored illustrations show them as they clean the house, co-write a two-line poem, fill a bowl with oranges, make lion costumes, and perform a lion dance. As always in this series, humor is the big draw, with punny jokes (“What do dragons like to eat during Lunar New Year?” “Fire-CRACKERS!”) and silly situations well engineered to tickle the target audience. The unique personalities of each sister add to the comedy: practical Ling begins the poem on a serious note (“The old crane steps outside my window, so near”) while goofy Ting reliably lightens things up (“Hey, New Year, come inside this door right here”). Readers encountering these twins for the first (or fifth) time are most definitely “two times lucky.”

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2026

(3) K-3 Two young siblings learn more about Lunar New Year celebrations in this ebullient early reader. A team of lion dancers is practicing at Lily and Noah’s kung fu club; the older dancers are eager to share the meaning behind the festive tradition as well as how the dancers move their bodies and manipulate the lion costume. Shum’s dynamic ink and watercolor illustrations are full of movement and expression -- especially spreads that feature dancing lions in action -- and symbolic tones of yellow, red, green, and blue are used throughout. This is an informative, accessible introduction to a joyful cultural tradition.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald