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40 pp.
| Holt/Godwin
| January, 2022
|
TradeISBN 978-1-250-77818-5$18.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Lynn Scurfield.
Before moving to America, Dandan and her family celebrate Lunar New Year in China with her best friend Yueyue and her family. They eat egg-and-chive filled dumplings dipped in black vinegar and soy sauce; later, the girls make celebratory red paper snowflakes, and Yueyue gives Dandan paper supplies to bring to America. The move proves lonely and difficult for Dandan, until she makes a friend whose favorite color is also red. With bright, warm colors and curved shapes, Scurfield enhances the tender story's hopeful tone. An author's note provides more details about Chinese New Year; instructions for making cut-paper snowflakes are also appended.
40 pp.
| Holt
| January, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-1-250-13338-0$17.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Joey Chou.
The Chinese Zodiac animals (plus Cat) join Ruby on her journey to spend Chinese New Year with her grandmother. Brightly colored digital illustrations include visual cultural markers and draw on Chinese aesthetics, elevating the festive (if somewhat predictable) narrative. The book includes directions for three related crafts and a brief description of the Chinese Zodiac legend. A welcome #OwnVoices addition to collections seeking Chinese New Year picture books. Holiday craft directions appended.
(4)
4-6
Orca Origins series.
These installments are attractive but rather diffuse in focus. Chinese New Year offers substantive information about the holiday and its celebration in China, North America, and other places where Chinese people have settled. Birthdays covers customs in historical times and in modern-day countries. Excellent color photographs and intimate personal anecdotes are highlights. Recipes and activities are scattered throughout both texts. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Orca Origins titles: Chinese New Year and Birthdays.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Renné Benoit.
PoPo (grandmother) comes from China to the U.S. to teach her granddaughter and baby grandson traditional ways to bring in a lucky new year. The story lacks conflict and character development, but the book works as nonfiction; information about Chinese New Year traditions is shared through the narrative text and in callout boxes. Friendly watercolor illustrations add warmth. Complicated craft instructions included.
32 pp.
| Whitman
| December, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8075-5642-9$16.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Alina Chau.
In contemporary Shanghai, Xingling saves her city from the Nian Monster, traditionally scared away each Chinese New Year by "loud sounds, fire, and the color red." Xingling outsmarts the monster, staving him off with festive foods, then finally sending him skyward at the fireworks. Festive watercolors of city scenes add to the celebration in this humorous holiday read-aloud. Author's note included.
(4)
4-6
Batman: Li'l Gotham series.
Illustrated by
Dustin Nguyen.
Characters from the Batman universe--both heroes and villains--feature in holiday-themed stories. It's standard Batman fare, but the illustrations depart from typical American comics: instead of pen-and-ink, the muted panel artwork is rendered in watercolor and looks a bit like sloppy manga. While this gives the volumes something of a lighthearted air, the style won't appeal to purists. Visual prompts and questions are appended. Glos. Review covers these Batman: Li'l Gotham titles: Christmas and New Year's Eve, Halloween and Thanksgiving, and Valentine's Day and the Lunar New Year.
32 pp.
| Charlesbridge
| January, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-1-58089-625-8$16.95
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Grace Zong.
This entertaining Goldilocks takeoff is set during the Chinese New Year celebration, when Goldy Luck takes a gift to her panda neighbors. Familiar incidents follow--featuring (rice) porridge, a broken chair, and a nap--all portrayed with zest in the illustrations. In an ending that suits the setting, Goldy has second thoughts and returns to apologize. New Year facts and a turnip cake recipe are included.
24 pp.
| Millbrook
| April, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-5078-1$23.93
|
PaperISBN 978-0-7613-8579-0$6.95
(4)
K-3
Cloverleaf Books: Holidays and Special Days series.
Illustrated by
Katie Saunders.
Children from different cultural groups describe their families' celebrations. Information about the occasions is included in the simplistic stories, but text boxes provide more details than the young narrators do. Bright, cheerful illustrations will draw readers to these introductions. Birthday focuses on U.S. customs but mentions other traditions. An activity concludes each volume. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf Books: Holidays and Special Days titles: Brandon's Birthday Surprise, Chelsea's Chinese New Year, and Marco's Cinco de Mayo.
40 pp.
| Candlewick
| December, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-4642-4$16.99
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Yan Nascimbene.
Vinson is his American name, but his grandfather, visiting from China, calls him by his Chinese name, Ming Da. Grandpa teaches his impatient grandson the slow, careful exercises of tai chi, and eventually he and Ming Da play a pivotal role in the Chinese New Year parade. Realistic, luminous watercolor illustrations show the family’s balance of the traditional and the modern.
Reviewer: Robin L. Smith
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2012
32 pp.
| Dutton
| January, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-525-42068-2$16.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Sebastià Serra.
Set in long-ago China, this story tells of Ming Zhang and his poor but deserving family. On New Year's Eve, Ming buys a magical wok, which promptly sets out to transfer riches from the greedy Li family to the Zhangs, who share it with others. The detailed, vigorous illustrations reflect the mischievous wok's energy. A recipe and Chinese New Year festival facts are appended.
40 pp.
| Candlewick
| December, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-5881-6$15.99
(2)
PS
Illustrated by
Zhu Cheng-Liang.
Little Maomao and her mother prepare both for Chinese New Year and for her father's annual return home (he works far away). The harmonious gouache paintings use lots of red and bright colors. This award-winning import is an excellent introduction to Chinese New Year in China and a poignant, thoughtful examination of the joys and sorrows of families living apart.
(3)
4-6
Artie brags to his tough cousin Petey about providing all the fireworks for Chinese New Year. With time running out before the celebration, Artie's uncle Chester makes a gracious sacrifice to help his nephew save face. The easy-to-follow story introduces readers to Chinese New Year traditions. Yep's preface explains that the 1950s-set tale is based on his own childhood memories. Bib.
32 pp.
| Boyds
| September, 2009
|
TradeISBN 978-1-59078-610-9$16.95
(4)
K-3
During Chinese New Year, a woman and her daughter receive a letter from their family in China. With it comes a gift: a dragon carved by one uncle from a stone found by another uncle strung on a cord by an aunt and sent across the world for their niece. An author's note extends this slim but heartfelt story illustrated with atmospheric watercolors.
(4)
K-3
Looking Glass Library: Cultural Holidays series.
Illustrated by
Holli Conger.
The stories behind each celebration, its significance, and traditions are presented in straightforward but limited texts. Bright, cheery illustrations of round-faced revelers help readers visualize the experiences. Cinco includes recipes and a song; Chinese has a song and a calendar. Glos., ind. Review covers these Looking Glass Library: Cultural Holidays titles: Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year, and Cinco de Mayo.
32 pp.
| Enslow/Elementary
| April, 2009
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7660-3101-2$22.60
(4)
K-3
Holidays--Count and Celebrate! series.
In a counting book format, brightly colored photographs (occasionally repetitive) and brief texts introduce a holiday's customs and symbols. Each double-page spread prompts readers to count something in an accompanying photograph; the choppy texts provide some information about the photo subject. This series offers an accessible way to learn about holidays. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Holidays--Count and Celebrate! titles: Chinese New Year--Count and Celebrate!, Cinco de Mayo--Count and Celebrate!, Kwanzaa--Count and Celebrate!, and Martin Lither King, Jr. Day--Count and Celebrate!.
182 pp.
| Little
| January, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-0-316-11426-4$14.99
(2)
4-6
The Year of the Rat brings major change for Pacy (The Year of the Dog), as her best friend moves away. Pacy also starts doubting her resolution to become a writer/illustrator. Lin deftly handles Pacy's dilemmas and internal struggles with sensitivity and tenderness, keeping a hopeful and childlike tone that will inspire empathy. Appealing line drawings appear throughout.
(3)
K-3
A Chinese American girl describes her family's preparations for the Lunar New Year. Her impatience for the big moment moves the story along until the dragon dance, depicted on a long foldout page, finally ushers in the new year. Illustrations featuring Lin's signature clean, bright gouache patterns accompany the tale. An appended spread supplies additional information about the holiday.
48 pp.
| Enslow/Elementary
| January, 2008
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7660-3038-1$23.93 New ed. (1994)
(4)
K-3
Best Holiday Books series.
This useful but unexciting revised and updated series presents the historical origins of these culturally diverse holidays and the ways they are observed. Many captioned photographs of public festivals featuring traditional foods, music, and clothing, when applicable decorate the pages. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Best Holiday Books titles: St. Patrick's Day, Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year, Mardi Gras, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
48 pp.
| Enslow/Elementary
| February, 2008
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7660-2950-7$23.93
(4)
K-3
Paper Craft Fun for Holidays series.
A two-page overview of the significance of each holiday is followed by simple instructions for making eight related paper crafts. Patterns to trace are appended but will have to be enlarged by an adult with access to a photocopier. Advanced scissors skills will be required for some projects (e.g., cutting out complicated Chinese symbols and pop-up "Kwanzaa words"). Reading list, websites. Ind. Review includes these Paper Craft Fun for Holidays titles: Paper Crafts for Chinese New Year, Paper Crafts for the Day of the Dead, and Paper Crafts for Kwanzaa.
32 pp.
| National
| December, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4263-0381-4$15.95
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4263-0382-1$23.90
(3)
K-3
Holidays Around the World series.
With colorful photographs and simple, informative text, Otto details the traditions and rituals of Chinese New Year, including travel, family, gifts, plentiful food, and decorations. The use of "we" throughout feels welcoming and inclusive. Appended are instructions for making a Chinese lantern, a recipe for fortune cookies, and information on the Chinese calendar. Reading list, websites. Glos.