Bringing In the New Year

A Chinese American family prepares to celebrate Lunar New Year through traditional customs and preparations. The story follows a young girl as she participates in the festivities with her parents and siblings. The text presents each step of the New Year preparations, from cleaning the house to making dumplings to dressing in new clothes. Cultural elements like red envelopes, firecrackers, and the lion dance are incorporated throughout the narrative. The book offers a window into Lunar New Year traditions while emphasizing family bonds and cultural celebration. Through simple text and bright illustrations, it demonstrates how holidays connect generations and create lasting memories.

Readers consistently rate this children's book highly for introducing Chinese New Year traditions through an approachable family story. Parents and teachers note it works well for ages 3-7. Liked: - Clear explanations of holiday customs and their meaning - Vibrant illustrations showing celebration details - Interactive lift-the-flap format engages young readers - Simple text that young children can follow - Includes both English and Chinese words Disliked: - Some found the story basic compared to Lin's other books - A few mentioned the flaps can tear easily with repeated use - Limited narrative depth for older children Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (180+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.8/5 (25+ ratings) Common reader comment: "Perfect introduction to Chinese New Year for young children - the illustrations really bring the celebrations to life." Multiple teachers noted using it annually for classroom cultural lessons.

Ruby's Chinese New Year by Vickie Lee A young girl delivers gifts to her grandmother while meeting the twelve zodiac animals during Chinese New Year celebrations.

Dragon Dance by Joan Holub Children participate in Chinese New Year traditions including red envelopes, lion dances, and festive foods.

My First Chinese New Year by Karen Katz A child shares the customs and preparations that her Chinese American family undertakes for the New Year celebration.

This Next New Year by Janet Wong A Korean Chinese American boy describes his family's customs and hopes for the Lunar New Year.

Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn A boy walks through Chinatown during New Year celebrations to spend his gift money and encounters a lesson about giving.

🎊 Author Grace Lin grew up in upstate New York as one of the only Asian Americans in her community, which inspired her to create books featuring Asian American characters and culture. 🏮 Many of the traditions depicted in the book, such as getting haircuts and cleaning before the New Year, are still practiced by millions of families celebrating Chinese New Year today. 🐲 The dragon dance, featured prominently in the book, originated during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) and was believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. 🎨 Grace Lin hand-painted all the illustrations in the book using vibrant colors that are traditionally considered lucky in Chinese culture, especially red and gold. 🗓️ Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the longest holiday of the Chinese calendar and is celebrated for 15 days, culminating in the Lantern Festival.