Sure to be a pick in January as we near Chinese New Year. The book explains to readers the history behind the holiday and how people celebrate. It incorporates words in both languages to teach readers. Sections are easy to follow and text is simple to read. Graphics support reader's comprehension. Recommended for grades 2-4

In a simple, straight forward way, this book explains the history and the legend behind Chinese New Year – the most popular ancient legend is of sea monster and why the red color is associated with him.

It talks about animals of the zodiac, preparations for the Chinese New Year and its customs. It gives examples of food eaten in different regions and their meaning.

The celebration goes for 15 days and briefly explains what is being done each day.

At the end, it provides a recipe for dumplings, and how to make for example paper lanterns and dragons.

The straightforward storytelling might be easy to understand but I’m not sure how engaging the children would find it. It might be a first good read for those children who haven’t read on the subject. I found it informative and to the point. The illustrations are colorful and eye-catching.

This has been a fun series. I love finding out the traditions from other countries and other religions. I really have enjoyed the series. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

Part of a series that has been out before, this is a welcome look at Chinese New Year for the very young. We learn of when it is, the animal race that led to the Chinese zodiac, and more importantly what traditions are carried out in time for the new moon – and the full moon that closes out the celebratory fortnight later on. Crafting and cooking instructions close things off; before then the writing can be a bit bitty (a guest character of a dragon giving us trivia and factoids throughout breaks the page up, but also interferes with the chronology of it all) but is still accessible. I'd have loved a proper pronunciation guide to the Chinese phrases used, though – so perhaps three and a half stars is most accurate.

I am looking for a book to provide my nephew but did not find this an engaging enough book for him. Yes, there was a lot of encyclopedic information but the art, layout and even some of the grimness of the stories could've been done in a way that would be more visually appealing, fun to read and less scary. It appeared very much like a text book reader, which maybe is what it was aiming for but wasn't right for my tastes.

I actually really liked this book! Prior to reading this book I knew very little about the Chinese New Year, and now I know a lot more! I love how the author went into a good amount of depth when talking about the history of this holiday, but also when explaining what celebrations look like today. These celebrations and traditional foods were conveyed to the readers really well through the crisp, colorful, and beautiful illustrations. Major kudos to the illustrator, the pictures were amazing!
Additionally, this book was organized really well and made a lot of sense. Readers learn about the Chinese New Year without feeling over- or underwhelmed. However, I will say that there was a lot of repetition in this book. Mentioning the reason of certain things should only be written one to two, maybe three times. This book mentioned "red", "good luck", and "evil spirits" a few too many times. I think that including these topics is very important, but the message gets through within the first few pages of the book, and aren't needed later on.
Lastly, it was a majorly clever idea to include recipes and activities at the end of the book! This allows young readers to get involved in celebrating, and the instructions were highly comprehensive. Adding onto that, the author sprinkled in Chinese vocabulary throughout the book which enhances the educational value of this book even more.
Bravo!

This gorgeous little picture book tells you everything you need to know to enjoy Chinese New Year. I didn't know the origin story, where the red colors were used to frighten off a monster. I learned about the 15 days of celebration, what to do on each day, how to make New Year's food, and how to make my own crafts and game. The pictures were beautiful and colorful.
My favorite part was how celebrants use the new year as a fresh start by finishing tasks, paying off debts, and cleaning house. What a great way to start the new year!
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

This title is broken down into sections, beginning by introducing readers to the history of Chinese New Year, including folklore. It covers how to prepare for and celebrate Chinese New Year, including descriptions of how each of the 15 days is celebrated. The book includes recipes and activities, as well as definitions. A good addition to a public library or school library.