Monday, January 03, 2005

Books

For my favorites in a different format, see my Amazon Chinese New Year favorites List-mania.

To read-to a group:
  • Dancing Dragon ** by Marcia Vaughn CNY
    Great for Chinese New Year. An accordion-fold book - practice before reading to a group!
  • Red is a Dragon: A Book of Colors by Rosemary Thong
    (not a Chinese New Year story but fun for school this time of year) I prefer her Round is a Mooncake if you did not use it for Moon Festival in the fall. See how many of the things mentioned you can bring in to share and pass around.
  • The Rooster's Antlers: A Story of the Chinese Zodiac * by Eric Kimmel CNY
    Beautiful illustrations.
  • This Next New Year by Janet S. Wong CNY
    Rhyming text. Good for Chinese New Year. RL 4-8 years
  • Paper Lanterns by Stefan Czernecki
    Nice story. I like the pictures of the papercut lanterns even more than the story illustrations.
e-books
Celebrating the Chinese New Year cute

More fiction, mostly longer books:

  • Fu-Dog ** by Rumer Godden
    This lovely adventure is set in England where two half-Chinese children meet their Chinese relatives. I like it a lot but it is a “long” book. Refers to Chinese New Year. CNY
  • Silk Peony, Parade Dragon by Elizabeth Steckman and Carol Inouye
  • The Last Dragon by Susan Miho Nunes
    Ten year old boy finds, repairs and then uses a parade dragon. Set in an American Chinatown.

Still good, but not my favorites:

  • Chinese New Year's Dragon by Rachel Sing (Chinese New Year) CNY
  • Lion Dancer: Ernie Wan's Chinese New Year by Kate Waters CNY
    6 year old Ernie performs his first Lion Dance. Good for Chinese New Year. RL 4-8 years
  • Yum Yum Dim Sum (World Snacks) (Board book) by Amy Wilson Sanger
    We love her first book of sushi but this did not seem as good. It’s seems to have gotten mixed reviews.
  • Dragon Dance a Chinese New Year: A Chinese New Year Lift-The-Flap Book by Joan Holub CNY
  • Lanterns and Firecrackers: A Chinese New Year Story (Festival Time) by Johnny Zucker, Jan Barger Cohen CNY
    Chinese family prepares for New Year. Read-to preschoolers. Read by 1st graders. Includes suggestions (to parents) for celebrating.
  • Sam and the Lucky Moneyby Karen Chinn, et. al. CNY
    Fiction. Introduces Chinatown. Forces the reader to think about giving and appreciation. Pre-reading required. Not a personal favorite.
  • The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin (middle grade novel)

Reference books:

  • Happy New Year! Kung-Hsi Fa-Ts'Ai: Kung-Hsi Fa-Ts'Ai by Demi CNY
  • Celebrating Chinese New Year by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith, Lawrence Migdale.
    A young boy and his family prepare for Chinese New Year. Photos. CNY
  • Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes by Nina Simonds, Leslie Swartz CNY, MAF
    Background, crafts, recipes, and legends for 5 Chinese holidays: Chinese New Year, Lantern Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Qing Ming and Dragon Boat Festival.
  • Chinese New Year by Sarah Moyse CNY
  • Chinese New Year by Diane M. MacMillan. CNY
  • Chinese New Year for Kids by Cindy Roberts CNY
    Historical background, directions for snacks, crafts and games. Good for teachers.

Other Chinese New Year books:

  • Happy, Happy Chinese New Year by Demi CNY
  • Lanterns and Firecrackers: A Chinese New Year Story (Festival Time) by Johnny Zucker, Jan Barger Cohen. Chinese family prepares for New Year. Read-to preschoolers. Read by 1st graders. Includes suggestions (to parents) for celebrating.
  • Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn, et. al. Fiction. Introduces Chinatown. Forces the reader to think about giving and appreciation. Pre-reading required. Not a personal favorite.
  • Gung Hay Fat Choy (Special Holiday Books) by Jane Behrens CNY
    I have not seen this one myself. Includes photos.
  • In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord
  • The Year of the Dog: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac by Oliver Chin (I have not read it. Perhaps for the youngest.)
  • The Year of the Pig: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac by Oliver Chin (I have not read it.)
  • Happy New Year! by Emery Bernhard
    New Year in different cultures
  • Chopsticks by Jon Berkeley (I have mixed feelings about this - it implies that the Chinese New Year starts with a full moon when the 15 day celebration ends with a full moon. On the other hand, I can see my uncle's Hong Kong apartment building in the illustrations.)
  • Chinese New Year for Kids by Cindy Roberts

Last updated: February 2007

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