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Friday, January 6, 2012

Chinese New Year Literature-Books-Ideas


Children's Literature
"Celebrating Chinese New Year by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith.
Holiday House, 1999.
Ryan and his family prepare to celebrate Chinese New Year in their home and community of Chinatown in San Francisco. Pictures show the shopping for symbolic foods and flowers, a trip to the cemetery to honor ancestors, the gathering of the clan, preparing meals, attending the parade, and more. Grades K-4

Chinese New Year's Dragon by Rachel Sing. Aladdin, 1994.
A little girl tells the story of her modern middle class family's Chinese New Year celebration. The girl cleans the house in her jeans, but she wears traditional clothing (with red sneakers) for the family party. The magical happening is a tiny, dreamy moment when the girl feels she's back in ancient China, watching the celebration from a dragon's back. The pictures show a world in which tradition intersects a nontraditional world: the New Year's fireworks explode against an urban skyline. Grades 3-5

Chinese New Year by Catherine Chambers. Raintree/Steck Vaughn, 1997
This entry in the “"World of Holidays"” series describes the traditions, ceremonies, and foods associated with the celebration of the Chinese New Year. The rites and rituals the Chinese use to celebrate their New Year include no washing or baths on New Year's Day, firecrackers, charms made of peach wood, poems written on red paper, drums, dancing lions, and lighting lanterns. Grades 2-5.

Chinese New Year by Alice K. Flanagan. Compass Point Books, 2003
This book explores the history, customs, and symbols of Chinese New Year. Learn how Chinese New Year has changed over time and how it is celebrated around the world. Flanagan’s illustrated history is also filled with interesting and unusual facts about the holiday such as what foods can be found on the Tray of Togetherness and why the color red is important.

The Chinese New Year Mystery (Nancy Drew Notebooks, No 39) by Carolyn Keene. Aladdin, 2000.
The third-grade classes at Nancy's school are learning about Chinese culture, and they will celebrate the Chinese New Year with a special parade. The highlight of the parade will be a dragon costume that Nancy's class is making out of feathers, sequins, gold tassels, and red silk. But right before the big day, the dragon disappears! Grades 2-5

The Dancing Dragon by Marcia K. Vaughan. Mondo, 1996.
The Chinese New Year is about to begin. There's lots to do--tie strings of firecrackers outside, hang up red scrolls, bake special cakes, and sing New Year's songs. And when family and friends are gathered together, it's time for the parade to begin. Grades K-4

Gung Hay Fat Choy by June Behrens. Children's Press, 1989.
This nonfiction book is good for introducing the traditions of Chinese New Year. It has photographs of parades, families celebrating the holiday, and the traditional Lion Dance (dragon dance). Grades K-4

Happy New Year! Kung-Hsi Fa-Ts'Ai: Kung-Hsi Fa-Ts'Ai by Demi. Dragonfly, 1999.
Children examine the flurry of activity associated with the Chinese New Year. Includes descriptions of everything from heavenly beings to candied coconut. Children will also find their own animal sign of the Chinese New Year based on the year of their birth. Chinese and English. Grades K-4

Lion Dancer: Ernie Wan's Chinese New Year by Kate Waters and Madeline Slovenz-Low. Scholastic, 1991.
On the Chinese New Year, six-year-old Ernie will perform his first Lion Dance. The book provides an intimate look at a Chinese household as the family shares a proud moment with Ernie. This is an NCSS Notable Book. Grades K-4

Long-Long's New Year: A Story About The Chinese Spring Festival by Catherine Gower. Tuttle Publishing, 2005.
To earn money for the upcoming Spring Festival (also known as Chinese New Year), Long-Long and his grandfather take a bicycle cart loaded with cabbages into town on market day. At first everyone overlooks their wares, but Long-Long befriends a cook who berates a nearby seller for her inferior cabbages. Soon, buyers flock to Long-Long and his grandfather instead. Their cabbage sales are so successful that Grandpa gives Long-Long 10 yuan, which he spends on presents for his mother and little sister. Grade K-4

My Chinese New Year by Monica Hughes. Raintree, 2005.
Discover the wonders of Chinese New Year festivals. This book looks at the preparations for Chinese New Year, what people wear, the food that is eaten, and why it’s celebrated. Follow a young child as he gets involved in the preparations and celebrations. Grades K-3

Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn. Lee & Low, 1997.
This is a tale of a young boy eager to spend his lucky money on Chinese New Year's Day. As Sam searches the streets of Chinatown for ways to spend his four dollars, he stumbles upon a stranger in need. After he decides to give, rather than spend, his money, Sam realizes that he's the lucky one. Grades K-4

When the Circus Came to Town by Laurence Yep. HarperCollins, 2001.
This heartwarming historical tale is based on real events. Ursula lives in a tiny Montana town with her parents and a Chinese cook, Ah Sam. After a blizzard scuttles Ah Sam's plans to spend Chinese New Year in San Francisco, she rallies the whole town to plan an elaborate celebration of that holiday. Bolstered by themes of compassion, community and tolerance, this story is among Yep's best. Grades K-3"

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