Happy New Year! [Hardcover]

Emery Bernhard (Author)

Book Description

A look at ancient and modern New Year's customs throughout the world teaches young readers why Nigerian children remain indoors until the old year is over, why Americans celebrate the new year in Times Square, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5?This well-researched, appealing book describes how people celebrate the new year, not only in the U.S., but also in such varied places as Bali, Ethiopia, India, China, and Japan. Discussion of historical perspective and the significance of the holiday in different religions lends authority to the text. Bright, bold illustrations enhance the multicultural theme. Dianne M. MacMillan's Tet (Enslow, 1994) and June Behrens's Gung Hay Fat Choy (Children's, 1982) discuss the new year celebrations in Vietnam and China.?Pamela K. Bomboy, Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-5, younger for reading aloud. In this attractive, informative volume, Bernhard explains the history and superstitions surrounding the New Year holiday and describes how ancient and modern day cultures celebrate. He begins by associating the history of New Year celebrations with the coming of spring, then briefly discusses the basis of various cultures' calendars. From there, he skips around, jumping from New York City's Times Square to ancient Rome to the Wild West. The lack of a logical time progression may confuse some children, who won't grasp whether what is being discussed is current practice or part of history. However, the colorful illustrations provide a few time clues and also give youngsters a sense of each culture's landscape and dress. Libraries promoting multiculturalism will want to add this to their collections. Lauren Peterson

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525675329
• ISBN-13: 978-0525675327
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,611,899 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Customs of Different Cultures Celebrating the New Year, February 8, 2002

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Happy New Year! (Hardcover)

"Happy New Year" will teach children not only that different cultures around the world celebrate the new year in many different ways, but that they also do it at different times of the year. This book also takes us into the past to learn how the ancient Greeks, Romans and Druids viewed the coming of the new year. Emery Bernhard explains how in ancient times people were not always sure that spring would come again and so there were rituals involved to help appease the gods and spirit. Consequently, this book explains not only how the people of Bali, Ecuador, Japan, Egypt and so on welcome the new year but why they do what they do. We learn why noise-making is important in greeting the new year, why the Burmese pour buckets of water on each other, and why Jewish families eat apples dipped in honey. Children will learn about customs from throughout the world, some of which they would even be able to do in their own classrooms. For example, in Columbia the tradition is to put an egg in a glass of water and watching how it changes to predict what will happen in the coming new year. Sounds like fun, huh? Artist Durga Bernhard provides colorful illustrations for each of the many lands children will visit in reading this informative book. Remember, this book can be useful for any time when people are celebrating their new year and not just at the end of our calendar year.