Happy New Year! / Kung-Hsi Fa-Ts'ai! [Paperback]

DEMI DEMI (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

"In a book that is itself a celebration, Demi explains the rituals and ideas behind the Chinese New Year festival. The last 15 days of the old year are spent cleaning and preparing. On the eve of the new moon, a special feast is prepared. Each food has meaning: pork, for example, brings wealth. The first 15 days of the new year are spent celebrating with lion dances, firecrackers, and other activities. Demi's characteristic tiny, lively figures illustrate each page, with several spreads devoted to small, labeled pictures identifying things associated with the holiday, such as 14 heavenly beings. Infused with joy and filled with information, this will be a fine purchase for most libraries."--Booklist

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Happy Chinese New Year!" this lovely book exuberantly proclaims. Full of extraordinary, richly colorful illustrations resembling lacquered boxes, this book is as visually delicious as Demi's previous books The Stonecutter and The Empty Pot. Children will love closely examining the flurry of activity associated with this important holiday. They will also appreciate the accompanying minimal, straightforward descriptions of everything from heavenly beings to candied coconut. As they learn the basics of this ancient holiday, they'll also enjoy finding their own animal sign of the Chinese New Year based on the year of their birth: "Each Chinese year is named after an animal, and each animal has certain characteristics. Because the moon's cycle begins again every 12 years, there are 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac--one for each year of the lunar cycle." The book proceeds to romp through sections such as "Sweep and Dust," "Make a Fresh Start," "Decorate!," "Paint and Parade!," and "Cook." "Pop! Pop! Pop!" explains the importance of firecrackers in the New Year celebration. This delightful, elaborate picture book is a fine introduction to the Chinese New Year. (Ages 4 to 8) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3?With delightful charm and simplicity, Demi offers readers a lovely look at the Chinese New Year. The vibrant, colorful double-page spreads are full of small, stylized cartoon drawings of Chinese children and adults dancing and smiling as they prepare for and participate in the festivities. The author clearly explains traditions; the always-fascinating animal zodiac; the vast array of gods and heavenly beings that are honored; and the symbolism behind special foods, signs, and rituals. Primary-grade assignments will be enriched by this jewel-toned picture-book presentation. It's just unfortunate that there is no pronunciation guide for the many words, names, and foods mentioned.?Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Dragonfly Books; Bilingual edition (December 28, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517885921
• ISBN-13: 978-0517885925
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #422,830 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > Children's Books > Education & Reference > Citizenship

More About the Author

Demi was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and now lives in Yarrow Point, Washington. Demi is the author and illustrator of more than one hundred children's books, including picture-book biographies. Her work has received numerous awards and accolades.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very cultural, brilliantly written & illustrated!, December 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Happy New Year! Kung-Hsi Fa-Ts'Ai (Hardcover)

I highly recommend this book to anybody who wants to learn about the Chinese tradition and culture when celebrating the lunar New Year. I especially recommend it to the younger Chinese-American parents who want their children to learn about the value & meaning of celebrating Chinese New Year. Next to our older Chinese parents and grandparents, this book is absolutely wonderful in explaining how Chinese New Year is celebrated!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Classroom Stimulant, February 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Happy New Year! / Kung-Hsi Fa-Ts'ai! (Paperback)

Need an excuse to explore ethnic and religious holidays and practices? This is your vehicle. The interesting and exciting practices surrounding Chinese New Year can so easily be compared in writing, drama and story-telling of many other cultures. You cannot go wrong with this book.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply written and beautifully illustrated, January 15, 2001

By 

Elizabeth Yu - See all my reviews

This review is from: Happy New Year! / Kung-Hsi Fa-Ts'ai! (Paperback)

This is a simply written and beautifully illustrated book about the Chinese New Year. Through delicate line drawings and jewel like colors the author/illustrator captures the essence of Chinese mythical creatures, flora, fauna, heavenly creatures and mortals. We learn about Chinese zodiac symbols, gods, how Chinese people prepare for the New Year, why they eat special kinds of foods on New Year's Day, the symbolism of specific flowers as gifts, and the meanings of Chinese characters hung on doorways. Demi is the talented author and illustrator of many children's books with Chinese themes. This book is definitely one of my favorites.