Yong Chen

I very much enjoyed this story! Far away from her mother and things that remind her of the New Year, a little girl grows homesick. A package arrives from family and uncles in China that helps her remember the people and places she misses. The package includes a gift of a bracelet, likely special for family remembering her and wonderful for remembering family and friends far away.

There is not very much information or backstory to Chinese New year, but this is a beautifully illustrated book with broad takeaways.… (mer)

Amy’s mother always feels homesick whenever it’s Chinese New Year because her family is half way across the world. Amy has never meet her Uncle Zhong, Uncle Ming, or Aunt Mei, but they often send her letters. This Chinese New Year, her aunt and uncles sent her a dragon necklace that is the symbol of China. This short story allows the reader to take a brief tour of parts of China through the text but also through the beautiful illustrations. It surprised me that the main point was not about the Chinese New Year, but about how Amy's aunt and uncles found and made her necklace. I wished that the book gave more information about Chinese New Year's (although it does go into detail on the author's note page). Overall, I really enjoyed the illustrations and gain a small insight of a different culture.… (mer)