Yong Chen’s A Gift, A Special Chinese New Year Picture Book
A Gift written and illustrated by Yong Chen
Chinese New Year picture book published by Boyds Mills Press
Beautiful, warm illustrations accompany a gentle, heart-warming story in A Gift
Chinese New Year is usually spent with friends and family but, for Amy’s mom, it is a time to feel homesick. Her brothers and sister live in far away China. When a package arrives from China for Amy, she and her mom are excited to open it and read the accompanying letter. The letter explains that, while working in a field, Amy’s uncle found a beautiful stone. Amy’s Uncle Zhong subsequently took the stone to his brother, her Uncle Ming, who spent many days carving and polishing the stone until his work revealed a lovely dragon. The carved dragon, a symbol of China, will be worn by Amy on a red string necklace, symbolizing luck.
Readers will note the contrast between Amy’s western-style family home and her uncles’ rural, Chinese experience. Many important details including an orange tree and a rice cooker in the kitchen, a Buddha statue in the garden, Chinese characters on a wall, sampans in a river, a water buffalo pulling a plow and Amy’s traditional costume will be observed by children and could be explored further.
Best for children aged four to eight.
Storytime Standouts offers all sorts of writing paper for kids. You might be especially interested in our free Chinese New Year early learning printables:
Writing paper for kids - Chinese New Year #1
Chinese New Year theme interlined paper for beginning writers.
Writing paper for kids - Chinese New Year #2 (with Dragon)
Chinese New Year theme interlined paper for beginning writers.
Please visit Storytime Standouts’ Chinese New Year Pinterest Board
