Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In the fourth title of the Celebrate the World board book series, Eliot describes the folkloric and cultural history of Chinese New Year-including the story of Nian, a monster who is only frightened by "the loud crackling of burning bamboo (or firecrackers), the color red, and the bright lights of lanterns." Families are pictured lighting fireworks and lanterns, hanging red decorations, and dining together. Finally, it's the Lantern Festival: "We celebrate with parades led by people dressed as dragons and lions." Chau illustrates in fluid, elegant lines and depicts warm interactions between loved ones. Even those who don't observe the holiday may reflect on similarities within their own family traditions. Ages 2-4. (Dec.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-A lively family of five and their relatives are the centerpiece of this new entry in the series. In this standout introduction to Lunar New Year, the holiday's origins and the concept of the Chinese zodiac are explained. Then, it's time for the family to cook, clean, and decorate in preparation for the festivities. Important traditions and symbols of the festival are presented, along with key themes of the holiday, such as luck and prosperity. The information is supplemented by Chau's vibrant organic illustrations that brim with life. They deftly blend the look of traditional Chinese painting on pages showing ancient myths with more contemporary illustrations depicting modern New Year celebrations. The text is longer and more involved than is typically found in board book selections. VERDICT The bright, playful illustrations and descriptive text make Lunar New Year an outstanding introduction to the holiday for children.-Katherine Barr, Cameron Village Regional Library, Raleigh, NC © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The Celebrate the World series spotlights Lunar New Year.This board book blends expository text and first-person-plural narrative, introducing readers to the holiday. Chau's distinctive, finely textured watercolor paintings add depth, transitioning smoothly from a grand cityscape to the dining room table, from fantasies of the past to dumplings of the present. The text attempts to provide a broad look at the subject, including other names for the celebration, related cosmology, and historical background, as well as a more-personal discussion of traditions and practices. Yet it's never clear who the narrator iswhile the narrative indicates the existence of some consistent, monolithic group who participates in specific rituals of celebration ("Before the new year celebrations begin, we clean our homesand ourselves!"), the illustrations depict different people in every image. Indeed, observances of Lunar New Year are as diverse as the people who celebrate it, which neither the text nor the imagesall of the people appear to be Asianfully acknowledges. Also unclear is the book's intended audience. With large blocks of explication on every spread, it is entirely unappealing for the board-book set, and the format may make it equally unattractive to an older, more appropriate audience. Still, readers may appreciate seeing an important celebration warmly and vibrantly portrayed.Lovely illustrations wasted on this misguided project. (Board book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
