CELEBRATING CHINESE NEW YEAR

Hoyt-Goldsmith and Migdale (Lacrosse, p. 581, etc.) introduce readers to Ryan, a young Chinese-American boy living in San Francisco, as he and his family prepare for the coming Chinese New Year. The sharp full-color photographs capture various moments in this important holiday: shopping for symbolic foods and flowers, a trip to the cemetery to honor ancestors, the gathering of the clan, preparing meals, attending the parade, and more. A running commentary explains the origins of the holiday that go back almost 5,000 years, the symbolism of the rituals, the significance of the Chinese zodiac, the choice of ingredients for special meals. One of the most attractive aspects of the book (and, of course, the holiday) is the emphasis on the extended family, and the honoring of those family members who have died. (glossary) (Picture book/nonficton. 6-11)