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Children's Literature
For those who may not know about the history, customs and activities associated with Chinese New Year, this book will be a good choice. It opens by comparing similar customs to other holidays: people are giving glossy red card—is it Valentines Day? Fireworks are going off—is it the Fourth of July? These and other events such as parades, cleaning the house, preparing special foods are all part of the New Year traditions. In addition, there is an introduction to the Kitchen God and a bit of Chinese beliefs and the honor given to missing and deceased relatives. The events unfold and readers learn about the time of year, the signs of the Chinese Zodiac, how long the celebration lasts, and how the new year is named—2005 is the year of the rooster. It is all complemented with colorful illustrations making it easy to understand what the text is relating. There is a brief glossary on the closing page but most of the terms will be readily grasped. This title in the "On My Own Holiday" series is a good choice for schools and libraries. 2005, Lerner, and Ages 7 to 9.—Marilyn Courtot