A Gift

by Yong Chen

Overview

A surprise for Chinese New Year. A gift has come for Amy, all the way from China. The package has arrived just in time for Chinese New Year, the most important holiday in the Chinese culture. It's a tradition to spend time with friends and family. Since Amy's aunt and uncles live in China and are unable to make a new-year visit, they have sent their niece a special gift that expresses their love and their wish to keep the family together.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781590788981
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	10/03/2011
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.80(h) x 0.10(d)
Lexile:	AD620L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Yong Chen was born in Taishan, a town in the Guangdong province of China, where he began drawing and painting at the age of four. He studied illustration at Massachusetts College of Art, where he now teaches. Among the books he has illustrated are Miz Fannie Mae's Fine New Easter Hat by Melissa Milich, Starfish Summer by Ona Gritz-Gilbert, and Swimming with Sharks by Twig C. George. He lives in Nashua, New Hampshire.

Editorial Reviews

"Succeeds in evoking the importance of meaningful family relationships, especially over a distance." —Kirkus Reviews

"An uncomplicated introduction to the holiday and a lovely addition to most collections." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

K-Gr 2—This simple story begins with a young Chinese-American girl, Amy, receiving a gift from her mother's sister, who lives in China. As her family prepares to celebrate Chinese New Year, a package arrives for Amy. It is a beautiful necklace made from a green stone her uncle found while plowing his fields. He took it to a carver who saw a dragon hidden inside and brought it out. The dragon was strung on a traditional red cord and sent to Amy on the other side of the world. Chen's text is spare but, combined with her luscious watercolors, evokes a vivid portrait of rural Chinese culture. Children will find much to notice and discuss in the illustrations, both in the pictures of Amy's home (with a tabletop orange tree in a pot, a Buddha statue in the garden, red gift envelopes on the table) and those of China (a water buffalo pulling a hand plow, Chinese boats, colorful paper lanterns, people walking with parasols to protect them from the sun). This is an uncomplicated introduction to the holiday and a lovely addition to most collections.—Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME

School Library Journal

It's Chinese New Year, and Amy and her mother (there's no mention of a father) are preparing for the holiday in their suburban house. Detailed watercolors show the big American kitchen, filled with dishes that Amy's mom is making with her wok and electric rice cooker. Amy is clearly excited about the holiday, but her mom just looks sad, gazing at a family photo. As the very brief story unfolds, a letter arrives in the mail that makes her much happier, accompanied by a gift for Amy: a beautifully carved jade pendant in the shape of a dragon, the "symbol of China." Mom's siblings, a farmer, a fisherman and a nurse living in China, have all contributed to making and sending the gift and letter. The author's note gives some insight into the Chinese New Year, though more information would be helpful. The story succeeds in evoking the importance of meaningful family relationships, especially over a distance. Quietly told, it is probably best for a child and a caregiver to read while sitting close together. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews