Eager anticipation of a holiday is a universal experience of childhood, and the young girl counting down the preparations for a family celebration of Chinese New Year is no exception. She’s a happy participant as her parents and siblings get ready for the big event. “Jie-Jie sweeps the old year out of the house. / Ba-Ba hangs the spring-happiness poems. / Ma-Ma makes the get-rich dumplings. / Mei-Mei gets a fresh haircut. / And I put on my new qi pao dress for the New Year feast. Now will the New Year come?” The holiday arrives with loud firecrackers, bright lanterns, special foods, and a lucky dragon. Boldly-colored gouache illustrations and a very brief text invite young children to share in the holiday celebration. A two-page note at the book’s end provides additional explanation of Lunar New Year customs and traditions. (Ages 3–7)

This exuberant story follows a Chinese American family as they prepare for the Lunar New Year. Each member of the family lends a hand as they sweep out the dust of the old year, hang decorations, and make dumplings. Then it’s time to put on new clothes and celebrate with family and friends. There will be fireworks and lion dancers, shining lanterns, and a great, long dragon parade to help bring in the Lunar New Year. And the dragon parade in our book is extra long–on a surprise fold-out page at the end of the story. Grace Lin’s artwork is a bright and gloriously patterned celebration in itself! And her story is tailor-made for reading aloud.