Happy New Year (Chinese, That Is)

The New Year that most Americans celebrate follows the calendar of the sun. The Chinese New Year follows the phases of the moon, so it happens a little different time each year. This year it began on February 3. The celebration of the new year lasts for 15 days including parades, firecrackers, decorating with red, and getting and receiving money!

Just in time for the Chinese New Year, I read The Star Maker, by Laurence Yep. Eight-year-old Artie is the youngest of all the cousins, and somehow he ropes himself into promising to give everybody in the family firecrackers. Luckily, his favorite uncle, Chester, who was also the youngest in his generation, offers to help. But there is one problem. Chester has a little issue with gambling. Will Artie be able to fulfill his promise with his uncle's help?

Here are some other books about the Chinese New Year for all ages, fiction and non-fiction.

• My First Chinese New Year, by Karen Katz (Picture Book)
• Bringing in the New Year, by Grace Lin (Picture Book)
• This Next New Year, by Janet S. Wong (Picture Book)
• Xiaoshan Di Ya Shui Qian = Sam and the Lucky Money, by Karen Chinn (Chinese Picture Book)
• Happy New Year!: Kung-hsi Fa-ts'ai!, by Demi (Juvenile Non-Fiction)
• Celebrating Chinese New Year, by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith (Juvenile Non-Fiction)
• Chinese New Year Crafts, by Karen E. Bledsoe (Juvenile Non-Fiction)
• The Year of the Dog, by Grace Lin (Juvenile Fiction)
• Happy New Year, Julie: American Girl series, by Megan McDonald (Juvenile Fiction)