Lanterns and Firecrackers: A Chinese New Year Story

by Jonny Zucker, Jan Barger Cohen (Illustrator)

A Chinese family prepares for their New Year festivities they decorate the house with flowers, then set off firecrackers to scare away bad spirits and welcome the coming year. Family and friends sit down together for a festive dinner, then go outside to watch the parade of dragon dancers. The festival ends on its final night with a display of colored lanterns. Festival Time books depict the activities of typical families, as Mom, Dad, and children celebrate holidays that have special religious or cultural significance for them. Cheerfully attractive color illustrations supplement a simply-told story of the holiday's origins and a description of the festivities that are part of that holiday. Festival Time books can be read aloud to toddlers, but are easy enough for many first and second graders to read to themselves. Each book's final two-page spread is written mainly for parents, offering suggestions for ways to communicate the holiday's meaning to kids. (Ages 3-7)

Genres: Picture Books, Holiday, China, Nonfiction, Childrens

24 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2003

Reviews

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learn what lanterns and firecrackers have to do with Chinese New year. Learn basic traditions in preparation for the holiday that thakes 14 days to celebrate.

[Renae · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st grade China unit- Chinese New Year

[Fatma Bodhee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about the Chinese New Year. It gives a simple explanation of how families get ready to celebrate the New Year and why certain things are done, such as 'let off firecrackers to scare away any bad spirits'. The illustrations are good. It is not too wordy and therefore ideal for reading to young children up to year 1 and for early readers.

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chinese New Year is celebrated with new clothes, red envelopes, family, friends, and firecrackers set off to scare away bad spirits. Then lanterns are hung for good luck.

The story here is very simple, but Jan Barger Cohen's watercolors are lovely.

[Edna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short and brief description of one family's preparation and celebration of the Chinese New Year. Water color and pen and ink illustrations are very sweet and brightly colored.

[Casandria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information about Chinese New Year, but not a really exciting story.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this book we looked on YouTube for footage of Lion and Dragon dancing.