What do you think?
Rate this book
A Gift
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.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2009
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 3, 2019
With her mother's sister and two brothers far away in China, Amy has grown up without experiencing 拜年 / bài nián - the traditional family visits that occur during the celebration of Chinese New Year. But this year, her Uncles Zhong and Ming, and her Aunt Mei, have sent Amy a special present - something to remind her of her roots in China, and of the family who, though she has never met them, love her very much...
Yong Chen - an artist born in Guangdong Province, China, and now living in New Hampshire - makes his debut with A Gift, a lovely picture-book that evokes all the warmth of family and tradition. The watercolor illustrations are beautiful, capturing Amy's happiness perfectly. Highly recommended, to anyone looking for good stories set during Chinese New Year!
Yong Chen - an artist born in Guangdong Province, China, and now living in New Hampshire - makes his debut with A Gift, a lovely picture-book that evokes all the warmth of family and tradition. The watercolor illustrations are beautiful, capturing Amy's happiness perfectly. Highly recommended, to anyone looking for good stories set during Chinese New Year!
February 16, 2019
As we already know, the Lunar New Year is family time, a time when everyone gets together to celebrate. But sometimes families are separated by long distances and can't be reunited with their relatives. As Amy and her mother get ready for Chinese New Year, her mother is homesick because her brothers Zhong, a farmer, and Ming, a fisherman, and her sister Mei, a nurse, are all still living in China. But when a letter arrives from her siblings, Amy's mother's spirits are lifted, and inside the letter is a beautiful gift from her brothers and sister for Amy. As Amy's mother reads the letter, she and Amy are transported to China because of the vivid descriptions of how the gift was made. While the text is spare and the story quite gentle, Yong Chen's detailed watercolor illustrations do much to complete the text's narration. This is a story that really hit home for us, as I watch my Kiddo's husband struggle with homesickness every Chinese New Year because he lives her and his parents and friends are still in China.
February 3, 2010
You know, this book doesn’t educate much about Chinese New Year except a couple things I already knew: the dragon is the symbol of China and red is the color of luck.
The illustrations are lovely and help tell the story. The story is very sweet, although there’s not that much to it. Amy’s mother misses her two brothers and her sister who live in far off China. A letter and a gift arrive from her siblings for her daughter Amy. It’s a dragon necklace from her uncles and her aunt. The reader see how the stone used in the necklace was found and carved and made into jewelry.
When did the one child only rule in China come to be? Here’s a woman with a young daughter who comes from a Chinese family of four children. That puzzled me.
It’s a heartfelt story about a family finding a way to show love and experience closeness, even when distance separates them. A little blurb about Chinese New Year is added at the end of the book.
The illustrations are lovely and help tell the story. The story is very sweet, although there’s not that much to it. Amy’s mother misses her two brothers and her sister who live in far off China. A letter and a gift arrive from her siblings for her daughter Amy. It’s a dragon necklace from her uncles and her aunt. The reader see how the stone used in the necklace was found and carved and made into jewelry.
When did the one child only rule in China come to be? Here’s a woman with a young daughter who comes from a Chinese family of four children. That puzzled me.
It’s a heartfelt story about a family finding a way to show love and experience closeness, even when distance separates them. A little blurb about Chinese New Year is added at the end of the book.
November 16, 2018
Reading Level: 2.3
Guided Reading Level: 2.8
This book is about Amy and her mother, who are celebrating Chinese New Year away from their relatives who still live in China. Amy receives a letter and a gift from her relatives. Her New Years is made happy by the gift of a dragon necklace, which is a symbol of China.
This book is a multicultural story because it shares the importance of Chinese New Year and the traditions that families often follow.
Writing Trait:
Presentation: The author and illustrator used great presentation to enhance the message of the story. The pictures are detailed and enhance readers' knowledge of what life is like in China. There is one picture in particular, the letter from Amy's aunt, that gives readers a look into Chinese writing and how it differs from English.
Classroom Integration/Mentor Text:
This story can be implemented into a multicultural unit in grades 2 or 3. Due to the guided reading level, students can independently read the story and reflect on it. The story can also be accessible to students as a mentor text in order to teach them more about the Chinese culture. After reading the text, students can participate in a discussion about new things they learned about Chinese culture and what is similar and different to students' own cultures.
Guided Reading Level: 2.8
This book is about Amy and her mother, who are celebrating Chinese New Year away from their relatives who still live in China. Amy receives a letter and a gift from her relatives. Her New Years is made happy by the gift of a dragon necklace, which is a symbol of China.
This book is a multicultural story because it shares the importance of Chinese New Year and the traditions that families often follow.
Writing Trait:
Presentation: The author and illustrator used great presentation to enhance the message of the story. The pictures are detailed and enhance readers' knowledge of what life is like in China. There is one picture in particular, the letter from Amy's aunt, that gives readers a look into Chinese writing and how it differs from English.
Classroom Integration/Mentor Text:
This story can be implemented into a multicultural unit in grades 2 or 3. Due to the guided reading level, students can independently read the story and reflect on it. The story can also be accessible to students as a mentor text in order to teach them more about the Chinese culture. After reading the text, students can participate in a discussion about new things they learned about Chinese culture and what is similar and different to students' own cultures.
August 19, 2020
Ages 3 and up. The protagonist explains how her mother misses her family back in China, but comfort arrives in the form of a letter with a gift for Chinese New Year. A sweet illustration of the common experience of immigrant families missing their relatives. The back of the book contains an explanation of Chinese New Year celebrations around the world.
February 13, 2021
Beautiful! This is a simple explanation (through art and then words) of the importance of Chinese New Year. Some books try to cram in all the details, but this is a simple, lovely experience shared.
October 7, 2021
Great book about adoption of Chinese girls!
January 25, 2023
A very short story that could be used to illustrate gift giving, teamwork, or identity. Peaceful illustrations.
October 6, 2013
A Gift
Focus: Character Development
With the arrival of Chinese New Year, a mother experiences sadness. She receives a package that changes her mood.
W.6.3b Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
Step-by-step:
1. Tell students events that occur in a story can develop/change characters. When characters change, they are dynamic
2. Read p.1-The mom in the story feels homesick. It is Chinese New Year, and she longs for her family and the familiarity of China.
3. Read p.4- The mom gets a package from her family in China
4. Read p.7- The mom reads the letter that comes with the package
5. Read p.24-26- The gift inside the package makes the mom happy
6. Discuss the ways in which the mother changes from the beginning of the story to the end (Students should realize that the mother is sad but because her siblings send a reminder of home-the necklace they made for her daughter, she becomes more excited about the New Year)
7. Explain how the author creates events in the text that change the mothers feelings about China and celebrating Chinese New Year
8. Invite students to create writing in which character experiences allows for change in feelings or perspective
Expected outcomes:
Students are able to model their writing after the example in the mini lesson. Students should understand that characters do not always remain the same in writing, but that they can be dynamic, or changing. Allow students to revise a draft in order to further develop a character, or to create a new piece with character development in mind.
Focus: Character Development
With the arrival of Chinese New Year, a mother experiences sadness. She receives a package that changes her mood.
W.6.3b Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
Step-by-step:
1. Tell students events that occur in a story can develop/change characters. When characters change, they are dynamic
2. Read p.1-The mom in the story feels homesick. It is Chinese New Year, and she longs for her family and the familiarity of China.
3. Read p.4- The mom gets a package from her family in China
4. Read p.7- The mom reads the letter that comes with the package
5. Read p.24-26- The gift inside the package makes the mom happy
6. Discuss the ways in which the mother changes from the beginning of the story to the end (Students should realize that the mother is sad but because her siblings send a reminder of home-the necklace they made for her daughter, she becomes more excited about the New Year)
7. Explain how the author creates events in the text that change the mothers feelings about China and celebrating Chinese New Year
8. Invite students to create writing in which character experiences allows for change in feelings or perspective
Expected outcomes:
Students are able to model their writing after the example in the mini lesson. Students should understand that characters do not always remain the same in writing, but that they can be dynamic, or changing. Allow students to revise a draft in order to further develop a character, or to create a new piece with character development in mind.
April 16, 2012
Centering on Amy, the book takes place during Chinese New Year, where her family feels the sadness that comes from being away from their hometown in China. But, the highlight of her Chinese New Years comes when she receives a package, containing a gift from her uncles all the way in China. It is a beautiful necklace with a carved Jade dragon. Her aunts and uncles says that he found the stone while working and the carver saw a dragon inside the stone and brought it out in his carving. While Amy may be away from home and missing the family gathering for the Chinese New Year, her gift serves as a reminder that distance doesn't change the traditions and love for the family.
This book is a great book to show a different kind of New Year that is celebrated in a different culture. The illustrations show elements of Chinese culture that range from the traditional red envelopes and design elements in the house that show different aspects of Chinese life. A Gift allows children to appreciate a new perspective on a holiday that is different in many ways from that of the American New Year.
This book is a great book to show a different kind of New Year that is celebrated in a different culture. The illustrations show elements of Chinese culture that range from the traditional red envelopes and design elements in the house that show different aspects of Chinese life. A Gift allows children to appreciate a new perspective on a holiday that is different in many ways from that of the American New Year.
March 26, 2013
"A gift" is a brief story about a Chinese woman and her daughter and how they celebrate the Chinese new year living in America. The book explains that Chinese families are often very close with their distant families, sending them letters, calling them on the phone, and also sending gifts like what was seen in this story. The young child in this book receives a gift of a dragon necklace carved from stone from her uncle in China. It explains that the dragon is the symbol of China and the stone it is carved out of represents their homeland. This book not only provides an example of the lifestyle that a multicultural family lives, but also provides insight about the Chinese culture. These types of multicultural books, when read by their parents, can provide children a wonderful learning experience about different cultures and how their names, norms, and traditions differ from what we see here in America. This is a feel good story that brings the Chinese culture right into the reader's hands.
June 30, 2015
Character Education is sometimes about exploring what matters most. In this story, Amy and her mother values their family relationship in the new land and in the home land. Amy and her mother lives in the United States, while Amy's uncles and aunt live in China. Although far away and on the other side of the world, they still communicate frequently through letter exchanges and sending packages. At the time of Chinese New Year, unity and family is important. It is when families come together to celebrate together. Amy receives a necklace that is made with love. Family is at the heart of all people and through family people stay connected, share and continue traditions and culture. Family is what defines your values and beliefs. This special bilateral interaction between Amy and her relatives stresses the importance of family.
May 8, 2012
Amy receives a gift for the Chinese New Year from her aunt and uncles who live far away in China.
Includes notes about Chinese New Year and the Chinese dragon.
Genre:Picture books for children; Realistic fiction.
Subjects
Aunts -- Juvenile fiction
Uncles -- Juvenile fiction
Chinese Americans -- Juvenile fiction
Chinese New Year -- Juvenile fiction.
China -- Juvenile fiction
Chinese New Year
Chinese Dragon
March 12, 2013
Amy's mother feels especially homesick for her family in China when the New Year comes. When a special package comes from the family, Amy and her mother find a beautiful surprise. A wonderful story about the ties that bind a family together, no matter how far away they are. We used this in our preschool unit on Chinese New Year, but it could also be used for a unit on family or love, or for just plain-old story time. Preschool Unit: Chinese New Year (Friends in Many Lands)
February 2, 2010
Beautiful illustrations and a beautiful story about the importance the Chinese New Year is for expatriates. Nostalgia is often a feeling many who have left their home experience. Any little piece of that life that can be obtained makes the sorrow a little less. Chen portrays this story through the eyes of a little girl and the sadness she sees in her mom.
October 12, 2015
"Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in the Chinese culture"-this is from author's note. This book is about a girl who lives with her mom in America and Chinese holiday...The illustration is vivid and has beautiful details of characters and the plots. However, it describes so little about the content or too vague of meaning.
January 15, 2010
This book is beautiful. A short, simple story about a Chinese American family, and their communication with their family back in China. The illustrations add so much to the story. If you look carefully, you can see Chinese New Year traditions throughout the American house.
February 3, 2010
A very sweet story about the importance of staying connected to family even when they live far far away. Lovely watercolor illustrations. This year is my year (the tiger); I sent this book to my friends with kids as a gift for Chinese New Year.
February 7, 2016
I liked the juxtaposition between Amy's family in the states and her family in China, and I think children will be intrigued by the portrayal of small town life in China, but the ending felt very abrupt and left me wanting more of an actual narrative or connection to Chinese New Year.
October 31, 2009
save for Chinese new Year Program
November 25, 2009
Good story to use for Chinese New Year program.
February 5, 2010
Chinese New Year story
December 27, 2012
Lovely story. Chinese culture showing the importance of the Chinese New Year of the Dragon, and how a family stays connected via long distance.
December 6, 2014
A book to be read to a child...a book that screams sit on a lap and be read to...the art work is stunning - I believe watercolors...the story is simple
December 24, 2015
Gorgeous illustrations, moving story--a must for every child's library.
June 18, 2016
Story of a gift from family back in China. Explains loosely the tradition of Chines New Year. Useful for family relations, keeping in touch, traditions.
February 8, 2012
Beautiful story of the Chinese New Year with wonderful illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews