1 comments about Paper Crafts for Chinese New Year (Paper Craft Fun for Holidays) (Paper Craft Fun for Holidays).

1. Another in the Enslow Press series Paper Craft Fun for Holidays, Chinese New Year explores basic facts about the holiday and offeres simple, effective crafts that children should have no difficulty making. Librarians, teachers and parents will find this title by California storyteller, puppeteer, papercrafter and Hans Christian Andersen portrayer Randal McGee a useful addition to their libraries. Instructions are easy to follow and children age 8 and up should have no difficulty making the crafts; younger children may require some assistance with cutting. Plenty of white space on the pages and good use of color will make this appealing book appealing to children.

No comments about Sweethearts in the Snow (Pictureback(R)).

1 comments about Mijos: Digest #1: The Fiesta Face-off (Mijos).

1. Can't keep these books in our middle school library--they are constantly checked out by our Latino boys--super popular.

No comments about Dayan: White Eurocka (Dayan).

5 comments about Lion Dancer: Ernie Wan's Chinese New Year (Reading Rainbow Books).

1. I thought the book was very interesting with wonderful pictures
   for children to look at. Despite being written for children to enjoy, it gave some insight to anyone, curious about this aspect of Chinese culture.



2. Follow Ernie Wan and his family throughout a traditional Chinese (Cantonese) New Year Celebration! Colorful photos and detailed text provide good insight to a fascinating and beautiful culture! Photos of New York's Chinatown and Chinese schools are accompanied by cultural facts. From kung fu school to New Year traditions, this book is more than I expected. The Lion Dance is covered very well, but is certainly not the sole topic of this outstanding book! Ages 4 and up.
   
   For my preschool class, I am pairing this book with an 11' long paper dragon and a stuffed dragon puppet. The children will be making paper lanterns and sampling various Chinese foods. They should really enjoy the unit on Chinese New Year!
   
   Gung-Hey-Fat-Choy! Happy New Year!



3. This is a great non-fiction about Chinese New Year, for ages 4-12! The text is simple enough for younger children and detailed enough to really be informative for older children. Following a young child through his preparations for the celebration immediately brings young readers (and listeners)into the story. Vivid photographs of familiar and novel scenes help children to relate to Ernie Wan while learning about a significant aspect of his culture. Rather than lecturing the reader, this book invites the reader to share in one boy's celebration of the Chinese New Year while teaching about the holiday at the same time. This book has been well-loved by my children (now ages 8, 10, 12) for many years. We are now on our second copy of the book! It comes out every Chinese New Year, and even some other times through out the year. My children often ask to take this book to school to share at Chinese New Year. (Bonus: inside the back cover is an explanation of the Chinese zodiac with years and personality traits.)



4. If you have small children,their first encounter with the lion can be the stuff bad dreams are made of. Our 16-month-old son was both frightened and intrigued by the lion that came to the Chinese restaurant where our friends' son was enjoying his first birthday. The book follows Ernie Wan through his preparation to his first lion dance one Chinese New Year's day in New York's Chinatown. You see the customs and rituals that lead up to his debut. More important, you see the closeness of his family and the value of rites of passage in gathering people together. My family is not Chinese but my wife and I have immigrant parents. If you are trying to demonstrate why maintaining your cultural heritage is worthwhile, Lion Dancer will support your cause. My son literally drools on the pictures of the Chinese dishes and the kung-fu kicks of the lions amid the firecracker smoke. If I have a single criticism, it's that the pages of this paperback will fall out after repeated reading. And if I'm entitled to menion one mature indulgence, the book includes a section describing the personalities of the various animals in the Chinese lunar year. You might agree that the year you were born is more telling than the month.



5. My son (2yrs) got this book and loves it so much!
   the colors and real life action!!
   
   he loves to watch kids do karate!
   i recommend highly!

3 comments about St. Patrick's Day in the Morning (Clarion Books).

1. Young Jamie wakes early on St. Patrick's Day, much earlier than his sleeping family. He remembers that there will be a parade to the top of Acorn Hill today, and then he remembers that his brothers say he's too little to march in the parade.

   Well, fine then! He'll just have a parade of his own!! Jamie sets off in his green sweater, hat and coat with Nell the dog and march up the center of town to Acorn Hill by themselves. Along the way, the meet some of the other villagers, one of whom gives Jamie an Irish flag that he proudly waves in his own parade. Does he make it to the top?? You'll have to read to find out!!

   "St. Patrick's Day in the Morning" is a beautiful story for any child who has ever been told that they're too small, too weak, too short, too this, too that, to do something. You can see Jamie's' happiness at proving everyone wrong. The pen and ink illustrations are lush and detailed: you could count the shingles in the roofs or the bricks in the walls. Green and a little yellow are the only colors in the book, emphasizing the spirit and colors of St. Pats in Jamie's sweater, the flag of Ireland and, of course, the lush green grasses of the Emerald Isle.

   Because it's not a book about the history or legend of St. Patrick, there is no reason to limit it's reading only to March 17th. Teachers would find it a useful book in teaching both about Ireland and, of course, proving that smaller doesn't mean incapable. A fine book by Bunting and Brett, and highly recommended.




2. I loved this story. My mom would read it to my brother and I every March, and we would get so excited as the 17th approached. I, like Jamie, loved marching in our parade. Now I have a son of my own, and hope he enjoys it as much as I did.



3. We get our daughter a book about all the holidays that make up her cultural heritage and community. This is a beautiful book about St. Pat's day, but also about overcoming low expectations and self-empowerment -- but it's never preachy. My 3 yo daughter loves this book well after St. Pat's day, and we love to read it to her. Jann Brett has another winner! Although these illustrations lack the colorful details she's known for, the complexity of the mostly black/white drawings keep it engaging.

5 comments about The Gift.

1. The Gift is a beautifully and brightly illustrated book with foldout pages that makes both children and parents remember what is truly important. In this day of expensive toys and gadgets, The Gift reminds that the best gift we can give our children is our love.



2. Thoughtful and insightful writing. The message is loud and clear
   to parents as well as children. Deals in a very delicate way with
   the trappings of materialism as a substitute for tenderness.
   Highly recommended!



3. Great book about what really matters. Time, affection, guidance,etc are the real values that can't be replaced by all the toys and trinkets in the world!
   Should be required reading for parents!



4. I like this book so very much, with its warm and beautiful message of love. Specially in these hard times. The story and the illustrations are simply wonderful.



5. This is an adorable story about two "Goodparents" agonizing over what to get their son for a present. They make guesses based on hints from their son. My three year old loves to squeal "no!" every time the guess is incorrect. I like reading it to her because it's very easy to become animated while doing so.

2 comments about Humpty Dumpty.

1. I am reading this story to all K-2 students in the library at my school. The teachers and the kids love it. The story in rhyme is a hoot. It's got plenty of action and yet is thoughtful and has similarities to the original rhyme. The kids liked comparing this to the original and provoked us into reciting the original as well. The illustrations are also bold, bright and really cute. Humpty has the look of a child rather than a wierd egg person. Daniel Kirk has created an exceptional retelling. I highly recommend this book!



2. I've recently been researching children's books to purchase for my K-3 classrooms. Daniel Kirk's books are gorgeous to look at. They must be picked up and read. The colorful illustrations are irresistable. Kirk's story has elements and wording of the original tale, but he puts his own updated unique twist on the classic. The rhyming text rolls off the tongue. This is a good picture book for the K-3 crowd.

2 comments about The Birthday Fish.

1. Cynthia is a little girl who is a pony lover. All she really wants for her birthday is a pony. She gets a goldfish from her parents instead. She is a little upset. Cynthia talksto the fish about her feeling. He tells her that he's a magic fish and all she had to do it take him to the lake and set him free. When she does he said her wish will come true. She puts him in the stroller and sets off for the lake. She wished for a pony. While on the way to the lake she gets to know the fish better and start to really like him. She decides to keep the fish for her pet!
   
   
   What did you like or not like about the book?
   
   This book is by the creator of the Nick Jr show Oswald. The pictures are done in the same style as the tv show. Fans of the show will also enjoy this book
   
   
   Would you recommend the book? Why or Why not?
   
   Yes.It shows that even if you don't always get what you wish for things can turn out just fine!



2. I bought this book for my son (3 years). He was thrilled by the sequence of the story.
   
   The colors are wonderful, the pictures are large and the book was succesful in attracting the attention of my son right till the end.
   
   If you don't want your kid to ask you to read a story over and over in the same day, then don't buy this book;)

1 comments about The Groundhog Day Book of Facts and Fun.

1. My students loved all the fun facts in this book! They couldn't wait to read a bit of it each day.