New Year surprise! by Christopher Cheng
Ill. by Di Wu. National Library of Australia, 2016. ISBN
9780642278838
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Chinese New Year, Responsibility,
Family, Celebrations, Festivals, China, Inclusivity. This beautiful
book shows the reader many customs and traditions surrounding the
celebration of New Year in Northern China. In a small village the
New Year is almost here. Little Brother is told he is too little to
help with the adults or older children, but Grandfather tells him
that he has a special job to do. He is eager to find out what this
is.
Each few pages shows the village preparing for the festival, with
Little Brother wanting to help, and wondering whether this is hie
special job. Through him we see the variety of preparations needed
to celebrate new Year in the village: Sister and Mother spend lots
of time making dumplings, Father hangs the banners and red lanterns,
Brother and his friends go and fly their kites, Father chooses the
duck from the hawker, the relatives come for special tea, and so on
until finally it is time to get the Dragon ready. Little Brother
hopes he will be included but is told he is too small. Father then
appears with the Pearl of Wisdom to carry before the dragon. But he
has two, one is for Little Brother and the two carry their Pearls of
Wisdom before the dragon to bring luck to the village for the
following year. Everyone sleeps well that night.
This beautiful book not only tells the story of how New Year is
celebrated within a tale of inclusivity, but the illustrations will
astound and astonish as well. Di Wu once a farmer in Northern China
used traditional rice paper on which to do his illustrations using
brushes and traditional colours to ensure its authenticity. His
achievement is breath taking. Each page draws the eyes to its colour
and movement, as the small child watches what is going on, desperate
to be involved. Each page shows a range of activities and readers
will love looking at its variety and vivacity.
A wonderful addition to any school or home library, the book has
explanations at the back which are most informative as well.
Fran Knight