The Chinese New Year Helper

The Chinese New Year Helper - 40 pages

Ying Chang Compestine, Ginnie Hsu (Illustrator)

Summary (From Goodreads)

A young girl finds an exciting role for herself at the Chinese New Year celebration in her family’s restaurant. At last, she isn’t being told that she’s too young to help! Jia’s family is busy preparing for the Chinese New Year feast at their restaurant in Chinatown, and Jia wants to take part. But each time she tries to help she’s told that she’s too too young to be in the kitchen, too young to light the lanterns, too young to carry the plates. And then the feast begins, and something wonderful happens. When Jia is scolded for getting too close to the exciting lion dance, one of the dancers swoops her up and into the costume, and suddenly she’s a part of the performance—a crucial part that saves the show. Never again does her family tell her that she’s too young to help!

Review

Reading about a holiday tradition as told through the eyes of a child really got me thinking about experiencing some of my own holiday traditions when I was a child!  

Every Month is a New Year: Celebrations Around the World

Every Month is a New Year: Celebrations Around the World - 48 pages

Marilyn Singer, Susan L. Roth (Illustrator)

Summary (From Goodreads)

Around the world, people celebrate the start of the new year at midnight when December 31 becomes January 1. But not everyone celebrates on this date. In fact, during every month of the year, some group of people in some part of the world is celebrating the new year. Chinese New Year is celebrated in January or February. Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, is celebrated on March 21. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated in September or October. Diwali, celebrated in parts of India, falls in October or November. All these celebrations, and many others, have unique traditions and festivities that people observe. This collection of poems pay tribute to several of these fascinating festivities, some well-known and some lesser-known. Go on a whirlwind international tour of these diverse celebrations--enough to fill a twelve-month calendar, and more.

Review

This one is great for learning about holidays from other cultures!  There's a pronunciation guide in the back, as well as information about each of the holidays and traditions mentioned in the poems.  

Spooky Celebrations Around the World

Spooky Celebrations Around the World - 48 pages

Matt Ralphs, Veronika Kotyk (Artist)

Summary (From the MARC Record)

You'll have heard of Halloween, and maybe Dia de Muertos, or Obon too, but did you know there are spooky festivals all over the world? Across every continent there are festivals that celebrate and honor spirits. Children will delight in discovering the stories behind these 21 amazing celebrations.

Review

While I had heard of some of the celebrations in this book, there were just as many -- if not more -- that I had no prior knowledge of whatsoever!  Even in the case of the ones I had heard of, there were many facts about them I wasn't privy to before reading this book.  I definitely recommend this one to anyone looking to learn!  

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren -- 336 pages

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions.

But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy.

The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.

A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck

A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck - 176 pages

It's 1958 and there is a new family living next door to Mrs. Dowdel . . . a family that desperately needs her help whether they know it or not.  There's 12 year old Bob who is shy and being picked on by bullies.  There's 14 year old Phyllis who is obsessed with Elvis Presley.  There's 6 year old Ruth Ann who is looking for a larger than life role model.  And there are their parents, a young minister and his wife, who are adjusting to small town life.  As they go through the fall season from the start of school to Christmas, they'll realize just how special Mrs. Dowdel is and all the gifts she's given them.

This is a companion novel to Long Way from Chicago and A Year Down Yonder.  I really enjoyed listening to these books on audio.  The narration is wonderful.  The stories are fun, lively, and interesting.  I would highly recommend these to anyone looking for a fun read or listen.

An Amish Christmas by Cynthia Keller

An Amish Christmas by Cynthia Keller - 239 pages

Meg Hobart has it all, a happy marriage to a handsome, successful husband, a beautiful home in Charlotte, North Carolina, and three wonderful children. But her life comes crashing down around her the day she learns that her husband, James, has brought the family to financial ruin without even one word of warning. On the way to Meg's parents' house, they have an accident and end up needing car repairs. They take refuge with an Amish family until the car is fixed. The Hobarts find themselves in a home with no computers, television or cell phones.