This exuberant story follows a Chinese American family as they prepare for the Lunar New Year. Each member of the family lends a hand as they sweep out the dust of the old year, hang decorations, and make dumplings. Then it’s time to put on new clothes and celebrate with family and friends. There will be fireworks and lion dancers, shining lanterns, and a great, long dragon parade to help bring in the Lunar New Year. And the dragon parade in our book is extra long–on a surprise fold-out page at the end of the story. Grace Lin’s artwork is a bright and gloriously patterned celebration in itself! And her story is tailor-made for reading aloud.

Grace Lin includes an informative author’s note with further details on the customs and traditions surrounding the Lunar New Year for parents and teachers. Grace Lin has written and illustrated several picture books about this Chinese American family (based on her own!): Dim Sum for Everyone!, Kite Flying, and Fortune Cookie Fortunes. She lives in Somerville, Massachusetts.