A Sweet New Year for Ren

The Lunar New Year is approaching – a happy time for family and friends to join in celebration and awe. When Ren pleads to be included in the cooking festivities this year, Mama says, “You’re still too little, Ren.” Everyone is sure she’s not ready, even Auntie Weili who prepares the noodles that are so long they could reach the sky. So, she decides to try it on her own; she longs to show her big brother Charlie she can make her beloved pineapple cakes. In the end, the two of them create delightful treats to contribute to a day filled with love and togetherness.

This is an indelible story about tradition, family, and culture. Red envelopes with money for the little ones, Chinese lanterns delicately swaying in the distance, and brightly-colored fruits and candies of all sorts are lavishly displayed through brilliant illustrations and rich imagery-filled text.

This is an ideal book for educators of second and third-grade students to utilize as a means of introducing multiculturalism into their classrooms. Children will find it interesting as well as light-hearted. Many in this age group (those between eight and nine) will be able to read it with limited assistance or even independently.