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A moving picture book to read when we’re missing family far away, set during Lunar New Year.
It’s Lunar New Year, a time when families come together for a wonderful feast, and a father longs to be with his daughter—but she lives in another country. As he imagines how his daughter is spending the festivities, he recalls fond memories of time spent with her, feeling a sense of loss and dislocation. While he misses her deeply, he also recognizes her need to move away, grow up, and become herself. New Year is a stunning portrait of leaving home, finding independence, and loving those who are many miles away.
With so many families living far apart, readers will relate to the universal message of missing our loved ones and dreaming of being together again.
An excellent resource for teachers, librarians, and parents for starting conversations about:
- The traditions and importance of Lunar New Year
- Understanding the complex feelings that come from family and friends living far away
- How to cope with feelings of loneliness and missing loved ones
An Aldana Libros Book, Greystone Kids
“[A] heartfelt, gracefully sketched letter... [with] distinct, delicate ink-and-watercolor illustrations.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Gentle, heartfelt … [This book’s] universal themes of family and separation are especially resonant as we cope with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
—Booklist
“[A] story about home, independence, and love … brought to life with stunning watercolor illustrations.”
—Quill & Quire
“Lovely artwork… A sentimental holiday story told by a parent as he learns to let go.”
—Kirkus Reviews
Mei Zihan is an author of children's literature and a professor at Shanghai Normal University. His best-known works include Daughter’s Story, Dai Xiaoqiao and His Buddies, and the Stories of Lilaer series. He lives in Shanghai, China.
Qin Leng was born in Shanghai and now lives in Toronto where she works as a designer and illustrator. Her numerous picture books have been nominated for several prizes, including a Governor General's Literary Award.