Home for Chinese New Year: A Story Told in English and Chinese

PreS-Gr 2—In order to return to his family for the New Year, Jiajun's father takes a train, a long-distance bus, a three-wheeled motorcycle, a ferry, and eventually a long walk through a heavy snowstorm. Along the way he loses an apple, his gloves, and other items, but not a very special present for Jiajun—readers will enjoy searching the illustrations for the missing objects. The child frequently checks in with his father via cell phone, appearing in small black-and-white drawings next to the warm watercolor illustrations showing the man's journey. Once home, the boy and his father celebrate the New Year and enjoy their time together until it's time to return to the big city far away where Jiajun's father works in construction. By centering on the long journey home, young readers will be reassured that faraway parents miss their children just as much as they are missed. The story is told in both English and Chinese (simplified characters) with a brief cultural note at the end.