#blogbookaday: Ruby’s Chinese New Year

Summary:  “In this picture book celebrating Chinese New Year, animals from the Chinese zodiac help a little girl deliver a gift to her grandmother.

Ruby has a special card to give to her grandmother for Chinese New Year. But who will help her get to grandmother’s house to deliver it? Will it be clever Rat, strong Ox, or cautious Rabbit? Ruby meets each of the twelve zodiac animals on her journey. This picture book includes back matter with a focus on the animals of the Chinese zodiac.” (Taken from Goodreads)

Review: This is cute introduction to the Chinese New Year celebrations that Ruby celebrates with her family and also introduces the Chinese Zodiac animals with a little back matter for explanation. It’s fairly simple and straightforward and would be a great title to read with preschool and early elementary age kids. The illustrations are bright and friendly, but my only concern with this story is that little Ruby does not necessarily “look” Chinese. When talking about own voices and writing books that kids can see themselves, this would be a great place for kids that celebrate Chinese New Year to see themselves in the story, quite literally – but I feel that the opportunity was lost. Granted, the illustrator’s style is very much his own and all the eyes of the animals are very similar to Ruby’s so it might just be a styling choice.

Personal Reaction: I really enjoyed that the publisher included material about the Chinese Zodiac as well a few simple crafts that kids could create. I’m always looking for picture books that simply explain holidays and celebrations that I’m not familiar with and this is no exception!

Title: Ruby’s Chiese New Year
Author: Vickie Lee
Illustrator: Joey Chou
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. Books for Young Readesr
Publication Date: December 26, 2017

This is a new idea I’m trying on my blog this year that was inspired by @donalynbooks and @heisereads – to provide a brief review of a picture book every day of 2018. You’ll get a brief summary of the story, a review of the content, illustrations and theme, my personal reaction to the book and all the pertinent publication information! Enjoy!