This book about Chinese New Year celebrations has a very lively layout, with color photographs, sidebars, labels inside the photo frames, drop caps, frames, photographs entering the text field, objects clipped out of larger photographs independent on the page, subheadings, chapters, maps. The text is also appealingly written, and the material is presented in a way that is easy to understand even for young children. It does not get bogged down in Chinese terms for things, which are mostly important for children from Chinese families, or children who are learning Chinese. Instead, it talks about the steps of the festival, the meaning behind the different parts, and what to expect.

It can be a good way to discuss different holidays and why we have them. What other new year celebrations do they know about? What are the typical events, food, and images of that new year? What is the meaning behind them? If the reader were to create his own new year's celebration, what would he want it to be like? What is his favorite holiday? Why? What are the meanings of the images, food, and events of that holiday? What is the last holiday that the child can remember? ( )