Chinese New Year: Sparklers    by Katie Dicker Order:  USA  Can Laburnum, 2014 (2014) Hardcover     Reviewed by Bob Walch Dragon dances, family gatherings, special foods, parades with firecrackers are some of the elements of the traditional Chinese New Year celebration. Toddlers and kindergarten youngsters will be introduced to this annual festival and why it is so important in Chinese culture as they page through this book. You'll learn that the celebration lasts fifteen days and ends when the moon is full. Families do an extra cleaning of their homes and sweep away bad luck as they decorate their houses with paper lanterns. There are special greetings to be made and family recipes to be prepared for a big feast. The book is illustrated with actual color photos of Chinese children enjoying the New Year festivities and there's a section for adults that suggests activities that could be engaged in to make this a more memorable reading experience. Educators will find this an excellent resource if a unit on the Chinese New Year celebration is planned for the students. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews