Staff Picks

Amy Wu and the Lantern Festival
Written by Kat Zhang, Illustrated by Charlene Chua

Recommended by Rose Spector from Coral Reef Branch Library

Amy Wu and the Lantern Festival is a delightful and heartwarming story that celebrates family, traditions, and resilience. The Lunar New Year is Amy Wu’s favorite holiday, filled with delicious food, vibrant decorations, and the excitement of red envelopes. But what she loves most is carrying her family’s special lantern during the annual festival. This lantern isn’t just a beautiful decoration—it holds deep sentimental value, reminding Amy’s father of his mother and keeping their family traditions alive.

Disaster strikes when Amy accidentally falls and damages the precious lantern. Heartbroken and afraid that she’s ruined the festival for her family, Amy figures out how to repair the lantern and preserve the tradition. The story takes readers on an emotional and uplifting journey, blending themes of love, creativity, and the importance of both honoring and evolving family customs.

Author Kat Zhang masterfully weaves cultural elements into the narrative, introducing young readers to the traditions of the Lunar New Year, while showing how old and new traditions can coexist. Illustrator Charlene Chua’s stunning drawings bring the story to life with vibrant colors and expressive characters that capture both the joy of the celebrations and the poignancy of Amy’s dilemma.

Fans of the book will be thrilled to know that this is just one story in the Amy Wu series. Other titles include Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao, Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon, Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome, and Amy Wu and the Ribbon Dance. Zhang, known for her work in children’s and middle-grade literature, draws inspiration from her Chinese heritage and upbringing in Texas. Chua adds her signature charm and detail to the book, continuing her streak of creating captivating visuals for children’s stories. Chua’s other works include The Wind Plays Tricks by Virginia Howard, Going Up! by Sherry J. Lee, and her self-authored and illustrated books Extraordinary Eloise and Hug?

Amy Wu and the Lantern Festival is a wonderful book for families and children who love learning about cultural traditions, enjoy heartfelt stories, and appreciate beautifully illustrated picture books. It’s a glowing reminder that the true essence of traditions lies in the love and connections they foster. This charming tale earns a well-deserved 5 out of 5 glowing lanterns! (Ages 4 – 8)

We Celebrate the Light 
Written by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple, Illustrated by Jieting Chen

Recommended by Ana Barreto from Edison Center Branch Library

As the days grow shorter and the nights arrive sooner, people around the world come together to celebrate the end of the year in unique yet remarkably similar ways. In this beautifully illustrated book, readers discover the common threads that connect us all, no matter the holidays we observe. Whether it’s Diwali, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, or the Lunar New Year, the heart of these celebrations remains the same—honoring life, family, and togetherness.

We Celebrate the Light highlights mutual traditions, such as gathering with loved ones, sharing meals, exchanging gifts, decorating, and reflecting with prayers and stories. This book emphasizes that no matter how we celebrate, we’re all united by light and love. For young readers curious about the diversity of these traditions, the book concludes with a brief but insightful explanation of each holiday, making it an excellent resource for both learning and celebration.

Written by the talented mother-daughter duo Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple, this book is as heartfelt as it is educational. Jane Yolen, known as the “Hans Christian Andersen of America,” has authored hundreds of books, including the Caldecott-winning Owl Moon and the How Do Dinosaurs series. Author Heidi E. Y. Stemple, following in her mother’s footsteps, has written nearly 50 books, including the award-winning Counting Birds: The Idea That Helped Save Our Feathered Friends and She Sells Seashells. Together, they bring their personal experiences of celebrating Chanukah, Christmas, Solstice, and the Lunar New Year to the story, weaving in authenticity and warmth.

The illustrations by Jieting Chen add another layer of magic to the book. An award-winning animator and illustrator, Chen captures the beauty of each holiday with intricate details and luminous colors that radiate warmth and joy. Her artistry invites readers into the celebrations, making every page a feast for the eyes.

This book is perfect for families looking to teach children about cultural diversity or simply to celebrate the light that connects us all. Whether read at bedtime or shared during a holiday gathering, it’s a story that inspires unity and joy. (Ages 3 – 6)

Black-Eyed Peas and Hoghead Cheese: A Story of Food, Family, and Freedom
Written by Glenda Armand, Illustrated by Steffi Walthall

Recommended by Dan Jones from Naranja Branch Library

Black-Eyed Peas and Hoghead Cheese is a heartfelt celebration of family, food, and history. For young Frances, New Year’s Day is all about gathering with her family and preparing a feast filled with meaning and tradition. While helping her grandmother cook, Frances learns the powerful stories behind the dishes they prepare—black-eyed peas, hoghead cheese, turnip greens, gumbo, and more. Each dish carries the legacy of their ancestors, particularly the enslaved Black communities in the South. As her grandmother explains, “These foods remind us that we are here, and we are free because of the hard work and sacrifices of our ancestors.”

This book beautifully weaves the history of African American cooking and the importance of preserving and sharing traditions across generations. Steffi Walthall’s stunning illustrations bring the narrative to life, shifting seamlessly between Frances and her grandmother in the kitchen and garden, and scenes of their ancestors finding strength and joy through food, even amidst the hardships of slavery.

Black-Eyed Peas and Hoghead Cheese is a powerful story for readers of all races and cultures. It offers children a meaningful introduction to African American New Year’s traditions while encouraging deeper conversations about the significance of the foods we eat and the ways we celebrate. The story is not only a tribute to the resilience of African American communities but also a reminder of how food connects us to our history and our loved ones.

Glenda Armand, a Los Angeles-based teacher, librarian, and author, has a gift for sharing untold stories. Her other works include Toypurina: Japchivit Leader, Medicine Woman, Tongva Rebel with co-author Cheyenna M. Stone, Love Twelve Miles Long, The Night Before Freedom: A Juneteenth Story, and James Lafayette: Black Hero of the American Revolution.

Illustrator Steffi Walthall, based in Virginia, adds depth and vibrancy to the story through her art. Known for her work on Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round by Kathlyn J. Kirkwood, Moving Forward: From Space-Age Rides to Civil Rights Sit-Ins with Airman Alton Yates by Chris Barton, and I Am I Can I Will: A Guided Journal of Self-Discovery for Black Girls by Dr. Cynthia Jacobs Carter and Ruth Chamblee, Walthall captures the beauty of familial bonds and ancestral strength with her dynamic and evocative style.

Black-Eyed Peas and Hoghead Cheese is a feast for the heart and mind, leaving readers inspired to cherish and share their own stories. This book is perfect for families, educators, and anyone seeking to explore the rich history and culture of African American traditions. (Ages 4 – 8)

Let’s Get Festive!: Celebrations Around the World
Written by Joanna Kończak, Illustrated by Ewa Poklewska-Koziello

Recommended by Rita Mayer from Miami Springs Branch Library

Let’s Get Festive!: Celebrations Around the World is a captivating exploration of global holiday traditions that will fascinate young readers. Did you know that New Year’s Eve is called St. Sylvester’s Day in Germany? That mango trees are decorated for Christmas in India? Or that in southern China they celebrate a Hungry Ghost Festival? These are just a few of the delightful facts waiting to be discovered in this beautifully crafted book.

Translated from Polish, this 175-page treasure is ideal for elementary-aged children, offering a vibrant mix of cultural insights and historical tidbits. The book is uniquely organized by themes rather than geography. Sections like "Welcoming the New Year," "Celebrations of Nature," "Religious Holidays," and "Carnivals" take readers on a thematic tour across nations and cultures. This structure allows young minds to see how different communities celebrate similar ideas—like renewal, joy, and gratitude—around the world.

The book introduces fascinating traditions, such as the Busójárás parade in Hungary, where the Croatian ethnic minority group Šokci wear wooden masks and sheepskin coats in a lively costume carnival. Readers also learn about Purim, a joyous Jewish holiday where children dress in costumes, perform skits, and receive candy. Each celebration is brought to life with charming illustrations by Ewa Poklewska-Koziełło, whose simple yet suggestive artwork perfectly complements the text.

Author Joanna Kończak enriches the reader’s experience with historical context, explaining how holidays often trace back to ancient Greek, Roman, or pagan traditions, or commemorate significant historical events. She also delves into the fascinating differences in calendars—such as the Gregorian, Julian, lunar, and luni-solar—that influence when holidays are celebrated. Without overwhelming young readers with detail, the book provides just enough information to spark curiosity and encourage further exploration and learning.

This comprehensive and accessible book is an excellent introduction to the diverse ways people around the world celebrate life, nature, and culture. It invites readers to reflect on their own traditions while appreciating those of others, making it a wonderful resource for homes, classrooms, and libraries.

Kończak, an accomplished children’s author and editor, draws from her studies in intercultural psychology and her love for travel and cultural exploration to write captivating stories. Poklewska-Koziełło, a Polish illustrator with a background in architecture, brings warmth and energy to every page with her engaging artwork.

Let’s Get Festive!: Celebrations Around the World is an enlightening and delightful read, perfect for sparking curiosity and fostering a sense of global connection among young readers. (Ages 4 and up)

Two New Years
Written by Richard Ho, Illustrated by Lynn Scurfield

Recommended by Joanna Boone from Main Library

Happy New Year! But what does this phrase really mean? Two New Years explores how two siblings from one multi-cultural family celebrate the New Year based on their Chinese and Jewish cultures. Readers will learn about the similarities and differences between the two ethnic calendars as well as the cultural traditions that accompany them. This book allows the readers to uniquely compare and consider the origins of New Years’ traditions, while appreciating their individual meanings. 

The bright and beautiful pictures instill a sense of familial love and celebration. The children and parents in this story elegantly share their very specific traditions in truly distinctive ways. Having two New Years brings this blended family closer year after year.

Richard Ho is a Chinese American writer from California. He has published many other books including If Lin Can: How Jeremy Lin Inspired Asian American to Shoot for the Stars, A Taste of Home, and Year of the Cat.  Earlier this year Ho received the National Jewish Book award for Two New Years.

Lynn Scurfield is a Chinese Canadian artist and illustrator from Toronto, Ontario.  She was awarded the National Jewish Book award for Two New Years and has illustrated several other children’s books, including The Quest for a Tangram Dragon by Christine Liu-Perkins, Flight by Mya-Rose Craig, and Friends Are Friends, Forever by Dane Liu. (Ages 5 – 8)