This Next New Year
(by Janet Wong/illus. by Yangsook Choi, Farrar Straus $16 Score:) Not long after January 1st passes comes the "next" new year—the lunar, or Chinese New Year. Wong calls it a second chance for hope. With few words and vibrant images some of the customs and their meaning are captured in this lively book. 4–8.

Age: Preschool,Early School Years. Award Year: 2001.

The Runaway Rice Cake
(Ying Chang Compestine/ Illus. by Tungwi Chau, Simon & Schuster $16.95 Score:) Following the tradition of the classic Runaway Gingerbread Boy this Chinese New Years story unfolds when the only rice cake a family has jumps out of the pan and runs away. Instead of a big bad wolf tricking the boy, here the Rice cake gets eaten up by a strange old women who is hungry. It's the family's generosity that is rewarded in the end and the Changs share a feast! A recipe for making your own rice cake is included along with some notes about celebrating Chinese New Year.

Age: Preschool,Early School Years. Award Year: 2002.