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- Understanding Complex Emotional Topics: Helps children better understand topics related to family, dislocation, love, loss, and home.
- Familial bonds: A loving and beautiful portrayal about the relationship between fathers and daughters.
- Cultural Education: Gently teaches children about the traditions surrounding Lunar New Year.
- Timely and Important: The COVID-19 pandemic has separated families across the world, making New Year a relevant book to help kids better understand and deal with the emotions of separation and yearning for loved ones.
- Relatable: A powerful story that will resonate with all readers, but especially immigrants and citizens with close family members living in other countries.
- Parent/Teacher Reading Guide: Includes a guide to help kids learn through various activities and guided questions.
- Publishing Ahead of the New Year: Released in advance of Lunar New Year, 2022 (aka Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year) as well as western New Year (January 1).
About the author
Mei Zihan is an author of children's literature and a professor at Shanghai Normal University. His best-known works include Daughter’s Story, Dai Xiaoqiao and His Buddies, and the Stories of Lilaer series. He lives in Shanghai, China.
Qin Leng was born in Shanghai and now lives in Toronto where she works as a designer and illustrator. Her numerous picture books have been nominated for several prizes, including a Governor General's Literary Award.
Summary
A moving picture book to read when we’re missing family far away, set during Lunar New Year.
It’s Lunar New Year, a time when families come together for a wonderful feast, and a father longs to be with his daughter—but she lives in another country. As he imagines how his daughter is spending the festivities, he recalls fond memories of time spent with her, feeling a sense of loss and dislocation. While he misses her deeply, he also recognizes her need to move away, grow up, and become herself. New Year is a stunning portrait of leaving home, finding independence, and loving those who are many miles away.
With so many families living far apart, readers will relate to the universal message of missing our loved ones and dreaming of being together again.
An excellent resource for teachers, librarians, and parents for starting conversations about:
- The traditions and importance of Lunar New Year
- Understanding the complex feelings that come from family and friends living far away
- How to cope with feelings of loneliness and missing loved ones
An Aldana Libros Book, Greystone Kids
Foreword
- National Media Campaign
- Influencer Outreach Campaign (Bookstagram and TikTok)
- Digital and Print Advertising Campaign
- Major Promotion at Select National School/Library/Bookseller Conferences
- Extensive Outreach to Key Educators and Library Contacts
- Edelweiss E-Galley Promotion
- Educator and Library Blogger Campaign
- F&G Mailing Campaign
- Greystone Kids E-Newsletter and Social Features
- SEO Optimization for Digital Consumers
Additional text
“Gentle, heartfelt … [This book’s] universal themes of family and separation are especially resonant as we cope with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
—Booklist
“[A] story about home, independence, and love … brought to life with stunning watercolor illustrations.”
—Quill & Quire
“Lovely artwork… A sentimental holiday story told by a parent as he learns to let go.”
—Kirkus Reviews
