Book News: Lucky New Year!

By Ronna Mandel

[Blogger's Note: Great news for book lovers! Ronna will be launching her very own blog soon. Stayed tuned at LAParent.com.] 

I could not wait to open Lucky New Year! by Mary Man-Kong and illustrated by Chi Chung (Golden Books, www.randomhouse.com, $9.99, ages 3-8). This bright and shiny pop-up book is one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. Kids will learn to say, “Gung hay fat choy” ("Wishing you prosperity!") along with characters Lili and Lenny as they prepare for the fast approaching Chinese New Year.

By turning a dial on the Chinese calendar, readers can find which animal represents their birth year. I was surprised to discover that my son was born in the year of the snake, but the calendar did not go far back enough for me!

At a dim sun luncheon celebration on New Year’s Day, lift the flaps to see what foods Lili and Lenny will enjoy. All the pop-ups, flaps and other moveable devices are clever. My favorite, the chopsticks and noodles, may be yours, too! The Chinese lion brings good luck, so don’t forget to pull the tab at the end and watch the lion open and close its eyes and mouth.

What’s the perfect combination for the end of January? Buy the book at one of the many terrific independent book shops we list in our Best of L.A. issue and then treat your kids to a dim sum meal in one of the restaurants recommended in our new L.A. Parent 411 guide.