Author & Sewing Designer June McCrary Jacobs

~ THURSDAY FICTION FEATURE ~
-and- US Giveaway Sponsored By
The Publisher, Henry Holt and Company--
One Print Copy of Book to a US Resident
 

'Ruby's Chinese New Year'

A Picture Book Written by Vickie Lee

& Illustrated by Joey Chou

READ MORE ON GOODREADS

This year Chinese New Year kicks off on Friday, February 16th; and 2018 is the Year of the Dog. At the end of the story the author presents a simplified Chinese Zodiac chart listing the animals and their traits. Traits of people born in the Year of the Dog are thought to be loyal, honest, friendly, faithful, and smart. {Sounds like a few canine friends I know!}

I thoroughly enjoyed this new picture book about a young girl's adventures as she travels to visit her grandmother for Chinese New Year. Along the way, Ruby encounters all twelve animals in the Chinese Zodiac along with one extra guest. I promise not to spoil the story by sharing the details with you. Just read it for yourself to find out why I believe children will love this book!

This story is reminiscent of the well-loved and treasured folk tales 'The Gingerbread Man' and 'The Little Red Hen'. Rhyme, rhythm, and repetition are keys to a young learner's engagement with a book, and this one has all three of those elements.

The illustrations by Joey Chou are colorful and vibrant. I loved his choice of colors for the animals and their surroundings. The small details he adds to each character and the scenes enriches the story. His depiction of a Chinese New Year celebration is captivating. 

At the end of the story the author provides additional information about this holiday and the Chinese Zodiac in her 'The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac' section. I found this text to be helpful to a young child's understanding of the storyline and the significance of this holiday in the Chinese culture. 

As a bonus, the author and illustrator included three craft projects for youngsters to complete. There are stepped-out instructions for a paper lantern, paper fan, and good luck banners accompanied by an illustration of each craft. 

I would highly recommend this book for classroom teachers, librarians, parents/grandparents, day care providers, and other adults involved in multi-cultural education for young children.

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GIVEAWAY

The publisher of this book, Henry Holt and Company, is sponsoring a giveaway for US residents only for one print copy of  'Ruby's Chinese New Year'. Enter the Rafflecopter contest below for a chance to win.

There are many ways to enter. Just log in to the Rafflecopter form below and take a few moments to sign up! Come back each day to earn 5 extra entries. It's free to enter. The only thing I request is that you be eighteen years of age or older to enter and that you have a United States mailing address (post office boxes are accepted). I will contact the winner a few days after the contest closes. {Note:  You will need to respond to my message within 72 hours, or I will move to the next person on the list.} Thank you for your interest and participation. Good luck!

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COMING UP SOON ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':
 
 

-- Friday, February 16th:  Author Interview and book spotlight about Author SM Ford and her  inspirational romantic suspense release, 'Alone'.  Stop by to read about Sue's journey as an author and to learn about her book.

-- Wednesday, February 21st:  A book spotlight and excerpt from Author Tammy James Hesler's inspirational romance release, 'Mountains of Love:  A Novella for the Heart'.  Stop by to read about Tammy's inspiring life story and to learn about her novella.

--  Friday, February 23rd:  Author interview, book spotlight, and giveaway with debut Cedar Fort author Shawn Pollock. One lucky US reader will win a hardcover copy of Shawn's debut World War II historical novel, 'The Road to Freedom'.

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