BIBLIOGRAPHY
Wong, Janet. 2000. THIS
NEXT NEW YEAR. Ill. by Yangsook Choi. New York: Frances Foster Books. ISBN 0374355037
PLOT SUMMARY
Janet Wong's book THIS NEXT NEW YEAR illustrates and
describes how a young boy and his family celebrate the Chinese New Year. The author touches on various topics such as
preparing the food, exchanging gifts, cleansing the home, and attending New
Year parades.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Wong uses simple sentences throughout the text, with
sentences spanning two pages. Each page
contains three to four sentences and allows easy flow from one page to the
next. Young readers learn that a
traditional dish served for the Chinese New Year is duk gook soup; red envelopes filled with money are exchanged to
wish wealth and prosperity to others; and families thoroughly sweep, mop, and
dust their homes to clear away the previous year's bad energy and make room for
luck and fortune. By using these sentences
sparsely, Wong allows readers to focus more on the vibrant and colorful images
that appear on the pages.
Choi's vibrant drawings capture authentic cultural details of this fun
and festive celebration. As readers turn the page, they see images of
children with different ethnicities and skin colors (light-tanned, white,
brown, and black), different eye shapes (narrow, round, almond-shaped), and
different hair styles (black, brown, blond) all preparing to celebrate the
Chinese New Year. The young narrator
tells the audience that his best friend, Glen, who is of French and German
descent, enjoys eating Thai food for the Chinese New Year while Evelyn, a girl
friend of Hopi and Mexican descent, likes receiving the red stuff envelopes
filled with money. The inclusion of
children and families from different ethnicities conveys the awareness and
appreciation that other cultures have in celebrating this momentous Chinese
holiday.
Readers also get an inside glimpse into the home life of
some Chinese families. As the family
happily gathers for the Chinese New Year dinner, the table is filled with
various entrees such as fish, egg rolls, and dumplings. As custom in the Chinese culture, the family
sits on the floor on cushions and pillows. Red-colored banners and decorations
hang from the ceiling, containing Chinese letters and symbols. Although the narrator's family lives in
contemporary society, as evidenced in their wearing of long trousers, sweaters,
scarves, and mittens, the narrator still dons a customary red sash filled with
gold-colored Chinese symbols on New Year's Day.
The illustrations also depict the spirit and hope the
families and community have as the Chinese New Year approaches. Traditional celebratory customs and
decorations for the Lunar New Year's Day are depicted throughout the entire
text. Young readers see two ornately
decorated Chinese dragons which can be manipulated with long, flexible poles to
simulate dancing. These Chinese dragons
are seen as a sign of strength and power, with the belief that they can ward
off evil spirits and bad energy. Young
readers also see the excitement and anticipation in the children's and parent's
faces as they stand under softly illuminated paper lanterns of various shapes,
colors, and sizes. Choi's illustrations
also capture the family lighting a string of red firecrackers to "scare
bad luck away" as the midnight hour ushers in the Chinese New Year.
The combination of Wong's playful verses and Choi's festive
drawings bring the spirit of the Chinese New Year to life by providing culturally
authentic representations. Readers of all
ages will want to learn more about the cultural background, traditions, and
experiences of the Chinese culture.
REVIEWS
BOOKLIST: "Choi's smooth, brightly colored
paintings--filled with firecrackers, dragons, and other cultural symbols--ably
illustrate the optimistic activity and the yearning in the accessible, rhythmic
text. Children of diverse backgrounds will connect with the boy's earnest
desire to help change the family's luck and realize his own potential."
CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: "Yangsook Choi brings the
celebration vividly to life with her bright, vibrant pictures."
KIRKUS: "Wong's poetic voice creates art from the ordinary...
lively, two-page spreads in bright colors, perfectly complement the energetic
text, adding visual reinforcement to the scenes described by the narrator."
CONNECTIONS
Pair this story up with an app recommended by the
illustrator, Yangsook Choi. "Oy China"
is a free app students can download to their iPads to create their own festive
dragons for the Chinese New Year. The
app may be accessed and downloaded at http://www.yangsookchoi.com/
Have students read other pictures books describing the Lunar
New Year's Day:
Chinn, Karen. SAM AND
THE LUCKY MONEY. ISBN 1880000539
Lin, Grace. BRINGING
IN THE NEW YEAR. ISBN 0375866051
Lin, Grace. DIM SUM
FOR EVERYONE. ISBN 0440417708
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