Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Lee & Low Books (1997), Edition: Reprint, 32 pages
Description
Sam must decide how to spend the lucky money he's received for Chinese New Year.
User reviews
LibraryThing member mirandamae18
A great story centered around a Chinese New Year celebration for one young boy. The story contains an important life lesson as well as a look into the Chinese culture and some of it's traditions. The pictures in this book are just beautiful and although I have never seen a Chinese parade, I would
Show More
imagine that they accurately depict the bright colors and fun designs of this culture. I added this book to my lessons about the Chinese New Year in February and my one Chinese student was so excited she even brought in her own "New Year's Money" to show the class the next day. Show Less
LibraryThing member conuly
Sam is a lucky kid. It's Chinese New Year, he has four dollars of HIS own lucky money to spend (and he can spend it however he likes, not just on "practical" things), he has family that loves him enough to give him cash just because it's a holiday... he's got luck coming out of his ears, not that
And you know, it's an exciting day. There's the lion, and it's a holiday, and it's crowded, and he's got that money to spend. Of course, when he meets a homeless guy, shoeless in winter, at the beginning of the book, we know where every last one of those four dollars will go by the end of the book. Sam doesn't know it yet, but that's because he's just a kid. He probably doesn't even know he's a character in a book!
So the middle of the book is filled with his frustrating and disheartening realization that four dollars doesn't go nearly as far as he'd like, until his final understanding of how money should be spent at the end.
It's well-written, and fairly realistic, although a little wordy for what is nothing more than a basic morality tale.
Show More
he knows it.And you know, it's an exciting day. There's the lion, and it's a holiday, and it's crowded, and he's got that money to spend. Of course, when he meets a homeless guy, shoeless in winter, at the beginning of the book, we know where every last one of those four dollars will go by the end of the book. Sam doesn't know it yet, but that's because he's just a kid. He probably doesn't even know he's a character in a book!
So the middle of the book is filled with his frustrating and disheartening realization that four dollars doesn't go nearly as far as he'd like, until his final understanding of how money should be spent at the end.
It's well-written, and fairly realistic, although a little wordy for what is nothing more than a basic morality tale.
Show Less
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
When Sam's grandparents give him the traditional Chinese New Year's gift of leisees - red envelopes with lucky money in them - the young boy is thrilled to think that he can spend his gift however he chooses. But four dollars doesn't go very far, as Sam discovers, while shopping with his mother in
Although the moral of Karen Chinn's Sam and the Lucky Money is not exactly subtle, it never overwhelms the story, which unfolds naturally, drawing the reader into its engaging world. Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu - the husband/wife illustrator team who also worked on the wonderful Jingle Dancer - capture the magic of the day, and the progression of Sam's emotional state, in their lovely watercolor artwork. All in all, this would make an excellent title for Chinese New Year, or for any other time of the year!
Show More
Chinatown. His mother reminds him that, regardless of the gift, it is important to be grateful, but when you'd like a basketball that you can't afford, it's difficult to remember that. And then Sam recalls the old homeless man he encountered earlier in the day, out in the cold with no shoes, and he knows what to do with his money...Although the moral of Karen Chinn's Sam and the Lucky Money is not exactly subtle, it never overwhelms the story, which unfolds naturally, drawing the reader into its engaging world. Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu - the husband/wife illustrator team who also worked on the wonderful Jingle Dancer - capture the magic of the day, and the progression of Sam's emotional state, in their lovely watercolor artwork. All in all, this would make an excellent title for Chinese New Year, or for any other time of the year!
Show Less
LibraryThing member ht_storytime
Nice Chinese New Year story that explains red envelopes and has a moral of generosity.
LibraryThing member ebruno
This is a book about a boy celebrating the chinese new year with his lucky money given to him by his grandparetns. As he tags along with mom running her errands, he spots a homeless man with out any shoes. Sam is initally scared of him, but on the second spotting sam decides to give his money to
Show More
the man. Show Less
LibraryThing member jrlandry1410
This heartwarming tale is about Sam, a young boy who is Chinese. When his family celebrates the Chinese new year Sam gets "leisees", which are dollar bills inside small red envelopes embossed with gold. These are Sam's "lucky money". This year Sam is allowed to spend them on whatever he chooses.
Show More
Sam quickly learns that four dollars is not a lot of money, and at first he is disappointed. In the end, he learns an even greater lesson, that not everyone is as lucky to have a life like his. A great message and some fantastic watercolors make this a winning book for children. Whether you want to teach them a little about Chinese culture or teach them to be greatful for what they have or both, this book is a good way to do it. Show Less
Awards
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
32 p.; 8.75 inches
ISBN
1880000539 / 9781880000533