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Health & Fitness

Celebrate Chinese Culture with "Emma's American Chinese New Year" by Amy Meadows, And Win A Book!

A children's book that celebrates an adopted child's culture with her American family.

"As a freelance feature writer for more than a decade, I never intended – or expected – to write children’s literature. However, the idea for Emma’s American Chinese New Year came to me not long after my sister and brother-in-law brought my niece home from China. I had seen so many wonderful books about international adoption, many written specifically for children. But I did not see anything that depicted an adopted child celebrating a holiday from her culture with her American family. And that is what I truly admire about the families that have been created through international adoption. So often, parents spend a great deal of time helping their children understand and honor their birth cultures. It gives these children a real sense of who they are and where they came from while still allowing them to be active and amazing All-American kids.

Emma’s American Chinese New Year was a way for me to celebrate all that my niece has brought into our lives and capture an experience that our entire family enjoys so much. It’s an experience that we share with so many other families throughout the country."  Amy Meadows

About the book:  

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Emma is a delightful little Chinese girl living in America with her adoptive parents. Her folks know how important it is to honor Emma’s American life and Chinese heritage, including Chinese New Year, one of the most important holidays in China.

In Emma’s American Chinese New Year, Emma takes us through the preparations for the Chinese New Year, which occurs annually in January or February. She and Mommy bake moon cakes, enjoy oranges with Daddy, and decorate the house with colorful Chinese lanterns cut from paper. Every year, Emma also receives a red envelope with money enclosed, signifying good luck.

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Emma and her parents join their extended family to celebrate at the cultural center, where Emma and other little girls wear traditional “qipao” dresses. And what would a party be without music and dancing, including a roving lion and a swooping dragon!

The evening culminates with a trip to the family’s favorite Chinese restaurant for traditional food, including spring rolls, noodles and fortune cookies. Before parting, Emma and her parents wish their relatives “Gung Hay Fat Choy” or “best wishes and congratulations; have a prosperous and good new year!” 

The text, written in rhyme, is perfect for ages three to eight. Chinese artist Soon Kwong Teo illustrates the color and gaiety of this significant Chinese holiday. 

Emma’s American Chinese New Year is a children’s picture book that assists American families with adopted children from China as they merge two unique cultures into their homes and observe a significant Chinese holiday.

More than 66,000 children have been adopted from China in the last decade alone, and Meadows’ story will make it easy and entertaining for families to integrate this dual heritage into everyday life. 

Emma’s American Chinese New Year is a medalist in the Holiday category of the 2012 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards.

Available on Amazon.

Author's website.

WIN A COPY!

Enter to win a copy of Emma's American Chinese New Year! Leave a comment here and you are entered into a book giveaway. Winner to be announced on November 14.

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Part of this post appeared originally on "Book Talk With Barbara Barth" Blog, which connects authors and readers. If you are an author and would like to have your book on my blog, please contact me. Link here to visit my blog and our facebook page.

 

    
 

     

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