Sparkles for Sunny: A Lunar New Year Story

A child navigates seemingly contradictory wishes in this heartening picture book from Chen and Phuong. The youngest of three sisters, Chinese-cued Sunny is not looking forward to again donning a hand-me-down qípáo dress for the Lunar New Year Parade. Just once, she’d like to wear her own favorite color and zodiac sign, not those of her older siblings, but she knows very well that “the Lao Family Way” involves never wasting anything. Tired of being mixed up with her sisters and longing to distinguish herself, Sunny finds a way to channel both her creativity and the Lao Family Way to craft accessories for herself and her sibs. Softly textured artwork incorporates diaphanous clouds of gold, green, and magenta that emulate Sunny’s desire to look “super shiny and special” in this book about finding a path toward being “both alike and different.” Ages 4–8. (Dec.)