Chinese New Year Colors

Chinese-born, Chicago-raised artist Lo presents a bilingual picture book of 14 colors, illustrated with traditional components of Chinese New Year celebrations. Each verso page is bisected; above the fold, the color is listed in English, while below, the simplified Chinese translation sits beside the pinyin pronunciation. On each recto page, an item used to celebrate Chinese New Year (red firecrackers, a lucky gold coin, an orange tangerine) is painted large in a lush wash of color, some in improbable shades. Interestingly, Lo employs traditional characters in his elegant illustrations, carefully preserving details such as a partial “boundless longevity” message on a blue teapot and “Happy New Year” on a gray fan. A spread at the end identifies each element and its significance, both in Chinese culture and specifically for the occasion. A lovely, surprisingly comprehensive entry into colors and the holiday. Ages 3–7. [em](Nov.) [/em]