Erlbach, Arlene.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYWHERE. Illus by Sharon Lane Holm.
Brookfield, CT: Millbrook, 2000. 48p.
0-7613-1707-6; lib.bdg., 23.90. 99-57335
Gr.1-8+ 394.26
The new years customs of 20 countries are listed
in alphabetical order with an identical two-page spread for each country.
Date, name of holiday, greeting with pronunciation, project, list of ingredients
needed, steps for making the project, and a map of the world showing each
country. Not all of the holidays are in January and the introduction
explains reasons why some cultures celebrate the new year during spring
planting or harvest time. Scotland’s project is singing “Auld
Lang Syne;” lyrics and music are included. Some other projects include
a puppet, bracelet, musical instrument, food, plant, mask, and a game.
Mexico’s project is connected with numbers and months so both are given
in Spanish. Phonetic pronunciation is provided for the numbers but
not the months and readers are told to see Chile for the pronunciation.
The same custom of eating a grape for each of the twelve months was told
in the article about Chile. Except that many Spanish-speaking countries
share this grape-eating custom, it is unclear why the author chose to repeat
the list of months when there is so much other information to share.
This is nitpicking; the book is one that should be purchased by even the
smallest elementary school and public libraries.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director, Superiorland Preview
Center
32 years of experience as a school library/media
specialist
Old, Wendie. THE
GROUNDHOG DAY BOOK OF FACTS AND FUN.
Illus.
By Paige Billin-Frye. Morton Grove,
IL: Albert Whitman & Co., 2004.
40p. ISBN 0-8075-3066-2 hb.
$10.95 Gr. 3-6
j394.261
Once you read this book, you will know everything about Groundhog Day and
its origins. Groundhog Day began as
a celebration of the halfway point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox,
almost exactly six months after Halloween.
Readers will also learn about seasons and the biological nature of
groundhogs. The book is sprinkled
with groundhog jokes, and the last chapter is dedicated to organizing your own
Groundhog Day celebration. This
informative text is illustrated with bright, friendly pictures.
It’s a perfect fit for the classroom or public library.
Lynette Suckow, Youth Services, Peter White Public Library, Marquette,
MI
Spirn, Michele. NEW YEAR. Illus. with photos.
World Celebrations and Ceremonies Series. Woodbridge, CT:
Blackbirch, 1999.
24p. 1-56711-249-8; lib.bdg., $14.95 98-12118
Gr. 3-5 394.26
For each of the ten countries,
there is a map of the country and one of the world which places that country
in it, making it easier for children to place the country in perspective.
Within the country, people celebrate the new year in numerous ways and
sometimes more than one custom is given. For example, in the United
States, there is mention of Times Square, the Rose Parade and football
game, and the Mummers' parade in Philadelphia. The map, however,
shows San Francisco and Los Angeles but not Pasadena. New York and
Philadelphia are shown. Maps seem to have been placed in the book
without regard to the text. This is an irritating oversight that
careful editing should have caught. The article on England might
have been called The British Isles because it mentions English children
near Scotland and Wales. The information about Rosh Hashanah in Israel
does not mention that Jewish people no matter where they live around the
world, also celebrate this holiday. The same can be said for the
article about the Chinese New Year that occurs between January 21 and Feb.
19. There are many Chinese-Americans who celebrate this festival.
Besides the Chinese New Year, Spirn mentions other New Year's festivals
that are not held Jan. 1. The Hindu celebration of Diwali and the
Jewish Rosh Hashanah are fall festivals. The Igbo of Nigeria celebrate
in the spring. A glossary, list of further reading,
tourism web sites, and index, conclude the book. Despite the oversights
mentioned, this is a timely book to have for the beginning of the
new millennium or for multicultural studies.
Mary Ann Paulin; Director,
Superiorland Preview Center
32 years of experience
as a school library-media specialist