Double Happiness
by Nancy Tupper Ling
Illustrated by Alina Chau
Published by Chronicle Books
ISBN-10: 1452129185
7.8 x 0.5 x 9.8 inches, 48 pages
Age: 5-8 years
$8.03 on Amazon
Out today is the new children's book Double Happiness by Nancy Tupper Ling, illustrated by Alina Chau. Ling is a poet and she brings her beautiful prose to this Chinese-American family that moves from San Francisco to the East Coast. The story centers on a sister and brother, Gracie and Jake who are sad to leave San Francisco, especially their extended Chinese family that includes their grandma (Nai Nai), and Auntie Su and Uncle Woo. In the book, Nai Nai gives the kids each a "Happiness Box" where they can collect treasures and memories as they go on their journey from San Francisco to East Coast (we assume somewhere around there since the kids arrive in a snowy town). The book also uses Chinese words that go along with the title for each poetic page. It's a great book for older kids to read on their own. Kids don't like change and this book shows how a big change can actually turn into a big adventure!
Based on this book, Chloe was inspired to make her own Happiness Box. We found an old box and decided it was the right size to use as the Happiness Box. Chloe thought a shoe box was way too big to take around. She used a glue stick and layered colored tissue paper all over the box and added pretty flowers along the border of the box lid. It was a fun afternoon to read the book and make the Happiness Box. Now she is excited to finish off the summer by collecting fun things for her Happiness Box.
I also wanted to mention that Alina Chau's illustrations are particularly beautiful in this book. I loved her watercolor techniques, the shadowing, the details –– just dreamy! The color palette she used is just so sophisticated and worked perfectly for the story.
Review book provided by Chronicle Books.
