Sam and the Lucky Money

"The traditional message that it is better to give than to receive is handled in a genuine, thoughtful manner that will be realistic to children. Detailed descriptions of the sights and sounds of the New Year celebration build in contrast to Sam's growing introspection, becoming even more dramatic and adding to the depth of the story."

"A beautifully told story for all ages about the gift of giving."

"The subtle blending of cultures in both the illustrations and text engross the reader. . . The artists' vibrant watercolors embellish this story, which reaches across ethnic boundaries to reaffirm a universal truth."

"The landscape. . . is not made to appear exotic, but blends the mixture of Chinese and American mundanities that compose actual, modern Chinatown. [Author] Chinn. . . does not overtly moralize; instead, she provides a reconciliation between two difficult, and not necessarily disparate, childhood dilemmas."