Notable Books for a Global Society, International Reading Association (IRA)
Choices, Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC)
Marion Vannett Ridgway Award Honoree, Marion Vannett Ridgway Award
Pick of the List, American Bookseller’s Association
Story Pick, Storytime, PBS

In Chinese. Sam and the Lucky Money celebrates the sights and sounds of festive Chinatown streets. while telling the affecting story of a child who discovers that sometimes the best gifts come from the heart.

Sam can hardly wait to go shopping with his mom. It’s Chinese New Year’s day and his grandparents have given him the traditional gift of lucky money-red envelopes called leisees (lay-sees). This year Sam is finally old enough to spend it any way he chooses. Best of all, he gets to spend his lucky money in his favorite place - Chinatown!

But when Sam realizes that his grandparents’ gift is not enough to get the things he wants, his excitement turns to disappointment. Even though his mother reminds him that he should appreciate the gift, Sam is not convinced - until a surprise encounter with a stranger.

Now in Chinese, Sam and the Lucky Money celebrates the sights and sounds of festive Chinatown streets. while telling the affecting story of a child who discovers that sometimes the best gifts come from the heart.