Best Children’s Books of the Year: Outstanding Merit, Bank Street College of Education
Notable Books for a Global Society, International Reading Association (IRA)
Choices, Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC)
Marion Vannett Ridgway Award Honoree

In Spanish. 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.

Translated from Sam and the Lucky Money, Sam y el dinero de la suerte, 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.