The the Dragon’s Eyes

Li-Ann is excited when her best friend Emma invites her to a sleepover … until her mom reminds her that the Lunar New Year Eve family reunion dinner falls on the same evening, and it is an important tradition that she absolutely cannot miss. When Li-Ann finds her grandmother’s old kong ming lantern, she offers to restore it, if her mom would let her go to the party. Mom’s “we’ll see” response is enough to spur Li-Ann into action. But just as she paints the finishing touches on the lantern, something unexpected happens, and she is whisked off into the night sky on an adventure that helps her understand her mom’s firm stand.

This entrancing story, written and illustrated by Megan Chew, addresses the struggles of second-generation immigrant children while celebrating the importance of staying connected to family and one’s cultural roots.