Chinese American author and illustrator Lo explores animal names and their significance in Chinese culture in this brightly illustrated bilingual picture book. Each two-page spread features stunning animal kite paintings along with a simple descriptive sentence in both English words and simplified Chinese characters. The name of the main animal presented is highlighted in a bright color in each sentence, allowing for easy identification in both languages. The animals, ranging from butterflies to tigers, all have significance in Chinese culture. That special significance is expanded upon in a short, two-page overview at the end of the book, in English only. For example, bats "represent happiness and wealth" while bees "signify hard work." The use of vivid colors throughout, with watercolor backgrounds and whimsical swirls, provides plenty of appeal. The short sentences with basic vocabulary are inviting, though a pronunciation guide could make them more accessible. Overall, though, this is a stunning introduction and window into animal names and symbolism in Chinese culture.

In this bilingual book, handsome animal-shaped kites fly across the page, back and forth against a watercolor sky. English text and "simplified Chinese" characters describe the actions of each kite: "a crab moves sideways beneath the clouds"; "a tiger pounces across the sky." The final two pages list the fourteen animals and their significance in Chinese culture. The digital watercolor art is particularly effective; each pictured kite is "built" with layers of color that mimic the three-dimensional structure of an actual kite.

Wild creatures revel in their untrammeled freedom.Each double-page spread of this picture book introduces a different animal engaged in some form of movement. The twist is that the "animals" are really kites, and all the activity happens up in the air. A spotted fish "leaps into the blue sky," a multihued crab "moves sideways beneath the clouds," and so forth. The layered paper-cut kites are vibrantly colored. There is a palpable depth and dimension to both the kites and the sky, rendered in digital watercolors. The selection of animals feels random given the lack of an overt narrative thread, but the dreamy parade of artistic forms will pique children's curiosity and spark their imaginations. Readers may be tempted to breeze through the free-flowing, patterned text, but the figurative language invites us to pause and ponder the layers of meaning. This bilingual book uses English and Simplified Chinese. The backmatter explores the symbolism of the featured animals in Chinese folk cultures.A simple, atmospheric introduction to Chinese animal names. (Picture book. 4-8)

PreS-Gr 1 Fourteen animal kites, depicted in lush watercolors, soar through the pages of this gorgeous book aimed at the youngest picture book readers. Simple text accompanies each kite, such as "a fish leaps into the blue sky" or "a crab moves sideways beneath the clouds." The text, in English and Simplified Chinese characters, is black, with the animal name a different color in both English and Chinese. The real standout is Lo's stunning paintings, which depict each kite in a riot of colors against a sky accented with swirls and squiggles, while the other kites fly in the distance. Back matter gives a brief sentence about the role of each animal in Chinese culture. A fitting companion to Lo's Chinese New Year Colors . VERDICT Vibrant and striking images and a simple but engaging text make this one a strong story time choice for the youngest audiences, with opportunities for further conversations and explorations. Jennifer Rothschild