It’s almost Lunar New Year, and Chloe can’t wait to celebrate! But first, Chloe and her family must prepare for the new year. They buy new shoes, lay out good-luck oranges in a bowl, decorate the red envelope, and make a crispy turnip cake. Everyone comes together to cook a fantastic feast, saving a plate for A-má, of course. Chloe enjoys the festive celebration and yummy food, but most of all, she loves spending time with her family.
Dispensing with the external drama of the dragon, parade, or noisy firecrackers, this warm book depicts family as central. Back matter includes an author’s note and a recipe for fortune cake.
SLJ Starred Review
VERDICT LaMotte’s success with Measuring Up looks likely to extend to younger readers here.
Themes of love and family underlie the snappy text.
Kirkus
Chloe’s Lunar New Year includes a recipe for Fortune Cake. I’m making fortune cake with my daughter in this video.
New York Times Book review
“The increasingly suspenseful elimination rounds of the contest give this funny, fast-paced narrative its dramatic arc. And the graphic novel format, featuring Xu’s big-eyed characters, clean lines and simple, playful aesthetic, is a perfect vehicle, allowing readers to see for themselves what Cici’s creative rice dishes look like….The happy ending, meanwhile, is as satisfying as a juicy dumpling.”
Measuring Up is honored to be included on these lists. Click on the links to see all the wonderful books to check out.
ALA Top Ten Graphic Novels for Children Reading List
Cybils Awards Winner Graphic Novel Elementary/Middle Grade
Minnesota Maud Hart Lovelace Finalist
Washington State Book Awards Finalist
Harvard Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study exhibit through December 17, 2022 “Drawing Us Together: Public Life and Public Health in Contemporary Comics”
Gold House Book Club Selection
On Today Show’s AAPI Heritage Month list of “24 beautiful kids’ books that reflect the Asian American experience.”
Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Awards Nominee
Virginia Reads Middle Grade Selection
Wisconsin State Reading Association Just One More Page Selection
South Carolina Association of School Librarians Junior Book Award Nominee
Georgia Children’s Book Award Nominee
Texas Library Association Little Maverick Selection
NEA January Reading Across America Selection
Seattle Public Library Global Reading Challenge Selection
Battle of the Books Selection in Idaho, Oregon, Gallaudet University and others
Amazon Best Books November selection
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection
Parents Magazine Book Nook October selection
Fall 2020 Indie Next selection
CBC October Hot Off the Press selection
I’m excited to announce my new middle grade graphic novel Unhappy Camper is forthcoming on April 23, 2024 with my brilliant Measuring Up illustrator Ann Xu. I’ve seen sketches and am thrilled with what Ann has done!!
Add Measuring Up, Unhappy Camper, and Chloe’s Lunar New Year to your Goodreads.
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Videos
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and Lily, Robin Ha, Shannon Hale, and Kathleen Gros at their NY Comic Con Metaverse panel.
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Lily is signing personalized copies at Imprint Bookstore at hello@imprintbookstore.com.
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I am passionate about supporting libraries and served on the King County Library System Foundation Board. I also support kidlit writers as a member of the SCBWI Western WA advisory committee in many roles such as SCBWI WWA Conference Coordinator, interim Assistant Regional Advisor, Monthly Programming Coordinator, and Weekend on the Water Retreat Coordinator.
I am a member of and highly recommend these writing organizations:
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