Lucky Red by Mika Mayen, Illustrated by Icha Jati

Lucky Red: A Lunar New Year Tale by Mika Mayen is an enchanting children’s picture book to discover the legend behind the Lunar New Year. One day a man in red arrives at a village by the sea and promises the villagers to rid them of a terrible beast, colorfully brought to life by illustrator Icha Jati. While some of the language may be a bit complex for young children and need explanation (“plagued” or “bleakness,” for example), the eye-catching illustrations are incredibly vivid and expressive throughout, and the captivating storyline offers important cultural instruction. All told, this is an engaging bedtime book that charmingly celebrates the renewal of spring and spending time with family.