Sam and the Lucky Money

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(as of May 22, 2025 08:13:06 UTC – Details)

During Chinese New Year, a young boy encounters a homeless person and discovers that no gift is too small when it comes 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.

With vivid watercolor paintings, artists Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu celebrate the sights and sounds of festive Chinatown streets. In her picture book debut, author Karen Chinn tells the affecting story of a child who discovers that sometimes the best gifts come from the heart.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lee & Low Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 20, 2013
Edition ‏ : ‎ Standard Edition
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1880000539
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1880000533
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.8 ounces
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 5 – 8 years
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.25 x 10 inches
Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool – 3
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD660L