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Sam and the Lucky Money
It's Chinese New Year's day and Sam's grandparents have given him the traditional gift of lucky money for him to spend any way he chooses. He is disappointed that the money isn't enough to get the things he wants, until a surprise encounter with a stranger takes place.
Paperback, 32 pages
Published
August 1st 1997
by Lee & Low Books
(first published September 1st 1995)
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Sam is a lucky kid. It's Chinese New Year, he has four dollars of HIS own lucky money to spend (and he can spend it however he likes, not just on "practical" things), he has family that loves him enough to give him cash just because it's a holiday... he's got luck coming out of his ears, not that he knows it.
And you know, it's an exciting day. There's the lion, and it's a holiday, and it's crowded, and he's got that money to spend. Of course, when he meets a homeless guy, shoeless in winter, at...more
And you know, it's an exciting day. There's the lion, and it's a holiday, and it's crowded, and he's got that money to spend. Of course, when he meets a homeless guy, shoeless in winter, at...more
I read this book to my Year 3 class as we were learning about China. This book was a great way into Chinese culture and tradition. It’s about a young boy called Sam who receives his New Year’s gift money from his grandparents. However, he doesn’t have enough money to buy what he wants and his excitement turns into disappointment. Even after his mother tells him that he should appreciate the gifts he has received he is still unhappy. This is until he meets a stranger in Chinatown and Sam does a k...more
This book takes a traditional Asian holiday and brings it to a big American city. While doing so readers experience the Chinese New Year and some of the special events and treats that go with it.
The little boy in this story is given free rein to spend his New Year's dollars any way he wants this year. As he thinks this over the reader is introduced to the bakery, which sells Chinese pastry. While shopping in the crowded streets Sam meets a homeless man who is not wearing any shoes. Sam is start...more
The little boy in this story is given free rein to spend his New Year's dollars any way he wants this year. As he thinks this over the reader is introduced to the bakery, which sells Chinese pastry. While shopping in the crowded streets Sam meets a homeless man who is not wearing any shoes. Sam is start...more
Sam and the Lucky Money is a nice story about being thankful for what you do have, even when you may be disappointed in what you don't.
After Sam gets his New Years presents from his grandparents he can't wait to go shopping. In the end he finds that he not only doesn't have enough for what he wants but he doesn't have enough to do much at all. Sam, like a lot of kids these days, isn't very happy about this and it shows. I think many a kid will be able to relate to this.
While shopping in Chinatow...more
After Sam gets his New Years presents from his grandparents he can't wait to go shopping. In the end he finds that he not only doesn't have enough for what he wants but he doesn't have enough to do much at all. Sam, like a lot of kids these days, isn't very happy about this and it shows. I think many a kid will be able to relate to this.
While shopping in Chinatow...more
Grade/Interest Le vel: Primary/Upper Elementary (1st-3rd grade)
Reading Level: Fountas-Pinnel, P
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Multicultural, Picture Book
Main Characters: Mom, Dad, and Sam.
Setting: Chinatown, New York.
POV: Sam
Summary:
This story is about a Chinese boy named Sam. Each year on the Chinese New Year, Sam’s parents give him Lucky Money to spend in the amount of 4 dollars. Usually, Sam is told he has to use them to buy a pair of socks or a new notebook. However, this year, Sam’s parents...more
Reading Level: Fountas-Pinnel, P
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Multicultural, Picture Book
Main Characters: Mom, Dad, and Sam.
Setting: Chinatown, New York.
POV: Sam
Summary:
This story is about a Chinese boy named Sam. Each year on the Chinese New Year, Sam’s parents give him Lucky Money to spend in the amount of 4 dollars. Usually, Sam is told he has to use them to buy a pair of socks or a new notebook. However, this year, Sam’s parents...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Narrator telling the story.
Sam was given leisees by his grandparents every year for New Year. Leisees are crisp dollars that are plaved in red envelopes. When he arrives at Chinatown he describes what he sees around him. He looks at things he want to buy with his money ,but what he wanted to buy was to expensive. Throughout the whole day he kept thinking about the homeless man he kicked by accident when he was playing. At the end he decided to give his money to the man and felt very happy afterw...more
Sam was given leisees by his grandparents every year for New Year. Leisees are crisp dollars that are plaved in red envelopes. When he arrives at Chinatown he describes what he sees around him. He looks at things he want to buy with his money ,but what he wanted to buy was to expensive. Throughout the whole day he kept thinking about the homeless man he kicked by accident when he was playing. At the end he decided to give his money to the man and felt very happy afterw...more
Feb 11, 2010
Lisa Vegan
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Lisa by:
Abigail
Well, Sam is just a cutie. Even before he decides how to use his lucky New Year money, he’s just so adorable. The illustrations of Sam and everyone and everything are so colorful and vibrant; they’re just wonderful. The story, about generosity and being grateful for what you’re given/what you have, is a morality tale, but it’s a good, although short, story. The reader/listener will learn a little bit about Chinese New Year from the book and the story & pictures are more than enough to hold o...more
3 likes
·
like
· see review
view all 5 comments
What a sweet and heart warming book with Chinese culture included into the text and pictures. The young boy receives lucky money ($4) for the Chinese New Year. He is so excited to go spend it in the markets but quickly realizes that $4 is not enough for a basketball. He ends up donating the money to a homeless person that he had seen earlier in the day. This story teaches compassion and sacrifice while also incorporating Chinese locations and customs. This story would be best for first grade thr...more
Student Name: Chris Maynard
Purpose: Picture Book (Wide Reading Project)
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book
Grade: Intermediate
Subject/Themes: See Above Bookshelves
School Use: Sam and the Lucky Money has great applications beyond teaching students about homelessness and the importance of putting materialism aside for the sake of helping others. I can see this being used in a social studies classroom around the holidays to teach about different celebrations such as the Chinese New Year. Si...more
Purpose: Picture Book (Wide Reading Project)
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book
Grade: Intermediate
Subject/Themes: See Above Bookshelves
School Use: Sam and the Lucky Money has great applications beyond teaching students about homelessness and the importance of putting materialism aside for the sake of helping others. I can see this being used in a social studies classroom around the holidays to teach about different celebrations such as the Chinese New Year. Si...more
Sam receives leisees (lucky money) for the New Year celebration. He is told he may spend it any way he chooses. During shopping he encounters a homeless man without a jacket and shoes. Sam also finds out that his lucky money does not buy much of anything that he would like. He gives his lucky money to the homeless man who could actually buy something needed. This is a great diversity/multicultural read. It is sprinkled with Chinese customs and words. The decision Sam makes adds another dimension...more
When Sam receives his lucky money for Chinese New Year, his grandparents say he can spend it however he likes. But as his family goes out shopping for the special food and supplies they need to celebrate the holiday, Sam has a hard time finding something he can afford to buy. An unexpected meeting with a special stranger gives Sam an idea. Heart-warming story! Preschool Unit: Chinese New Year (Friends In Many Lands). Could also be used for a unit on love or friendship or service.
Sam and the Lucky Money is a great book to have in your classroom. It might not be a book that is read aloud to students, but it is a good source to have on your bookshelf. Even though Sam is excited about receiving money and finding something to buy, he ultimately decides to give the money to a person who is less fortunate. This book allows students to gain some knowledge about the Chinese New Year while also taking in a meaning of what it mean to be generous.
This is a great book to introduce diversity into the classroom. The story was centered around the Chinese New Year and did a great job of bringing other aspects of the culture into the story ( language and symbols). It also touched on the idea of needs and wants, generosity, and homelessness. It is a well rounded book and a great resource for the classoom.
Feb 06, 2013
Natalie Heavrin
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
barbs-book,
contemporary-fiction,
diversity,
family,
china,
picture-book,
money,
homeless,
charity,
appreciation,
culture,
informational
This is a great book to teach students about the holidays of other cultures. This book contained information about Chinese New Year, aspects of the culture, and even chinese language and symbols. It's also a great story to lead into talking about charity, generosity, and those who are less fourtunate. The pictures are detailed and realistic.
Feb 06, 2013
Jillian Warren
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
barb-s-books,
chinese,
diversity,
inference,
love,
social-studies,
picture-book,
vocab,
family,
tradition,
homelessness
This book was a wonderful introduction to the Chinese New Year. It gave information about the new year in a very subtle way that was just mentioned in the story line. It also included many other themes which makes it a very deep story and makes it very useful in the classroom. I loved the realistic style if illustrations.
Sam and the Lucky Money is a good moral story of kindness and giving. The sight of a homeless man moved Sam to make the biggest sacrifice of his life. Instead of using his lucky new year money on himself, he gave it to he poor man. His act of kindness will leave readers speechless and wondering.
Feb 06, 2013
Cara Farmer
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
acceptance,
barbs-book,
culture,
family,
vocabulary,
homelessness,
friends,
diversity,
new-years,
tradition
This was a nice book and it was on an interesting subject. I really enjoyed how detailed it was. The descriptions brought it to life. The pictures also made it amazing. They were full of detail and could really help a child imagine what was being described
I enjoyed this book because it had diversity and you got to learn about a different culture. I also liked the moral of the story and the boys decision to give his lucky money away to someone who needed it much more than him.
Mar 14, 2012
Samantha
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommended to Samantha by:
Alexandria
Shelves:
elementary-school,
reviewed
As I've mentioned before, I love books with characters by the name of Sam. Sam's are the coolest, and this Sam is no exception. He learns a priceless lesson about the value of money to people with different lifestyles. =)
This nice little book teaches about Chinese New Year and about giving. It's about a little boy going through China Town with his mother on New Year's, deciding what to do with the lucky money he's received.
A great story about a Chinese boy’s generosity helping a man less fortunate them him. Reminds me of another book about a boy who was given money and has to decide what to do with the money.
This book is about Sam and his lucky money.The problem is how Sam will spend his lucky money.In the end he decides to give his lucky money to an old man.Then Sam knows he's the lucky one.
This is about a little Chinese boy who is excited to go shopping for the New Year with his mom. This is a good book to introduce diversity in holidays and how other cultures celebrate.
A boy learns that giving to those in need is more satisfying than buying something for himself. Great to teach children that material possessions are not always the best way to utilize the money that they receive for their birthdays, etc.
Sam wants to use his money to buy himself a treat. When he sees a homeless man he decides to give the money to him. This book would be good to use to teach wants and needs.
Cute book, good moral. Little boy gets money for the new year. Can't decide what to spend his money on. He decides to give his money to a homeless man who has no shoes.
Sam and his mother go to Chinatown in a big American city to celebrate New Year's and spend Sam's gift money that he's received for the holiday. Sam experiences a public celebration of the new year and finds a worthy way to spend his money.
I love that this book focuses on generosity.
I love that this book focuses on generosity.
This book is about how a boy and his need to appreciate his wants and needs. He realizes what he has, and what others may not have.
the author is intellegint because shes chinnesse and the kid sam gives money to people who need it and every body should be like this
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