Sam and the Lucky Money

by Karen Chinn, Cornelius Van Wright, Ying-Hwa Hu

Notable Books for a Global Society, International Literacy Association (ILA)
Choices, Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Marion Vannett Ridgway Award Honoree, Marion Vannett Ridgway Award
Pick of the List, American Bookseller's Association
Story Pick, Storytime, PBS 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.

Genres: Picture Books, Holiday, Childrens, China, Family, Cultural, Asian American

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1995

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sam loves Chinese New Year when his family gives him the bright red envelopes with money inside, usually a dollar. His grandparents give him 4$ each year in 4 envelopes. He is excited to spend them and he can’t decide how to do so. He and his mother are shopping and he is thinking of buying cookies or toys, but the toys are way too expensive with only 4 dollars. He gets a little mad and his mother expects him to be grateful. There was a beggar on the street that he notices does not have shoes. This helps him to remember to be grateful for what he has.

This story was decent. It didn’t really move me, but it does get across the idea of sharing with others. Giving can be a good thing.

The nephew loved the dragon in the street and the red envelopes with money. He said that his grandparents give him more than just 4 dollars. He is lucky. He usually gets 5 or 10 dollars in a card. He thought the story was only an ok story even with the dragon that likes to eat red envelopes. He gave this 2 stars.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! It felt nostalgic for me, somehow... published in 1995, it was a little beyond my childhood proper but Sam still felt very much like a kid I might have met when I was a kid and I vividly remember watching the Reading Rainbow episode with the Lion Dance! The illustrations here are warm and evocative, Sam's expression are so perfect. The backdrop is Chinese New Year but the story is so much more... Sam is allowed to spend the money he gets from his grandparents any way he wishes (a novel treat!) but the excitement of shopping for himself is soon diminished by the realization that the four dollars won't actually buy much, "What is four dollars good for?" he complains in frustration and disappointment. But, his empathy is stirred by the memory of a man with no shoes sitting out on the cold sidewalk. Sam realizes that four dollars may not buy him the toys he most wants... and it might not be enough to buy shoes... but it can still do a great deal of good for someone in need. Highly recommend!

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 one’s attention. This is a lovely book to read at Lunar New Year or any time of year.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Sam's grandparents give him the traditional Chinese New Year's gift of leisees - red envelopes with lucky money in them - the young boy is thrilled to think that he can spend his gift however he chooses. But four dollars doesn't go very far, as Sam discovers, while shopping with his mother in Chinatown. His mother reminds him that, regardless of the gift, it is important to be grateful, but when you'd like a basketball that you can't afford, it's difficult to remember that. And then Sam recalls the old homeless man he encountered earlier in the day, out in the cold with no shoes, and he knows what to do with his money...

Although the moral of Karen Chinn's Sam and the Lucky Money is not exactly subtle, it never overwhelms the story, which unfolds naturally, drawing the reader into its engaging world. Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu - the husband/wife illustrator team who also worked on the wonderful Jingle Dancer - capture the magic of the day, and the progression of Sam's emotional state, in their lovely watercolor artwork. All in all, this would make an excellent title for Chinese New Year, or for any other time of the year!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations! In the story, Sam receives lucky leisees (red cards with money) for Chinese New Year. When they first venture out, he sees a homeless man who is barefooted in the cold. He wanders around with his mother imagining all the wonderful things he can buy with his leisees. At some point, Sam realizes that his lucky leisees don't contain a whole lot of money. In the end, he asks if he is allowed to do anything with his leisees. When he is told that he can, Sam quickly decides to give his leisees to the homeless man. Sam tells him, that maybe he can buy himself some socks with it. Sam's Mom is very proud of her son. Even without his lucky leisees, Sam feels very lucky. The complete package in a story book.

[Anaese Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 allowed him to spend the money any way he wanted. In town, he runs into a shoeless homeless man, Sam see’s him and wonders where his shoes are. Sam spent a lot of time trying to decide what he should buy with his money. Sam wished he had more money because what he wanted was worth more than the four dollars. Sam and his mother run into the homeless man again and Mom gave him a quarter. Sam was very pleased to see how happy it made him and he ultimately decided to give the money to the homeless man. Sam figured the man would feel even happier than he did about the quarter and this made Sam feel good, and it motivated him to do good for others.

Classroom Use/Theme:
I would use this book to talk about social justice. This book is really great because it teaches kids to view people with empathy, and this concept is one that has to be taught to students so they understand the importance of viewing others with empathy. It also has a great way of showing how one person really makes a difference. I think students would appreciate this book and connect with Sam on a personal level.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

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. =)

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam wants to spend his Leisees (New Year's Luck Money) on toys, food and even the Luck Dragon, but ...he doesn't have enough though for the things he wants, but he learns a lesson in gratitude and humility...

A great story of humility, gratitude, and a celebration of the Lunar New Year

[Sherry Scheline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book to guide children to understand the importance of giving.

[Kelly Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam and the Lucky Money
(children's book, realistic fiction, Chinese New Year, culture and traditions, seasons and holidays, family, sharing, charity)

Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn takes place during Chinese New Year. Sam receives some money in a lucky red envelope and is excited to spend it. When he goes shopping in Chinatown with his mother, he discovers he doesn't have enough money to buy want he wants. So... he throws a bit of a temper tantrum and accidentally kicks an old homeless man. (Not cool, Sam!) Sam is stunned into silence when he realized what he did. When Sam looks down in embarrassment, he sees that the man didn't have any socks or shoes. After taking some time to think about what he wanted to do with his money, Sam decided to buy socks for the man.

If you are an elementary school teacher, Sam and the Lucky Money can be used with a variety of lessons... language arts, social studies, seasons and holidays, and even economics (Think opportunity costs).

Best for mid to upper elementary. Whole group, small group, and independent reading.

Kelly Wilson
Teacher/Children's Book Blogger
Kelly's Classroom Online
www.kellysclassroomonline.com

[Ardyth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming story. Like the illustrations. Suitable for learning about Chinese New Year. Set in an unspecified city in the West (and quite probably USA), but similar enough to South China / Hong Kong / Macao traditions for it to be used around CNY regardless.

A couple notes:

[1] In one scene, a shopkeeper speaks to Sam. The romanization here is unusual but easy for Americans to decipher and it is definitely Cantonese, which I'm pleased to see since it is most likely (at least in San Fran ... but I think the Cantonese heritage holds primary place elsewhere in the US, too).

[2] Throughout the book, red pockets are called leisee -- again, not the most common romanization, but more than that this is a strictly correct but not a currently common pronunciation of the Cantonese (at least not here in Macao). I rarely hear anyone pronounce 利是 as leih sih... usually they say laih sih.

^^ These two details are maybe a bit exacting, or Explainer-y but... pointing them out anyway just in case anyone unfamiliar with China, Chinese-American history and Chinese languages plans to read this as well as other books on these topics and feels confused by the differing romanizations...

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 kind and wonderful thing; he gives his money to a homeless person.

With its vivid paintings and colours, this story has real meaning and celebrates the sights and sounds of the Chinese New Year. This book also truly celebrates the meaning of being thankful for what you have and the joy of giving. Sometimes the best gifts come from the heart. There was lots of discussion around the moral of the story with my class through questioning and group discussions.

[Carla Vazquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 afterwards. The main idea of the book is giving to others who are in need. i would recommend this book to others because it sends a good message to kids.

[n · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character starts off as a spoiled child, wanting to find the best thing he can buy for himself with the money from his Red Envelopes since he's been told he can spend it on anything. He goes to a shop selling sweets and buns with his mother but isn't sure if he wants to spend his money, so he waits. He goes to a toy store and finds out that the all of the toys cost more than he has: $4.

Between going to these different shops, he accidentally kicks a homeless man. And he learns, from both the homeless man and his mother, to be grateful for what he has.

[Kalynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Multiple life lessons shared within this book that are ageless and timeless. Perspective, gratitude, kindness, and community. It reminded me of my childhood, when I was given the gift of money, and how I learned to save and share it. Lessons I learned from my cherished Berenstain Bears, that I have carried onto adulthood. :) I love how this story didn't feature bears, but a family during Chinese New Year, with the colors, excitement, and fun of the city and all of its community members.

[Rebecca Caufman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sam gets 4 dollars from his grandparents to spend how he wants. His mom takes him to the market and says he can spend the money however he wants. Same gets angry when he can't buy any toys with the $4 and mom says she should be thankful for the gift. On the way home he find the perfect thing to do with his $4. Compassion.

[Marissa Dunbar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I actually had read this in a prior education class and loved it then and I read it again and still love it! Its a great message for children about kindness! I would recommend this book to everyone!

[Bayou des Cannes Cajun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read bc of releasing: bookcrossing

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great colorful illustrations and great moral lesson.

[Kaleigh Lafser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn is about a boy named Sam who received leisees, red envelopes with money inside, for Chinese New Year. When Sam and his mother went shopping to spend the $4 his received in the leisees, he found a man huddled on the street with no shoes. He was startled that someone could be without shoes in the harsh winter weather. Continuing their shopping, Sam was quickly discouraged when his $4 was not enough to buy what he wanted at the toy store. When Sam and his mother left the toy store, they say the man with no shoes again, Sam's mother giving him the only change she had. When Sam saw how appreciative the man was, he decided to give him his leisees, telling the man that he could use the money to buy some socks. Sam felt happy giving back to someone in need on Chinese New Year, and felt that it was more rewarding than any toy the $4 could buy.

Sam is the main character of the story, a young Chinese boy who's family celebrates Chinese New Year. Sam learned through the story the value of giving back and being appreciative for the things you have. The other character in the story is an older man who is experiencing homelessness and doesn't have any shoes. He receives leisees from Sam as a gift.

The illustrations in this book are bright and full of color, depicting the joy that Chinese New Year brings to Chinatown. Each illustration is a spread across both pages and is full bleed. The text is detailed and each page has a paragraph of text to accompany the illustrations.

I like that this book describes Chinese New Year from the perspective of a child, and how exciting the celebration is. I also like how the message of this book is kindness, and how giving is always more fulfilling than receiving. There isn't anything I dislike about this book.

In the classroom, I could use this book as a read aloud when Chinese New Year is approaching, especially if I have students who celebrate this holiday. I think it represents the celebration well and has an important message.

[Binh An · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Sam and the Lucky Money” is a realistic fiction picture book about a boy named Sam who received a red envelope (lai see) with money from his grandparents for Chinese New Year. This year, Sam’s mom said Sam could spend his lucky money however he wants. In Chinatown, Sam notices a new toy store and decides it was the place to spend his money. However, Sam’s money is not enough to buy the toys in the store, and he leaves disappointed. After leaving the store, Sam has a second encounter with a barefooted homeless man and gives the homeless man his money because Sam realized the man needed the money more than he did.
The plot of the book is pretty straightforward which makes it suitable for all elementary students. Moreover, the book offer students text-to-self connections since students can relate to not getting something they wanted or learning about selflessness. The book also introduces students to complex issue of homelessness which can spark in class discussions.
The illustrations are beautiful and realistic as they portray the characters range of emotions throughout the story. Likewise, the illustrations reflect the story line and characters genuinely.
The characters represented are all Chinese, and the book accurately utilizes some Chinese words and sentences to portray Chinese culture and Chinese New Year. Moreover, economic diversity was represented because Sam’s family did not have much money, but Sam’s mom still gave what she had to the Chinese homeless man before Sam gave his own money.

[Ben Truong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam and the Lucky Money is a children's picture book written by Karen Chinn and illustrated by Ying-Hwa Hu and Cornelius Van Wright. It is a quaint and charming story about a boy named Sam and his quest on spending his lucky money. Tonight is the first night of Chinese New Year (5 January 2019) and I thought it would be apropos for today.

Chinn's text is rather simplistic and straightforward. It explores an aspect of Chinese New Year, the giving of lai see or lucky money in red envelopes. It follows a boy shopping with his mother on Chinese New Year as he determined how to spend it, while accurately depicted the atmosphere of the festival in Chinatown. Hu and Wright's illustrations are exemplary drawn and depicted the narrative extremely well.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It tells a story about a boy named Sam trying to spend his lucky money he got from his parents and grandparents – four dollars in all. He goes from store to store trying to find the right thing, but only to be disappointed that his four dollars does not get much. He seemed frustrated and ungrateful until he meets a man with no shoes or socks living on the street – he gives all his lucky money to him and learned that he was indeed the lucky one.

All in all, Sam and the Lucky Money is a quaint, charming, and wonderfully book about a the true meaning of generosity and the real meaning of being lucky.

[Tiffany Le · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrated book, Sam and the Lucky Money, by Karen Chinn, follows Sam, a Chinese American boy who goes out shopping with his mom in Chinatown on Chinese New Year’s Day. For the holiday, the boy receives four dollars from his grandparents and has the chance to spend the money any way that he wants. While he’s there, Sam accidentally hits an old man with bare feet in the winter. He quickly rushes back to his mom and later complains that four dollars aren’t enough to buy any toy that he wants. When he meets the man again, his mom gives the old man a quarter to which is he very grateful. Sam realizes that the man appreciates even the smallest amount of money and decides to give him his lucky money so that he could buy socks for his bare feet.

I quite enjoyed this book and I think it teaches a great lesson to kids about the importance of giving and being kind to others. Sam chooses to do a selfless act, once he realizes that the money that he once complained about, could be used to help others. It allows kids to see empathy and compassion.
Since the book revolved around Lunar New Year, it's also a fun way to allow all kinds of children to experience what's it like to go shopping on the streets in Chinatown during the holiday. They can learn about the customs, food, décor, festivities, and more! The illustrations in this book were very unique. I love that there were so many bright colors to bring out the liveness of the pictures.

[Sean Congemi · Rating 4 out of 5]

After receiving 4 dollars from his grandparents for the Chinese New Year, Sam felt rich. This year, he could spend it on whatever he wanted to in his favorite place, Chinatown. Walking around Chinatown, Sam passes a man with no shoes and ragged clothes. He can't help but to keep thinking about the poor man as he walks around Chinatown. After looking around a few stores in Chinatown, Sam realizes that 4 dollars isn't that much money and he can't by anything that he wants to by. He gets frustrated and doesn't appreciate the 4 dollars he has. After passing the old man again, Sam's mother gives the man 25 cents and acts like it's a million dollars. He is so grateful for it. Sam then decides to give the man his 4 dollars because the man needs it more than he does. This book teaches the lesson to be thankful for what you have because there are others who have even less. The book also teaches generosity and kindness. This book does a great job of including Chinese culture. For example, on one page it has the words "Nay yu mat yeh ah?" which means what do you want. This gives young readers an inside look at another culture in a big way. The illustrations in the book are well down and paints a picture of how Chinatown really looks. This is a great book fro young readers learning about other cultures.

[Salena Palacio · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose this book because this would be a good read for children to learn about Chinese tradition. The themes of this book giving to others and cultural tradition. It’s Chinese New Year and Sam’s grandparents have gifted him the Chinese traditional leisees or lucky money in a red envelope. Sam is so excited to finally be old enough to spend his money anyway he wishes. While shopping around Chinatown with his mother he realizes his gift isn’t enough to buy everything he wants. After his mother reminds him to appreciate his gift, he encounters a homeless stranger which leads him to a selfless act. Sam gives a stranger a gift that is in more need then himself. This book would be appropriate for children ages 5 to 8 years old. Before reading this book I distribute a KWL chart for students to complete. I would ask students if they have any prior knowledge of the holiday Chine New Year and what they want to learn. After reading this book to the class we would discuss the traditions of Chinese New Year that we learned about from the story.

[Mara Halas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam and the Lucky Money was a great book and I think most children would thoroughly enjoy it. The illustrations were bright, colorful watercolor images that really emphasized the celebration of the Chinese New Year. Along with this, I really enjoyed the life lessons behind this book having to do with gratitude and kindness. Sam's grandparents gave him the traditional Chinese New Year's gift of leisees. Sam now had four dollars to spend on whatever he wanted, but Sam discovers four dollars doesn't really get him anything he wants. His mother reminds him that, regardless of the gift, it is important to be grateful. Sam recalls the old homeless man he encountered earlier in the day, out in the cold with no shoes, and he uses his money to buy him socks. This was a great children's book that can help children learn a little more about Chinese New Year, the celebration, and being grateful and kind.

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this story. It's a very sweet lesson about appreciating what you have and helping others. <3

The illustrations are rendered in watercolor on paper.
Calligraphy on back cover "lucky money".
Wing Luke Asian Museum in Seattle assisted with Cantonese transliteration.

---
red envelopes = leisees
decorated with a symbol of luck = two golden mandarins, a Chinese junk(?), a slithering dragon, a giant peach
"Aiya!" (expression of pain)
char siu bao - honey-topped buns
"Nay yu mat yeh ah?" (what do you want?)
lion eating giant leisee and bouquet of lettuce leaves outside business = bringing the business good luck
---
"What is four dollars good for?" he complained, stamping his feet. ..."Sam, when someone gives you something, you should appreciate it,' his mother said as she marched him along.
---
'You can't buy shoes with this,' he told the man, 'but I know you can buy some socks." The stranger laughed, and so did Sam's mother.

[Kadijah Harewood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that this story shows how kindness and generosity are resources that strengthen the community and especially the people who feel the effects of these acts. When Sam initially received the money all he could think about was what he would buy and wanting more money because $4 didn't seem to be enough. But when he keeps seeing a homeless man who expressed so much gratitude for the gifts he was given, Sam changed his view and decided the money would be worth more to someone else than it would if he was to just purchase something for himself. Similar to the book each kindness sam learns that being kind creates a feeling within you that is of an intrinsic value that is hard to compare to. This story embodies the Chinese new year in all of its festivities and color and pops off of the page and seems like a story children will learn from and receive very well visually.

[Marissa Patrone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about a boy and what he decides to do with his lucky money.
Sam, the main character, receives money from his grandma when him and his mom go to Chinatown for a day. The entire trip, Sam is thinking about what he is going to buy with his lucky money. Throughout the book, Sam and his mother pass a man who is homeless multiple times, in which he is very curious about. At the end of the book, Sam decides to give his lucky money to the stranger so that he can buy socks to keep his feet warm.
I think this book is very heartwarming and is a great example of the curiosity and goodness in children. Sam was very curious about the strange man throughout the book and even though Sam did not know him, he decided the man needed the lucky money more than himself.
I highly recommend this book!

[Alyssa Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sam and the Lucky Money" by Karen Chinn is a great story to teach children about Chinese culture, generosity, and to be grateful for what they have. Every year for Chinese New Year, Sam's grandparents give him leisses with his lucky money it. Every year prior, his mother made him spend his money on certain things, but this year Sam was old enough to spend the money however he wanted. When he goes to Chinatown to spend his money he becomes disappointed that he does not have enough money to get anything he wants. He begins to pout and sulk about his amount of money. When he sees a homeless man living on the streets, his views change. He gives the old man his lucky money and learns an important lesson; to be generous and grateful for what you have.