Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are enjoying a visit to San Francisco when Holden, their college-age tour guide, is accused of abducting Miss Chinatown from the Chinese New Year parade and stealing her valuable crown. Reading level: 2.6 ; Ages: 6-9

Little Maomao's father works in faraway places and comes home just once a year, for Chinese New Year. At first Maomao barely recognizes him, but before long the family is happily making sticky rice balls, listening to firecrackers, and watching the dragon dance in the streets below. Papa gets a haircut, makes repairs to the house, and hides a lucky coin for Maomao to find. Which she does! But all too soon it is time for Papa to go away again.