Clear and Bright: A Ching Ming Festival Story

K-Gr 3–A touching story about a family’s celebration of Ching Ming, a Chinese festival that has been celebrated for over three thousand years. It is sometimes called Tomb-Sweeping Day, because family members sweep and dust the graves of their departed loved ones. Lily, the young narrator, guides readers through her anticipation of the family gathering as she shares how they all prepare for the holiday. She describes the many savory foods, traveling to the cemetery, and sharing what makes her happy. Readers learn about the struggles her great-great-grandfather endured when he first immigrated to America, and the importance of culture and family connections. The lyrical text is amplified by the inclusion of Chinese calligraphy. Back matter includes a glossary as well as more detailed information about the history and meaning of the Ching Ming Festival and the history of American laws around the immigration of Chinese people. Striking digital illustrations have the feel of American Impressionism.