Sam and the Lucky Money

Written by Karen Chinn · Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-hwa Hu

A boy's encounter with a stranger changes his view on gifts and generosity.

5.0/7 Bookroo expert·4.1/5 Goodreads · 389 ratings

32 pages· 1,097 words· Est. 9 min read-aloud· AD660L

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Bookroo's summary

Sam eagerly anticipates spending his Chinese New Year lucky money in bustling Chinatown. But disappointment strikes when he realizes it's not enough for what he desires. A chance meeting with a homeless man challenges Sam's understanding of value and generosity. Will this unexpected encounter teach him that the best gifts come from the heart? Discover how a small act of kindness can transform a young boy's perspective in this heartwarming tale.

From the publisher

Sam must decide how to spend the lucky money he’s received for Chinese New Year.

At a glance

Format: Prebound-Sewn
Pages: 32
Words: 1,097
Reading age: 4–7
Audience: Picture
Lexile: AD660L

Themes & topics

Books about luck Books about helping others Books about money Books about Chinese New Year Books about social themes

Good to know

Stories behind the story

The calligraphy on the back cover represents the Chinese characters for "Lucky Money."

The illustrators added this element to the cover because Chinese reads from right to left, and books written in Chinese open in this direction.

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.0

out of 7

5.0

“This story about what a boy chooses to do with his lucky money he received from Chinese New Year is heartwarming. The overall message was great, with Sam realizing how lucky he is and wanting to help another. This book does have a little more text per page, so I'd recommend it for slightly older children who like to sit still for a little bit longer stories. :)”

B is for Bookworm

Trusted reviewer

The illustrator