"She claimed her spot on the transplanter and laughed and bounced across the fields, an eighty--year-old Big Bird figure with hefty boobs and a potty mouth..." She was everyone's favorite. Get to know Ohio's most spirited firecracker, Leona "Loany" Rice, who splits her time on earth sampling life on both sides of the law. Her niece gives us an inside look at a notorious bookie and numbers racketeer, talk of the town, fireworks distributor, "Granny" to the mentally disabled, farmhand, loving mother--a perpetual "fart in a twister" who never seems to stand still. Even after a family tragedy threatens to destroy her, she finds a way to persevere. Loany lived as we all wish to, with abandon, humor, and just the right amount of sass; and she did it all with the love of her life by her side. Her legacy was to teach all who knew her a lesson: you only live once--and by God, once is enough if you give it all you've got. Margie Hiermer's love of adventure comes from country bike rides to Goldhardt's Grocery as a child to visit Aunt "Loany," a woman more grandmother than grand-aunt. Hiermer brings her passion for engaging with others to her writing and winds down by poking around farm fields in search of treasure.

With the lantern festival close at hand, Old Chan, the master paper lantern maker, must find an apprentice with the talent to continue his work.

Meet Lin Yi — a little boy with a big heart and a talent for bargaining. Tonight is the moon festival and he wants nothing more than a red rabbit lantern; but first he must buy the things his mother needs at the market. This heartwarming story shows the rewards of putting others first, and includes educational notes at the end about the Chinese moon festival, life in rural China, and the legend of the moon fairy.

In these charming volumes, Little Mei asks her grandfather about each of the four different Chinese celebrations represented. He tells her the stories of Nian and the monster Xi (Chinese New Year); Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet who loved his kingdom (Dragon Boat Festival); the Jade Emperor of Heaven who ordered the earth to be destroyed by fire (Lantern Festival); and Hou Yi who shot down the suns (Mid-Autumn Festival). In Celebrating the Lantern Festival Little Mei wants to know why her grandpa is making a paper lantern. Grandpa tells her the story of the Jade Emperor of Heaven and how he ordered the earth to be destroyed by fire. The story also includes a quick recipe for yuanxiao, sticky rice dumplings.

Here is a simple and delightful introduction to the Chinese New Year festival - suitable for even the very youngest child. Follow a family as they let off firecrackers, watch the amazing dragon dances and light their beautiful lanterns to celebrate the start of their New Year.

Zhao Di wishes the New Year would never end! Zhao Di and her friends are excited to go out at night with their paper lanterns and celebrate Chinese New Year. Each holding a unique colorful lantern with a lit candle inside, they admire the breathtaking colors while doing their best to avoid the wind and the sneaky boys in the village. Every night, until the fifteenth day of New Year, Zhao Di and her friends take part in this fun tradition, experiencing the thrill of nighttime in their village. And then--it's time to smash the lanterns! In this cheerful book first published in China, readers are invited along with Zhao Di and her friends as they experience all the joy and excitement of this folk Chinese custom. Details about the paper lantern tradition are also included in an author's note at the end of the book.