Sparkles for Sunny

I feel so privileged to have a copy of “Sparkles for Sunny”, and even more grateful that I had the chance to meet Sylvia Chen at the NCTE conference in Denver. Our conversation stays with me.

She shared the heart behind her characters and the tender dilemmas young children navigate. Listening to her speak about Sunny felt like being invited into the quiet heartbeat of the story. It was an honour.

What better way to end the term than with a read aloud of Sparkles for Sunny. I know I will revisit this again during Chinese New Year.

My class kids have explored this book with me before, and every time the room fills with that familiar recognition. Children immediately relate to Sunny’s dilemma. Should she follow her family’s rule or express her own creativity with her hand me down qipao dress. It is a decision many of our young learners know too well. That tension between honouring tradition and discovering personal agency.

Sunny’s solution is so gentle and so clever. She remains true to her family and true to herself. Set around Lunar New Year traditions, this warm sibling tale resonates not only with children but with parents who recognise these small yet meaningful moments where identity and family meet.

The illustrations by Thai My Phuong are adorable. Bright, expressive, and full of charm. They add such joy to the storytelling.

A wonderful read aloud. A beautiful conversation starter. A reminder that identity grows in the spaces where love and creativity meet.