Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, is a much-anticipated celebration full of bright colors (especially gold & red), special foods, and visits with family. Each year welcomes a new animal from the Chinese zodiac that’s based on the year of birth. Because the holiday follows the lunar calendar, the date changes each year, typically falling sometime between late January and mid-February.
For young children, books are a wonderful way to explore Chinese New Year in a developmentally appropriate and engaging way. Sharing stories about the holiday helps children learn about different cultures while building curiosity, empathy, and early literacy skills. Below are several books that introduce Chinese New Year traditions.
Lunar New Year by Hannah Elliot — “After the winter solstice each year, it’s time for a celebration with many names: Chinese New Year, Spring Festival, and Lunar New Year! With beautiful artwork by Chinese illustrator Alina Chau, this festive board book teaches readers that Lunar New Year invites us to spend time with family and friends, to light lanterns, and set off fireworks, dance with dragons, and to live the new year in harmony and happiness.” (Ages 1-5)
My First Chinese New Year by Karen Katz — “Chinese New Year is a time of new beginnings. Follow one little girl as she learns how to welcome the coming year and experience all the festivities surrounding it.” (ages 2-5)
Bringing In the New Year by Grace Lin — “This exuberant story follows a Chinese American family as they prepare for the Lunar New Year. Each member of the family lends a hand as they sweep out the dust of the old year, hang decorations, and make dumplings. Then it’s time to put on new clothes and celebrate with family and friends. There will be fireworks and lion dancers, shining lanterns, and a great, long dragon parade to help bring in the Lunar New Year.” (ages 2-4)
The Night Before Lunar New Year by Natasha Wing & Lingfeng Ho —” It’s the night before Lunar New Year, and a little girl is excited for all of the celebrations to come. She’s prepared dumplings with her mom, bought a new dress in Chinatown, and even helped scare mythical beast Nian away with her cousins and brother. There’s only one problem: she’s a bit nervous about all of the loud noises at the upcoming Lunar New Year Parade. Will she overcome her fears? Find out in the latest installment of the Night Before series, told in the style of Clement C. Moore’s classic tale.” (Ages 4-6)
How to Catch a Dragon by Adam Wallace — “Do you have what it takes to snag a dragon? The How to Catch kids are off again, this time trying to catch a dragon as they chase him through Chinese New Year celebrations! Set in China during the Spring Festival, otherwise known as Chinese New Year, the wily dragon will have to avoid trap after trap as the kids run through paper lanterns, red lunar envelopes, fireworks, and more!” (Ages 3-5)