Picture Books To Celebrate
Lunar New Year
by Liz Lesnick
When my daughter was in preschool, one of the highlights of the calendar was the Lunar New Year celebration. Some children would perform the Lion Dance, others demonstrated a Korean bowing ceremony, and everyone got a chance to eat noodles, dim sum, and other Chinese treats. This Lunar New Year, which includes Chinese New Year, begins on January 29th. To celebrate the Year of the Snake, here are a variety of books to share with your little ones. Gōngxǐ fācái ! (Health and prosperity!)
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Happy Chinese New Year!
Available from:Count your way to the Lunar New Year with this adorable board book for babies and toddlers. Tiny readers will love the colorful illustrations of zodiac animals and the simple, rhythmic text leading up to a festive party. The story includes Chinese numbers, a pronunciation guide, and an explanation of each tradition.
(Ages 0 – 3)Also available from: -
Happy Lunar New Year! (Sesame Street)
Available from:Join Elmo as he learns about different Lunar New Year celebrations from his pals on Sesame Street. His friend Ji-Young educates Elmo on Soellal, the Korean Lunar New Year celebration, while Lily shares the traditions and customs of the Chinese Lunar New Year.
(Ages 0 – 3)Also available from: -
Dragon Dance: A Chinese New Year Lift-the-Flap Book
Available from:Who can resist a lift-the-flap book — especially when it’s filled with rhyming descriptions of the things that make Chinese New Year so much fun for kids? Little ones will find treasures on every page, from eating a celebratory dinner to receiving gifts from family members and watching the Chinese New Year’s Parade.
(Ages 2 – 5)Also available from: -
Lunar New Year
Available from:Families across Asia celebrate Lunar New Year, and this Big Golden Book shares how different cultures have different traditions. Little reads can learn about the holiday's history, the zodiac signs, delicious foods, and so much more. Warm and colorful illustrations help bring these delightful traditions to life.
(Ages 2 – 5)Also available from: -
The Chinese New Year Helper
Available from:Jia can hardly wait for the Chinese New Year feast at her family’s restaurant! But every time she wants to help, everyone tells her that she is too young. But when the exciting lion dance begins, Jia finds a role and saves the show! This beautiful book shows the importance of involving children in traditions at any age.
(Ages 3 – 7)Also available from: -
The 12 Days of Lunar New Year
Available from:Help build excitement and anticipation for the holiday with The 12 Days of Lunar New Year. As little ones count down each day, they will also learn about the culture and traditions surrounding the holiday. The rhyming text, warm illustrations, and full page of stickers, are sure to make this book a family favorite!
(Ages 3 – 7)Also available from: -
Bringing In the New Year
Available from:Young readers will be captivated by this simple tale of a Chinese American family preparing for the Lunar New Year. Grace Lin's boldly patterned illustrations will have kids wishing they could jump right into the celebration.
(Ages 3 – 7)Also available from: -
Chinese New Year Colors
Available from:Lo’s color concept book is a thing of beauty, as festive and striking as the holiday itself. Monochromatic watercolor paintings depict items used to celebrate the Chinese New Year, from lucky coins to fireworks, and each color is translated in both English and Mandarin.
(Ages 3 – 7)Also available from: -
Dim Sum for Everyone!
Available from:Bright, bold, and beautiful illustrations invite readers on a culinary adventure that is the Chinese dim sum tradition. This feast for the eyes celebrates the Asian cultural tradition of enjoying a delicious meal together.
(Ages 3 – 7)Also available from: -
The Night Before Lunar New Year
Available from:Written in the style of The Night Before Christmas, this rhyming picture book takes readers through the preparations and excitement leading up to the Lunar New Year. Readers will enjoy the vibrant artwork and learn more about the holiday’s significance.
(Ages 4 – 6)Also available from: -
Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas
Available from:After Goldy Luck accidentally wreaks havoc on the home of a family of panda bears, she decides to embrace the fresh-start spirit of Lunar New Year and set things right. An adorable retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears with Chinese American characters and cultural references.
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
Let’s Celebrate Korean New Year!
Available from:This sweet and festive picture book follows sisters Madeleine and Eloise as they prepare for their family’s Lunar New Year party. Madeleine shows her younger sister how to make Korean dumplings, how to put on her colorful outfit called a hanbok, and how to set the table. But when Madeleine forgets something, Eloise is there to help save the day!
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
Ten Little Dumplings
Available from:A delightful retelling of a Taiwanese tale, Ten Little Dumplings follows the family of ten “lucky” brothers. But look closely — this family also has a daughter, and she has her own story to tell. Wume’s cheerful art adds a fun seek-and-find element to the story, making this a book kids will want to pick up again and again.
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
Yeh-Shen
Available from:In this Chinese retelling of “Cinderella,” Yeh-Shen’s only comfort from her cruel stepmother is a magical fish. Using its magic to attend the town’s Spring Festival, she loses her slipper, and her life is transformed when it falls into the hands of the king.
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
Alex's Good Fortune
Available from:Funny, accessible text and engaging illustrations make this book a great introduction to Chinese New Year for early readers. Alex is excited to share her favorite Chinese New Year traditions with her best friend, Ethan. From the dragon parade to the red envelopes, Alex does a wonderful job explaining the meaning behind these important traditions.
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
D is for Dragon Dance
Available from:An alphabetical run-through of all things Lunar New Year! From acrobats tossing balls to the zodiac animals for each year, this delightful picture book introduces young readers to the various aspects of the celebration in a simplistic way.
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
Lon Po Po
Available from:Ed Young’s masterful illustrations combine ancient Chinese panel art with contemporary watercolors in this Chinese retelling of “Little Red Riding Hood.” Though darker than the original version, young children will delight in the little girls’ clever schemes to outsmart the Big Bad Wolf.
(Ages 4 – 8)Also available from: -
We Are Lion Dancers
Available from:When siblings Lily and Noah notice the lion dancers practicing for the Lunar New Year parade, they ask their family to teach them all about the legend of the lion dance, and even how to make their own lion costume! This lively picture book is designed to engage early readers and comes with information about the legend of the lion dance. It will have kids wanting to revisit this story again and again.
(Ages 5 – 7)Also available from: -
The Runaway Wok: A Chinese New Year Tale
Available from:Ming and his family can't afford a proper Lunar New Year feast. When Ming decides to trade the last of the eggs for a rusty wok, his family is disappointed. Little do they know, this wok is actually magical. This vibrantly illustrated picture book is a wonderful portrayal of a community celebrating the New Year together.
(Ages 6 – 8)Also available from: -
Look! What Do You See?
Available from:Xu Bing’s ingenious book of calligraphy puzzles is as engaging as it is visually stunning. When they first approach it, readers will find themselves totally mystified, but as the secret behind Bing’s one-block words (made of English letters) comes to light, they’ll be delighted to discover the traditional American and Chinese folk songs just waiting to be decoded.
(Ages 7 – 10)Also available from:
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2016 and updated in 2024.