Children's Book Suggestions | Lunar New Year

Books about Lunar New Year for all ages! Unless otherwise noted, the books on this list are picture books (readers age 4-8).

Updated January 9, 2024
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Lunar new year
Eliot, Hannah
Paper Book
Learn all about the traditions of Lunar New Year--also known as Chinese New Year--with this fourth board book in the Celebrate the World series, which highlights special occasions and holidays across the globe. After the winter solstice each year, it's time for a celebration with...

Board Book (Age 0-2)

Chloe's Lunar New Year
LaMotte, Lily
Paper Book
Lily LaMotte, brilliant author of the graphic novel Measuring Up, an ALA Top Ten, has written her debut picture book about a special Lunar New Year feast. Perfect for fans of Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin and I Am Golden by Eva Chen. "Themes of love and family...
The runaway wok : a Chinese New Year tale
Compestine, Ying Chang.
Paper Book
When a boy goes to the market to buy food and comes home with an old wok instead, his parents wonder what they'll eat for dinner. But then the wok rolls out of the poor family's house with a skippity-hoppity-ho! and returns from the rich man's home with a feast in tow! With...
Dragon noodle party : a story of Chinese zodiac animals
Compestine, Ying Chang
Paper Book
Join the animals of the zodiac as they make noodles for a party in this festive book from an award-winning author and food editor. It's almost time for the party! One-by-one all the animals of the zodiac go up the hill, each one carrying an ingredient. Horse trots up the hill...
Welcome to Chinatown
Low, William
Paper Book
Welcome to Chinatown. There is so much to see. People practicing tai-chi, shoe cobblers, rows of herbs, outdoor fish markets, and more. And best of all, when the Lunar New Year begins, there's a New Year's Day parade, complete with a lion dance. This bilingual board book adaptation...

Board Book (Age 0-2)

The great race : story of the Chinese zodiac
Corr, Christopher
Paper Book
Celebrate Chinese New Year and learn how every animal earned its place in the Chinese zodiac by taking part in the Great Race! Discover who will come first to win the ultimate prize, and find out why Cat will never forgive his friend Rat in this ancient folk tale that has been passed from...
The little pigs and the sweet rice cakes : a story told in English and Chinese
Li, Jian (Art teacher)
Paper Book
In America, every child knows the story of the three little pigs and the big, bad wolf, so they'll love reading about the pigs' Chinese counterparts. Told in a bilingual Chinese and English edition, this is the story of three little pigs whose appetites initially get the...
The animals of Chinese New Year
Lee, Jen Sookfong
Paper Book
Drawing on the myth of the Chinese zodiac, The Animals of Chinese New Yearfollows twelve animals as they speed across a river, competing to represent the imminent new year in a race held by the Jade Emperor, the most powerful Chinese god. Each animal competes in its own unique way. The ox...

Board Book (Age 0-2)

Chinese kite festival
Lo, Rich
Paper Book
Children can learn animal names in both English and Chinese with this beautifully illustrated book! A tiger pounces across the sky. A ladybug takes flight from a leaf. Animal names and their significance in Chinese culture is beautifully explored...
The Lunar New Year surprise
Wang, Jade
Paper Book
"It's the first day of the Lunar New Year--the biggest, yummiest, NOISIEST celebration of the year!" During the festivities, can Gege find the perfect moment to present his handcrafted surprise to his little sister? Children will learn what makes the Lunar New Year special, from the...
Ruby's Chinese New Year
Lee, Vickie
Paper Book
In this picture book by Vickie Lee celebrating Chinese New Year, animals from the Chinese zodiac help a little girl deliver a gift to her grandmother. Ruby has a special card to give to her grandmother for Chinese New Year. But who will help her get to grandmother's house to...
A sweet new year for Ren
Sterling, Michelle
Paper Book
Celebrate the Lunar New Year through a young girl's family traditions in this charming picture book featuring illustrations by New York Times bestselling artist Dung Ho that also includes a recipe for pineapple cakes! Little Ren looks forward to the preparation for...
The tray of togetherness
Leung, Flo
Paper Book
A delicious ode to food, family, and togetherness that celebrates Lunar New Year A little girl and her family are hosting a New Year party, an event marking the Lunar New Year. There's a lot to do before the guests arrive! First, a trip to the market to fill up the Tray of Togetherness, a...
Playing with lanterns
Wang, Yage (College teacher)
Paper Book
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...
When you trap a tiger
Keller, Tae
Paper Book
WINNER OF THE NEWBERY MEDAL . WINNER OF THE ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE . #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER . A PARADE BEST KIDS BOOK OF ALL TIME . A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST MIDDLE GRADE BOOK OF THE CENTURY Would you make a deal with a magical...

Young Teen Fiction (Grade 5-7)

Mindy Kim and the Lunar New Year parade
Lee, Lyla
Paper Book
Fresh Off the Boat meets Junie B. Jones in this first novel in an adorable new chapter book series about Mindy Kim, a young Asian American girl who is starting a snack business! Mindy Kim just wants three things: 1. A puppy! 2. To fit in at her new school ...

Bridging Fiction (Grade 2-4)


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