Must-Read Lunar New Year Picture Books
Must-Read Lunar New Year Picture Books
Learning about different cultures through literature is a fantastic way to experience and learn about other traditions. It’s a way to unite, see our similarities, and learn from one another. Since the Lunar New Year is approaching, I thought sharing some of our favorite must-read Lunar New Year picture books would be fun. Before we begin, please take a moment to pin this post to your reading board.
The Benefits of Reading Lunar New Year Books with Kids
Reading aloud provides countless benefits for young children. It stimulates brain development, expands vocabularies, improves listening skills, and fosters a lifelong love of books. Reading stories about the Lunar New Year offers additional perks:
- Learn about Other Cultures – Lunar New Year books expose kids to Chinese culture and beliefs surrounding the holiday. They learn the history of the Chinese zodiac and the traditions associated with ushering in the new year.
- Understand Cultural Diversity – Children discover universal family, food, friendship, and heritage lessons. Recognizing similarities across cultures builds empathy and acceptance.
- Expand Interests – The bright illustrations, counting format, and focus on lucky symbols appeal to young readers. These stories create positive early reading experiences that make learning fun.
Our Hand-Picked Lunar New Year Reading List
This collection has something for every interest and reading level from ages 3-8. Check out our recommendations below!
Happy Chinese New Year: A Festive Counting Story
Written and Illustrated by Jannie Ho
Ages 0 to 3
The zodiac animals are ready to celebrate Chinese New Year with traditions and a big feast! Little ones can count to twelve as each animal prepares for the holiday:
Rat cleaned away the bad luck in one big sweep!
Ox shopped for two new outfits.
Tiger brought three kinds of flowers.
This book’s simple text and vibrant illustrations make it easy for little ones to follow along as the animals’ preparations lead to a tasty feast followed by a party with music and dancing!
The pages also feature the Chinese characters corresponding to each number highlighted on the page. Children will learn to recognize the characters as they read the book repeatedly, and the pronunciation guide will help them say the words out loud.
Dragon Dance: A Chinese New Year Lift-the-Flap Book
Written By Joan Holub and Illustrated by Benrei Huang
Ages 2 to 5
It’s Lunar New Year, and there are so many fun things to do! Shopping at the outdoor market for fresh flowers, eating New Year’s dinner with the whole family, receiving red envelopes from Grandma and Grandpa, and, best of all, watching the spectacular Lunar New Year’s parade!
The 12 Days of Lunar New Year
Written By Jenna Lettice and Illustrated by Colleen Madden
Ages 3 to 7
This cheery addition to the 12 Days series celebrates tradition, culture, and family in the lead-up to Lunar New Year! Young readers and their caregivers will enjoy counting how they can engage with their communities and honor their ancestors. This simple rhyming story is paired with warm illustrations and a full page of stickers, making these books the perfect gift for kids.
Friends are Friends, Forever
Written By Dane Liu and Illustrated by Lynn Scurfield
Ages 4 to 8
On a snowy Lunar New Year’s Eve in Northeastern China, it’s Dandan’s last night with Yueyue. Tomorrow, she moves to America. The two best friends have a favorite wintertime tradition: crafting paper-cut snowflakes, freezing them outside, and hanging them as ornaments.
As they say goodbye, Yueyue presses red paper and a spool of thread into Dandan’s hands so that she can carry on their tradition. But Dandan has no one to enjoy the gift within her new home―until a friend comes along.
LAOLAO’S Dumplings
Written By Dane Liu and Illustrated by Shinyeon Moon
Ages 4 to 8
Millie loves to help LaoLao cook, especially her favorite dish. Dumplings! They gather fresh ingredients from Chinatown. Chives from Auntie Lim, shrimp from Uncle Lee, and juicy, fragrant lychees make their days together so sweet.
As the seasons change, LaoLao feels increasingly tired, too tired to make dumplings. But can Millie make them without LaoLao? And will her dumplings come out delicious and make LaoLao happy, too?
Full of humor, heart, and wholly original illustrations, this story is a timeless celebration of family, food, community, and how we share love.
Bringing in the New Year
Written and Illustrated by Grace Lin
Ages 2 to 7
This exuberant story follows a Chinese American family preparing for the Lunar New Year. Each family member lends a hand as they sweep out the dust of the old year, hang decorations, and make dumplings. Then it’s time to wear new clothes and celebrate with family and friends. There will be fireworks, lion dancers, shining lanterns, and a grand, long dragon parade to help bring in the Lunar New Year. Grace Lin’s artwork is a bright and gloriously patterned celebration in itself!
Ruby’s Chinese New Year
Written by Vickie Lee and Illustrated by Joey Chou
Ages 4 to 8
Ruby has a special card for the Chinese New Year to give her grandmother. But who will help her get to her grandmother’s house to deliver it? Will it be a clever Rat, strong Ox, or cautious Rabbit? Ruby meets each of the twelve zodiac animals on her journey.
The Great Race: Story of the Chinese Zodiac
Written by Ling and Eric Lee and Illustrated by Rachel Foo
Ages 3 to 7
The Jade Emperor has invited all the kingdom’s animals to The Great Race. Which 12 animals will cross the river first and become a part of the Chinese Zodiac? Teach young readers Chinese through this retelling of a classic Chinese legend passed through the generations.
Chinese New Year Colors
Written and Illustrated by Rich lo
Ages 3 to 7
Hóng is the color of explosive firecrackers! Jīn is the hue of lucky coins. Zŏng is the shade of sweet peanut puffs. Welcome to the festivities of the Chinese New Year, where symbolic gifts, foods, and objects come together in a celebration of beautiful colors.
Dim Sum for Everyone!
Written and Illustrated by Grace Lin
Ages 3 to 7
In English, dim sum means “little hearts” or “touches the heart,” but to this young girl, dim sum means delicious. On a visit to a bustling dim sum restaurant, a family picks their favorite little dishes from the steaming trolleys filled with dumplings, cakes, buns, and tarts. And as is traditional and fun, they share their food so that everyone gets a bite of everything.
The Night Before Lunar New Year
Written by Natasha Wing and Lingfeng Ho and Illustrated by Amy Wummer
Ages 4 to 6
It’s the night before Lunar New Year, and a little girl is excited about all the upcoming celebrations. 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 the loud noises at the upcoming Lunar New Year Parade. Will she overcome her fears?
Playing with Lanterns
Written by Wang Yage and Helen Wang and Illustrated by Zhu Chengliang
Ages 3 to 7
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 the New Year, Zhao Di and her friends participate in this fun tradition, experiencing the thrill of nighttime in their village. And then―it’s time to smash the lanterns!
Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas
Written by Natasha Yim and Illustrated by Grace Zong
Ages 2 to 7
It’s Chinese New Year, and Goldy Luck’s mother wants her to take a plate of turnip cakes to the neighbors. The Chans aren’t home, but that doesn’t stop Goldy from trying out their rice porridge, their chairs, and their beds—with disastrous results.
In this funny and festive retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Natasha Yim and Grace Zong introduce a plucky heroine who takes responsibility for her actions and makes a new friend (and a whole plate of turnip cakes!) just in time for Chinese New Year.
Ten Little Dumplings
Written by Larissa Fan and Illustrated by Cindy Wume
Ages 4 to 8
In the city of Fengfu, there lives an extraordinary family — special because they have ten sons who do everything together. Their parents call them their ten little dumplings, as both sons and dumplings are auspicious. But if you look closely, you’ll see that someone else is there, listening, studying, learning, and discovering her talent — a sister. As this little girl grows up in the shadow of her brothers, her determination and persistence help her to create her path in the world . . . and becomes the wisdom she passes on to her daughter, her little dumpling.
Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China
Written by Ai-Ling Louie and Illustrated by Ed Young
Ages 4 to 8
Half-starved and overworked by her stepmother, Yeh-Shen’s only friend is a fish with golden eyes. When the stepmother kills the fish for dinner, poor Yeh-Shen is left with only the bones. But the bones are filled with a powerful spirit. When Ye-Shen is forbidden to attend the annual spring Festival, the spirit grants her a gown of azure blue and delicate golden slippers. Everyone marvels at the beautiful, mysterious young woman at the ball that night.
Alex’s Good Fortune
Written and Illustrated by Benson Shum
Ages 4 to 8
Chinese New Year is the most important holiday for Alex and her family, so it’s even more special when she shares her favorite traditions with her best friend, Ethan. Together, they join the Chinese New Year parade and get to help make the dragon dance. Then they prepare for the festivities by tidying up, decorating, and making dumplings. After that, it’s time to open red envelopes, eat a great big feast, and enjoy the lantern festival!
Our Moon Festival
Written By Yobe Qiu and Illustrated by Christina Nel Lopez
Ages 4 to 8
The story highlights different families and their diverse traditions as they observe Zhong Qiu Jie, Tết Trung Thu, and Tsukimi! In all three stories, children will learn about foods, traditions, dances, parades, and poetry involved in the celebration of the Moon Festival. Just like “Our Lunar New Year” by the same author, children will be so captivated by the celebrations that they will feel part of the holiday too!
New Year
Written By Mei ZiHan and Illustrated by Qin Leng
Ages 4 to 8
Lunar New Year is when families come together for a beautiful feast, and a father longs to be with his daughter—but she lives in another country. As he imagines how his daughter is spending the festivities, he recalls fond memories of time spent with her, feeling a sense of loss and dislocation. While he misses her deeply, he also recognizes her need to move away, grow up, and become herself. New Year is a stunning portrait of leaving home, finding independence, and loving those who are many miles away.
China’s Child
Written by Evi Triantafyllides, Illustrated by Nefeli Malekov
It is a heartwarming story about a Chinese girl named Mei Ling who imagines a baby brother while exploring Lunar New Year markets. Mei Ling wanted a baby brother for as long as she could remember. She asked and asked and wished and wished, yet nothing happened. Until one day … she came up with a plan! Imaginary friends, a fantastical world, and adventures at every turn await all the little dreamers, explorers, and inventors out there.
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Lunar New Year Picture Book List
Celebrate the Lunar New Year
Reading aloud is a wonderful way to bond with your child while building literacy skills. Use the books on our Lunar New Year reading list as a jumping-off point for even more learning fun.
After reading each story, have a discussion asking questions like:
- What was your favorite part of the book? Why?
- What is one new thing you learned about Lunar New Year?
- Which zodiac animal would you be and why?
Get hands-on by cooking a symbolic dish mentioned in one of the books or crafting your own paper lanterns. Visit a local Lunar New Year festival, so your little ones can experience the dancing dragons and firecrackers firsthand.
As the Lunar New Year approaches, grab a few books from this reading list and snuggle up with your young reader to join in the celebrations. With engaging stories and interactive activities, the Lunar New Year offers a lively way to teach cultural diversity. Learning about world holidays expands children’s understanding of global traditions while emphasizing the common bonds of family, food, and fun that connect us all.
