The Lunar New Year falls on February 1st, and it’s the Year of the Tiger!
Tied to the Chinese lunar calendar, the holiday was traditionally a time to honor household and heavenly deities as well as ancestors. It was also a time to bring family together for feasting. Check out this list picture books all about Chinese (Lunar) New Year, hand-picked by our Youth Services Department staff!
All of the titles featured here we have in our collection. To see if an item is available to check out or place on hold, click the cover image or button to the right of the description.
Chinese New Year Colors
by Rich Lo
This bilingual color concept book celebrates a rainbow of traditional objects seen during the Chinese New Year. 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. This vibrant, simple, and highly graphic bilingual book is the perfect introduction to Chinese and English words for colors as it honors one of the biggest holidays around the world.
Nian, the Chinese New Year Dragon
by Virginia Loh-Hagan
An illustrated retelling for young readers of the Chinese folktale about a dragon that threatens a village each spring and Mei, the young girl who is destined to defeat him.
Mulan’s Lunar New Year
by Natasha Yim
It’s the Lunar New Year, which just happens to be Mulan’s favorite festival! There is a lot to do to prepare for this important celebration, and for the first time, Mulan is old enough to help out. But everthing Mulan does seems to turn out wrong.
Maisy’s Chinese New Year
by Lucy Cousins
Spending Chinese New Year with her friend Tiger, Maisy learns about traditional symbols, shares a delicious cultural feast and exchanges lucky red hongbao envelopes before listening to a story about the holiday and staying up late to watch a fireworks display.
Ruby’s Chinese New Year
by Vickie Lee
As Ruby travels to her grandmother’s house to bring her a gift for Chinese New Year, she is joined by all of the animals of the zodiac. Includes the legend of the Chinese horoscope and instructions for crafts.
The Great Race: Story of the Chinese Zodiac
by Christopher Corr
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 generation to generation.
Curious George Dragon Dance
by Adah Nuchi
George, Marco, and their new friend Lily get to dance in the dragon costume during the Chinese New Year parade.
Bringing in the New Year
by Grace Lin
A Chinese American family prepares for and celebrates the Lunar New Year. End notes discuss the customs and traditions of Chinese New Year.
This Next New Year
by Janet S. Wong
A family prepares to celebrate the Lunar New Year and looks forward to the good luck they hope it will bring.
It’s Chinese New Year
by Richard Sebra
Presents an introduction to the Chinese New Year holiday and discusses its traditions, including family meals, remembering loved ones, decorating with the color red, and giving gifts.
How to Catch a Dragon
by Adam Wallace
A real, wily dragon winds through streets in China, eluding the traps set by a group of children during the Chinese New Year celebration.
Lunar New Year
by Hannah Eliot
Introduces lunar new year, describing the food, decorations, and activities of the holiday.
Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas
by Natasha Yim
One Chinese New Year, her mother sends Goldy Luck to the pandas next door with a plate of turnip cakes, but the pandas are out and disaster follows. Includes a recipe for turnip cakes and an explanation of Chinese New Year.
Want more recommendations?
You can check out all of our online booklists (for kids and for adults), or reach out to us! Our staff is ready and willing to make reading, listening, or viewing recommendations to you! Email us at reference@benlib.org or contact us via our online form!