The Lunar New Year begins February 1. To celebrate the Year of the Tiger, here's a variety of books you can share and enjoy with little ones.
Goldy Luck And The Three Pandas by Natasha Yim
In this retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, a careless Goldy Luck wreaks havoc on the home of a family of panda bears. She eats up the littlest panda's rice porridge, breaks his rocking chair, and rumples all the blankets on his futon. When Goldy takes responsibility for her actions, she makes a new friend (and a whole plate of turnip cakes!) just in time for Chinese New Year. Ages 4-8.
New Year by Mei Zihan
It's Lunar New Year, a time when families come together for a wonderful 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. At a time when so many families are unable to gather together, readers will relate to the universal message of missing our loved ones and dreaming of being together again. Ages 9 and up.
How To Catch A Dragon by Adam Wallace
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! With bonus educational content and Mandarin translations in the back to enhance your reading experience, How to Catch a Dragon is the perfect dragon book for kids ages 3-8.
Playing With Lanterns by Wang Yange
In this cheerful book first published in China, readers are invited along with Zhao Di and her friends as they experience all the joy and excitement of this folk Chinese custom. Details about the paper lantern tradition are also included in an author's note at the end of the book. Ages 3-7.
Bringing In The New Year by Grace Lin
This exuberant story follows a Chinese American family as they prepare for the Lunar New Year. The dragon parade in thus book is extra long–on a surprise fold-out page at the end of the story. Grace Lin’s artwork is a bright and gloriously patterned celebration in itself, and her story is tailor-made for reading aloud. Ages 3-7.
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. Ages 4-8.
Baby Loves Lunar Phases On Chinese New Year! by Ruth Spiro
While celebrating Chinese New Year, Baby discovers the science behind lunar phases! Accurate enough to satisfy an expert, yet simple enough for baby, this clever board book explores the lunar calendar, the moon's orbit, and the reason the moon seems to change shape. Beautiful, visually stimulating illustrations complement age-appropriate language to encourage baby's sense of wonder. Parents and caregivers may learn a thing or two as well. Ages 0-3.
Dragon Dancer by Joyce Chng
It is the eve of the Lunar New Year. Lanterns are hung in the shopping malls and Yao is preparing to wake the ancient sky dragon, Shen Long, from his year-long sleep. Soon Yao will be propelled on a magical journey to battle the bad luck of the previous year and usher in the good. Will he succeed? Will his grandfather watch over him and protect him from harm? Ages 4-8.
Nian The Chinese New Year Dragon by Timothy Banks
This retelling of the Nian legend has an original twist, while explaining the origins of Chinese New Year traditions. Mei hates springtime. Why? Because it's only in the spring that Nian, a fierce dragon, is able to leave his mountain prison under the sea to terrorize the local village. When the villagers hear the rumblings of Nian's hungry stomach, they know that winter has ended and spring is coming. But this year on the night before the first day of spring, a magical warrior visits Mei in her dreams. He tells Mei that it is her destiny to face and defeat Nian. But she must do it within 15 days or the dragon will be free forever. Ages 6-8.
