Kids' Books to Celebrate Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year 2023 is Sunday January 22 through Sunday, February 5. The celebration is based on the traditional lunar moon cycles calendar and generally lasts 15 days, falling on varying dates each year between mid-January and mid-February. While many may call it Chinese New Year and it’s often associated with festivals in China, this event is celebrated culturally in many Asian countries and throughout the world where communities in diaspora may be present.

Join us for Lunar New Year festivities at select branches around the city beginning January 22! Discover more at denverlibrary.org/lunar-new-year.

Compestine, Ying Chang

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. Except for snake, that is. It’s his birthday! All of his friends have prepared long noodles to celebrate his long and happy life. Simple text is paired with delightful, friendly art in this joyous look at the Chinese tradition of preparing long noodles to celebrate birthdays, the New Year, and other festive occasions.

Tran, Y T

The most important holiday in Vietnam is celebrated with many unique traditions. This colorful children's picture book describes Tet, the Lunar New Year for kids ages 4 to 8. From the author of Star Lanterns: Celebrating Tet Trung Thu-Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival, It's a WonderPho Christmas, and Happy Birthday: A Super Egg Roll Story.

Trinh, Alice

Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is a time of celebration and it involves much preparation. This festive story is a great introduction to the most important Vietnamese cultural holiday. Readers will learn the significance of each tradition during this special time.
As families prepare to celebrate Tết, it is also a time of reflection and togetherness. Families come together to help sweep out the old year, hang dazzling decorations, and prepare lavish meals to share. Discover how the anticipation of Tết and the days of festivities that follow, all culminate in the celebration of families and the Vietnamese cultural heritage.

Kim, Aram

Mina can't wait to share the customs of Seollal with all of her friends at school. She will show her classmates her colorful hanbok, demonstrate how to do sebae, and then everyone will make tasty tteokguk in the cooking room. Yum! Her little brother may even join in on the fun… if he can find a way out of his bad mood.In this joyful book about sharing age-old cultural celebrations with new friends, Aram Kim has created a must-have book for the New Year’s season. A glossary of Korean terms, with pronunciation guide, is included.

Eliot, Hannah

Introduces Lunar New Year, describing the food, decorations, and activities of the holiday.

Hamen, Susan E.

An overview of Lunar New Year, from the origin of the celebration to how it is practiced today.

Ho, Jannie,

"Happy Chinese New Year! 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. Includes numbers written in Chinese characters and their pronunciation"--Publisher's description.

Lee, Lyla

Mindy is excited to go to the Lunar New Year parade in her new town with her father and her friend Sally. Also available as an eBook and Audio eBook.

Lee, Vickie

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.

Leung, Flo

In preparation for the Lunar New Year, a little girl and her family fill up the Tray of Togetherness, a special candy box that has eight lucky snacks with special meanings, to share with family and friends.

Lin, Grace.

Frustrated at her seeming lack of talent for anything, a young Taiwanese American girl sets out to apply the lessons of the Chinese Year of the Dog, those of making best friends and finding oneself, to her own life. Also available as an eBook and Audio eBook.

Lin, Grace

Reimagines the cycles of the moon as a mother bakes a Big Moon Cookie and, despite Mama's request to wait, Little Star begins nibbling at it every night. Also available as a Readalong, DVD.

Lo, Rich

A bilingual color concept primer celebrates a rainbow of traditions and objects associated with the Chinese New Year, providing the English and Chinese words for such examples as firecrackers, lucky coins and sweet peanut puffs.

Loh-Hagan, Virginia

When her Chinese grandmother comes to visit, a young Chinese-American girl learns of and participates in the customs and beliefs celebrating an authentic Chinese New Year.

Moore, Katrina

Daisy, a young Chinese American girl, is excited to be celebrating the Lunar New Year with her Yeh-Yeh in China, but at first she is too grumpy from lack of sleep to enjoy the activities he has planned. Includes recipes for fried Jiao Zi (dumplings) and Eight Treasure Rice.

Murray, Julie

The Chinese New Year is an important Chinese festival that is celebrated by Chinese people worldwide. Readers will learn that people celebrate this holiday by giving gifts, praying for good fortune, decorating with red and lanterns, and enjoying time with family and friends.

Spiro, Ruth

While celebrating Chinese New Year, Baby discovers the science behind the lunar calendar and the phases of the moon.

Sterling, Michelle

Ren has always been too little to help make her favorite pineapple cakes for the Lunar New Year, but when her one-of-a-kind brother Charlie arrives for the festivities, with his help, she finally gets her chance. Includes recipe for pineapple cakes.

Thong, Roseanne

As a little girl discovers things round, square, and rectangular in her urban neighborhood, she is reminded of her Chinese American culture.

Wallace, Adam

A real, wily dragon winds through streets in China, eluding the traps set by a group of children during the Chinese New Year celebration.

Wang, Andrea

The legendary Nian monster has returned at Chinese New Year. Nian is intent on devouring Shanghai, starting with young Xingling! But Xingling is clever and thinks quickly to outwit him with Chinese New Year traditions.

Wang, Gabrielle

With gorgeous illustrations based on Chinese painting techniques, a lively retelling of the legendary animals' race that led to the twelve signs on the Chinese Zodiac.

Wang, Yag

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 to avoid the wind and the sneaky boys in the village. Every night, until the fifteenth day of New Year, Zhao Di and her friends take part in this fun tradition, experiencing the thrill of nighttime in their village. And then--it's time to smash the lanterns! 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.

Wang, Yimei

It's Chinese New Year and Grandma has a special present for her family: a rooster to make into delicious soup! But when her granddaughter, Xiaoyue, meets the rooster, she begs to keep him as a pet. Together, Grandma and Xiaoyue take the rooster on a journey through the city to ring in the New Year.

Wing, Natasha

It's the night before Lunar New Year, and a little girl is excited for all of the celebrations to come. 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 all of the loud noises at the upcoming Lunar New Year Parade. Will she overcome her fears? Find out in the latest installment of the Night Before series, told in the style of Clement C. Moore's classic tale.

Yim, Natasha

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.

Summaries provided by DPL's catalog unless otherwise noted. Click on each title to view more information.

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