Gung Hay Fat Choy! (Health and prosperity!)

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with books for kids of all ages

From lion dancers to dim sum, there are many wonderful ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year! The Lunar New Year, which inspires a diverse collection of celebrations throughout Asia and worldwide, begins on February 17. The festivities often last for weeks at a time. Families come together to clean and decorate their houses, cook and eat delicious feasts, and enjoy fireworks and parades. To celebrate the start of the Year of the Fire Horse, here are a variety of books to share with young readers, from tots to tweens.

Tots

Lunar Tale: A New Year's Adventure by Stella Hong

This thrilling board book adventure follows a brother and sister on their way to Grandma's house to celebrate Lunar New Year. Protected and guided by the twelve magical animals of the zodiac, they'll travel through the city to gather special treats for their big family dinner. (Ages 3 and under)

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 brainy STEM board book explores the lunar calendar, the moon's orbit, and the reason the moon seems to change shape. (Ages 3 and under)

Lunar New Year by Roger Priddy

With a mixture of interesting photographs and charming illustrations, this book gives babies their first introduction to the Lunar New Year festival. Little readers will enjoy exploring the touch-and-feel tactile images as they turn the pages of this bright and vibrant board book. (Ages 1–3)

12 Lucky Animals by Vickie Lee

The adventurous Dragon, the carefree Horse, and the artistic Goat are just three of the twelve lucky animals in the Chinese zodiac. The wheel on the back cover of this bilingual board book will help little readers discover who their lucky animal is and how to say its name in Chinese and English. (Ages 4 and under)

It's Your Year Baby Horse by Little Bee Books

You are energetic and thoughtful, Baby Horse! Celebrate the Horse in your life with this fun board book—joining It's Your Year, Baby Ox, It's Your Year, Baby Tiger, It's Your Year, Baby Rabbit, It's Your Year, Baby Dragon, and It's Your Year Baby Snake—introducing tots to the Chinese zodiac animals. (Ages 2–5)

Happy Chinese New Year by Jannie Ho

Rat cleaned away the bad luck in one big sweep! Ox shopped for two new outfits. Tiger brought three kinds of flowers. The zodiac animals are getting ready to celebrate Chinese New Year with traditions and a big feast and party! Little ones count to twelve as each animal prepares for the holiday. (Ages 2–5)

Lunar New Year by Mary Man-Kong

Every year, millions of Asian families come together to celebrate the first new moon in the sky. Learn about the zodiac animals, the delicious food, the exciting parades, and all the fun traditions the Lunar New Year has to offer with this beautifully illustrated Little Golden Book. (Ages 2–5)

Dim Sum For Everyone by Grace Lin

On a visit to a bustling dim sum restaurant, a girl and her family pick their favorite little dishes from the steaming trolleys filled with dumplings, cakes, buns, and tarts. And in keeping with tradition, they share their food with each other so that everyone gets a bite of everything. (Ages 3–7)

Tykes

We Celebrate the Light by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple

Diwali, Solstice, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, and Lunar New Year are seven different winter holidays celebrated throughout the world. This lovely book honors each of these occasions offering reverence for our shared traditions of celebrating light, love, food, and family. (Ages 3–6)

A New Year's Reunion by Yu Li-Qiong

Maomao's father works far away and comes home only at Chinese New Year. Maomao hardly recognizes him at first. But before long, the family is making sticky rice balls, hearing the firecrackers, and watching the dragon dance in the street. This lovely tale highlights the enduring strength of a family's love. (Ages 3–7)

Boys Don't Fry by Kimberly Lee

Jin is a young Malaysian boy who wants to help his grandmother, Mamah, prepare the Lunar New Year feast. But boys, or Babas, never get asked—only Nyonyas, the girls. His aunties shoo him away. Luckily, Mamah steps in and soon Jin is squeezing, slicing, and stirring, too! (Ages 4–7)

Ten Blocks to the Big Wok by Ying-Hwa Hu

As Mia and her uncle Eddie travel the ten blocks from their apartment to The Big Wok restaurant, Mia spies one giant panda ride, two lion statues, three swimming turtles, . . . This charming bilingual (English/Mandarin) counting book takes readers on a stroll through Chinatown to a tasty dim sum feast. (Ages 4–7)

We Are Lion Dancers by Benson Shum

As Lunar New Year approaches, a colorful costume catches the eye of siblings Lily and Noah. The lion dancers are practicing for the parade! As they learn what the lion dance means, the duo dives into helping with the preparations, even making their own lion costume for fun. (Ages 5–7)

Nian, The Chinese New Year Dragon by Virginia Loh-Hagan

Mei hates springtime, because that's the time when Nian, a fierce dragon, is able to leave his mountain prison under the sea to terrorize the local village. This award-winning story gives the Nian legend an original twist, while exploring the origins of Chinese New Year traditions. (Ages 6–8)

Sparkles for Sunny by Sylvia Chen

The Lao family has four rules: 1-Make what you can yourself. 2-Get good deals. 3-Share extras with others. 4-Never waste anything. This means that every year for Lunar New Year, Sunny wears a hand-me-down qípáo from her sisters. Just once Sunny wants to wear something that's perfect for her! (Ages 4–8)

Tomorrow is New Year's Day by Aram Kim

Mina can't wait to share the customs of Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year, 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. This joyful book includes a helpful glossary of Korean terms. (Ages 4–8)

Tweens

When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller

When a magical tiger offers Lily a deal to save her grandmother, Halmoni, she agrees. But deals with tigers are never what they seem. With the help of her sister and her new friend Ricky, Lily finds the courage to use her voice. This uplifting Newbery Medal-winning story brings Korean folklore to life. (Ages 8–12)

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhhà L?i

Inspired by the author's childhood experience as a refugee—fleeing Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon and immigrating to Alabama—this coming-of-age novel told in verse won the National Book Award and the Newbery Honor for its touching child's-eye view of family and immigration. (Ages 8–12)

Girl Giant and the Monkey King by Van Hoang

Eleven-year-old Thom Ngho is keeping a secret: she's strong. Like suuuuper strong. And it's making it impossible for her to fit in at her new middle school. In a desperate bid to get rid of her super strength, Thom makes a tenuous deal with legendary trickster the Monkey King. (Ages 8–12)

Marikit and the Ocean of Stars by Caris Avendaño Cruz

This magical middle-grade novel is inspired by Filipino folklore. After she is swept from the human world by shadow creatures, ten-year-old Marikit must use the map her mother stitched into her special patchwork dress to find her way to safety—for herself and her family. (Ages 8–12)

Kaya of the Ocean by Gloria L. Huang

Thirteen-year-old Kaya has always been afraid of everything. But when she learns she is the descendant of a Chinese water goddess, she'll have to master herself to master her powers. This middle-grade fantasy explores mental health, the immigrant experience, and the complexities of growing up. (Ages 8–12)

Lion Dancers by Cai Tse

In this lively graphic novel, former best friends become bitter rivals when one returns to lion dancing after a long absence. As Wei and Hung fight to be considered the top lion dancer, both will have to learn how to face their mistakes head-on and remember what it really means to be part of a team. (Ages 8–12)

Morning Sun in Wuhan by Ying Chang Compestine

The chef author draws on her own experiences growing up in Wuhan in this novel about Mei, a thirteen-year-old girl grieving her mother. When her community goes on COVID lockdown, she realizes she can help through cooking. Readers can follow Mei's tantalizing recipes and cook them at home. (Ages 8–12)

Paper Dragons by Siobhan McDermott

Against all odds, twelve-year-old orphan Yeung Zhi Ging wins an invitation to train as an apprentice to the immortals. As she faces the challenging trials set by her teachers, Zhi Ging's powers grow. But so do the rumours of the return of the Fui Gwai, an evil spirit that turns people into grey-eyed thralls. (Ages 8–12)

Activity books

Lunar New Year Magic Painting Book by Amy Chiu—Packed with joyful scenes showing Lunar New Year celebrations countries around the world.

Lunar New Year Mad Libs by Ellen Lee—Ring in the holiday with some ADJECTIVE firecrackers and COLOR envelopes, and celebrate Lunar New Year!

Super Simple Chinese Art by Alex Kuskowski—This book features fun and unique Chinese crafts in an easy, step-by-step format with pictures for a young crafter.

Origami for Kids Ages 6–12 by Kara Foldridge—A friendly beginner-focused guide that teaches kids how to create their own origami animals.

Noodles, Rice, and Everything Spice: A Thai Comic Cookbook by Christina De Witte—An approachable comic book cookbook tour of Thai culture and cuisine with 50 recipes and stories from the country's main culinary regions

Happy Lunar New Year and Gongxi facái! (Health and Prosperity to you!)

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon