Will you be celebrating the Chinese New Year? The date of the holiday, on the Gregorian calendar, varies each year, but in 2020 the Year of the Rat begins on January 25th. Chinese New Year is arguably the most widely celebrated holiday in the world, with festivals and observations occurring all around the globe.
My sons are very fortunate to attend a school with a very diverse student population, and each year they’ve had several students in their class whose parents are visiting professors at the local University. Through these friends, and through classroom lessons, they’ve both learned a lot about the Chinese New Year.
I love seeing their interest in other cultures and traditions, so this year I wanted to get them some books about the Chinese New Year that we could read together to learn more about the history and importance of this celebration.
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Chinese New Year Books for Kids
To help your children understand the history and significance of the Chinese New Year, we have put together a great list to read with your kids!
Celebrate Chinese New Year: With Fireworks, Dragons, and Lanterns
It really is a great thing to be able to learn about and understand other cultures. This awesome book Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Chinese New Year: With Fireworks, Dragons, and Lanterns explains all about Chinese New Year and how it is celebrated.
Bringing in the New Year
Follow a Chinese American family as they prepare for and celebrate Chinese New Year. This story takes you behind the scenes for each family member.
Dragon Dance: A Chinese New Year Lift-the-Flap Book
This engaging lift-the-flap book introduces Chinese New Year customs to even the smallest of readers.
Home for Chinese New Year: A Story Told in English and Chinese
This book focuses on the importance of family when it comes to celebrating the Chinese New Year. This awesome book tells a story of a Chinese New Year celebration and family reunion in while all the while telling it in English and Chinese!
Peppa's Chinese New Year
If you have a Peppa Pig fan in your home, you just have to get this book for them! Peppa’s Chinese New Year features a fun story about Peppa celebrating this grand holiday as well as holiday facts and information in the back of the book.
Chelsea's Chinese New Year
Sometimes kids understand a topic better when they can imagine themselves in the role of the main character. That’s what makes Chelsea’s Chinese New Year so much fun for kids to read. They can put themselves in Chelsea’s place and pretend that they are celebrating too!
Ruby's Chinese New Year
Ruby is on her way to deliver a letter to her grandmother for Chinese New Year, and along they way she meets a succession of animals who join her on her journey. This story is described as reminiscent of "The Gingerbread Man" and "Little Red Hen," while incorporating elements from zodiac mythology. This book also has instructions for several craft projects at the end.
Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas
Introduce your children to the Chinese New Year with this fun retelling of the classic Goldilocks and the 3 Bears. Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas is a festive and fun story just in time for the Chinese New Year.
Happy, Happy Chinese New Year!
This book really gets into the rules, rituals and thoughts that make up the Chinese New Year Festival. It talks about what is expected during the last 15 days of the old year as well as what to do in the new one. It is a great explanatory book for those wanting to learn all about the Chinese New Year.
The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac
Filled with beautiful illustrations, this books tells the story of the Chinese Zodiac. As the new year approaches, each animal wants it to be named after them, but no one can agree. The Jade Emperor decides there should be a race to decide the winner.
Lunar New Year
Another great board book for little ones that will help them learn all about Chinese New Year. With stunning artwork by Chinese illustrator Alina Chau, this book brings the magic of Chinese New Year to life.
Chinese New Year Coloring Book
While it's not a reading book, this holiday craft activity book for kids (and adults) is a great way to introduce your kids to the Chinese New Year and all of the exciting things that take place within it.