Habib, Grace. Lunar New Year, Spread Love and Cheer. illus. by Grace Habib. little bee. ISBN 9781499817768.
Baby-Toddler–This book guides readers through the traditional celebration of Lunar New Year. On the eve of the new year, the family cleans the entire house, from sweeping the floor to dusting the furniture. When midnight comes, children watch fireworks outside the house with their parents. The next day the family gathers and enjoys fruit, greens, and sweet treats. After praying to ancestors, they visit grandparents and elder relatives. Children receive red pocket-money envelopes from the elders, and then the family celebrates with a variety of dishes believed to bring good luck and prosperity: dumplings, fish, and noodles. The cheerful art in Habib’s book is colorful, with bright red prevalent throughout, which is strongly associated with good luck, happiness, warding off evil spirits, and ensuring a prosperous and joyful year ahead. VERDICT An excellent and informative book to introduce toddlers to many of the Lunar New Year traditions.–Anna Ching-Yu Wong

Chen, Sylvia. Sparkles for Sunny: A Lunar New Year Story. illus. by Thai My Phuong. Penguin/Flamingo. ISBN 9780593694626.
K-Gr 2–The Lao Family Way involves making what you can, getting good deals, never wasting anything, and sharing extras with others. Sunny, the youngest of three sisters, takes pride in the Lao Family Way, except on Lunar New Year. Every year, their mom makes a new qípáo dress for her oldest sister, who hands down last year’s dress to the middle sister, who hands down a dress to Sunny. They have Eva’s zodiac sign (a dragon) and are Aria’s favorite color (red), and all three girls always match. Sunny wants to stand out and sets off to find a way to have something for herself. Adults will be happy that although Sunny considers adding glitter to the dress, she realizes she might ruin it and chooses instead to make individualized hair accessories for her and her sisters. While the holiday provides the backdrop, the story centers Sunny’s desire to blend the Lao Family Way with a little individuality. A few words of Mandarin are sprinkled in to Chen’s and Phuong’s story, while Sunny’s friends mention new year’s outfits in Korean and Cantonese. VERDICT This warm family story will resonate with youngest children everywhere, regardless of a particular holiday or season. Highly recommended.–Jennifer Rothschild

Lee, Lara. Welcoming the Lunar New Year: Festivals of the World. illus. by Natelle Quek. Candlewick. ISBN 9781536251623.
PreS-Gr 1–Ren and his family celebrate the Lunar New Year as a family and with their community. Preparations that start the night before include making peanut cookies and sweeping; everyone has something to do. When the dragon costume for the New Year parade is damaged, Ren and his mother visit a variety of stores to get the materials needed to fix the dragon so they can have it for the parade the following evening. As Ren and his mother travel from store to store in the city, they learn about how people from Indonesia, China, and Vietnam celebrate the New Year. Digital artwork by Quek showcases delicious looking food and more, and back matter is comprised of a recipe and a craft that supplements Lee’s picture book debut. VERDICT This story reflects the inclusivity of the Lunar New Year and the love people have for one another as they celebrate a holiday that brings the community together.–Tanya Boudreau

Lin, Grace. Ling & Ting’s Lunar New Year: Two Times Lucky. illus. by author. Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316578073.
Gr 1-3–Chinese American twins Ling and Ting warmly introduce readers to the traditions and meanings behind the Lunar New Year. The book is divided into six short chapters, each with a title that hints at a specific aspect of the celebration. Through their preparations, readers learn why there are two New Year celebrations, the symbolism of two doors and two banners, and the double meanings of words like orange. The theme of “two” runs throughout the story, reinforcing both the twins’ bond and the cultural significance of duality. This idea culminates in a joyful exploration of lions and luck in the final chapters. Vibrant gouache illustrations on watercolor paper bring each tradition to life, enhancing the storytelling with color and warmth. Small vignettes at the beginning and end of the book frame the story, showing Ling and Ting dressed in their festive New Year outfits—bookending the celebration with adorable illustrations. In addition to cultural insights, the book offers lessons in calendar skills, chores/cleaning, puns, poems, and Chinese American heritage. With its charm, humor, and cultural context, this book is both entertaining and educational. Lin crafts a story that invites readers to learn, celebrate, and appreciate the richness of tradition. VERDICT This joyful, culturally rich introduction to Lunar New Year is a fantastic addition to any collection.–Katie Loomis

Wan, Joyce. Lucky New Year: Colors. illus. by author. Astra/Hippo Park. ISBN 9781662640902.
Toddler-K–Animals of the Chinese zodiac celebrate the Lunar New Year. For each animal, a rhymed couplet introduces a color and common new year element, such as red envelopes, orange tangerines, green bamboo, and a blue lion dance costume. Supplemental material offers further explanation of the Chinese customs featured, the animals of the zodiac, and how to say each color in Mandarin. Wan’s signature brightly colored kawaii illustrations lend themselves to the fully saturated backgrounds. A basic introduction to the holiday that’s irresistibly cute enough to appeal to families who celebrate, as well as those who want to learn more. VERDICT This delightful introduction to colors, Mandarin Chinese, and Lunar New Year traditions is recommended for general purchase.–Jennifer Rothschild