Young readers of all ages can enjoy the various activities involved with Lunar New Year as they read these titles.

Picture Books

 I Love Lunar New Year by Eva Wong Nava. illus. by Xin Li. Scholastic. ISBN 9781546144649. 
PreS-Gr 1–A young Chinese girl and her family prepare for and celebrate Lunar New Year. This story centers around a grandmother reminding her granddaughter of their traditions. VERDICT An ideal holiday book for all, and essential Lunar New Year reading.

Mai’s Áo Dài by Thai Nguyen & Monique Truong. illus. by Dung Ho. Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy. ISBN 9781665917346. 
PreS-Gr 3–A delightful picture book that celebrates the traditions of Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. VERDICT Add this to the shelf! It fills an important gap with charm, fun, and heart; it’s a must-have for holiday collections.

We Are Lion Dancers by Benson Shum. ­illus. by author. Penguin ­Workshop. ISBN 9780593658871. 
Toddler-K–It’s Lunar New Year and siblings Lily and Noah are ready to learn more about the lion dance that scares away evil and brings good luck. VERDICT This simple story about lion dances makes a great read-aloud.

[Read: 7 Board Books and Picture Books to Ring in the Lunar New Year]

Ping’s Perfect Pot by Helen H Wu. illus. by Zihua Yang. Beaming Bks. ISBN 9798889830429. 
PreS-Gr 3–The customs and traditions of Lunar New Year celebrations are shared through the story of Ping, her grandpa, and the creation of the perfect pot for their tangerine tree. VERDICT A gentle, relevant holiday story and a welcome addition to Lunar New Year collections.

Amy Wu and the Lantern Festival by Kat Zhang. illus. by Charlene Chua. S. & S. ISBN 9781665943109.
PreS-Gr 2–The lovable, effervescent Amy Wu is back for a fifth round, ready to celebrate Lunar New Year. Of all the season’s beloved traditions, Amy adores the lighting of the family’s lantern for Lantern Festival Day. VERDICT This holiday story is perfect for fans of the series and for libraries building their Lunar New Year collections.

Early Readers

Mulan and the Lantern Festival (Disney Princess) by Kimberly Lee. adapt. by Nicole Johnson. Random/Disney. ISBN 9780736490535 
PreS-Gr 2–“Crackle! Pop!” opens this easy reader about Lunar New Year, as Princess Mulan hears the sound of celebratory fireworks outside her window. She’s particularly excited for the Lantern Festival, traditionally held on the final day of the holiday. VERDICT One needn’t be familiar with Mulan to enjoy this gentle easy reader about Lunar New Year, which is recommended for larger libraries.

Lunar New Year: Ready-to-Read Level 1 by Margaret McNamara & Wendi Gu. illus. by Mike Gordon. S. & S./Simon Spotlight. ISBN 9781665956178. 
PreS-Gr 2–The first graders of Robin Hill School are excited to welcome a special guest—classmate Eigen’s mom, Ms. Wong. During her visit, Ms. Wong explains that she is there to discuss Lunar New Year, which is Eigen’s favorite holiday. VERDICT A welcome addition to early reader or Lunar New Year collections.

Middle Grade & YA Graphic Novels

Lion Dancers by Cai Tse. illus. by author. S. & S. ISBN 9781665927246. 
Gr 4-6–Wei always wanted to follow in the footsteps of his late father, who was a lion dance champion. By chance, he joins the Southern Phoenix Lion Dance Team to take up the head once again. But his past misfortune and continuing grievance with one-time friend Hung make it difficult for this middle schooler. With faith and training from his teammates, Wei gains the skill needed to perform during the Lunar New Year festivities around the city. VERDICT This graphic novel leaps onto the stage as a great option for those who enjoy team sports manga.

 Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang. illus. by LeUyen Pham. First Second. ISBN 9781626728103.
Gr 6 Up–Valentina’s family is fated to be unlucky in love. Wanting to break the curse, Valentina makes a deal with the spirit of Saint Valentine: she has one year to find true love and “prove that you do not share your family’s fate.” If she fails, she must give her heart away to Saint Valentine and will never fall in love. VERDICT A positive and beautiful work of art that will make an impression on readers.