I’m excited to share with you a list of wonderful Chinese Lunar New Year books! this year, the lunar new year will fall on Friday, February 12, 2021. To prepare for the most important Chinese holiday, we are reading Chinese New Year books, listening to Mandarin Chinese audiobooks, and enjoying hands-on Chinese New Year activities.
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You are reading: Chinese new year books for preschoolers
lunar new year versus chinese new year: what’s the difference?
Since the holiday is based on the lunisolar calendar and celebrated in many Asian countries, lunar new year is the more inclusive term.
Although I will use the term Chinese New Year frequently in my posts, these are for resources specific to the Chinese traditions I am learning with my children.
However, regarding its Korean heritage and other Asian countries that celebrate the holiday, I want to emphasize that Chinese New Year traditions differ from those of other cultures. Check out 10 Great Korean Lunar New Year Books for Kids for more Korean resources.
where to find chinese new year books for children
As always, I’ve included isbn and links to popular Chinese online bookstores!
I hope you can find these books at your local library. If your library doesn’t have books in other languages, I hope this list gives you some ideas for books to add to your home book collection. Also check your local bookstore options for the best available price.
While it’s helpful to read books by different authors for different perspectives, you don’t have to get every book on the list! 🙂
chinese new year audiobooks
Many of these books have free Mandarin narration on Ximalaya FM. Some are also compatible with the Chinese Luka reading robot, which I will highlight below. For older children and parents who are learning Chinese, you can use the youdao dictionary reading pen.
lunar new year books for children in Chinese and English!
These Chinese New Year books are organized as follows:
- chinese new year books in chinese (without pinyin)
- chinese new year books in chinese with pinyin
- chinese new year books in english
- Chinese and English activity books
Chinese New Year books in Chinese (no pinyin)
1.团圆 a new year’s meeting
团圆 (tuányuán) is one of my children’s favorite Chinese New Year books. the touching story is about a girl whose father works far from home. when the father comes home in the new year, he does 汤圆 with his son. before the father returns to work, he puts coins in the 汤圆 for good luck so that his son can treasure the memories of him. (See the next book for a similar story.)
- where to buy
- simplified chinese / isbn: 9787533255879
- jojo learning
- buds from china
- amazon
- yobabyshop
- amazon
- free on ximalaya
- compatible with luka reading robot
2.回家 home for chinese new year
The story of 回家 (huí jiā) is very similar to that of 团圆, but the narration about the father’s journey is longer and the child is a boy. my daughter actually likes this lesser known version better, and the narration about ximalaya is captivating. Another benefit is the simplified Chinese/English bilingual text, so my husband can also read the book to our children.
If you can only get 1 of these stories, I suggest you choose whether you want a bilingual version (this book), the version luka can read (团圆 above), or a traditional Chinese version (also 团圆 above).
- where to buy:
- simplified Chinese and English / isbn: 9781602209992
- amazon
- ximalaya
3.十二生肖的故事 story of the zodiac with cd
Taiwanese author 賴馬 ((lài mǎ) has so many engaging books, and his rendition of 十二生肖的故事 (shí’èr shēngxiào de gùshì) is fun and dynamic! the text is in traditional Chinese with zhuyin.
- where to buy
- traditional chinese / isbn: 9789869421508
- jojo learning
- yobabyshop
- glory bookstore
- books.com.tw
- comes with audio cd
- compatible with the luka reading robot
4.打灯笼 playing with lanterns
打灯笼 (dǎ dēnglóng) is a charming book about children having fun with lanterns during the new year. The uncle gives the children vibrant flashlights of different colors and shapes, and the children light the flashlights and playfully bump into each other. When the lanterns are lit, the family knows that they will have good luck in the new year.
- where to buy:
- simplified chinese / isbn: 9787505633315
- jojo learning
- tencent video (Chinese video streaming channel)
- compatible with luka reading robot
5.春节 spring festival
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This beautiful book is part of the 12-book collection of Chinese festival stories 中国记忆(传统节日共12册). we love all of the books in this series for the realistic illustrations and historical details in the context of familiar storytelling.
these books are compatible with luka reading robot and the narration is available in ximalaya.
more information: See the detailed review of the complete set of Chinese festival books, including the Chinese New Year book!
6.小善的壓歲錢 sam and the lucky money
In this heartwarming story, a little boy, Sam (小善), receives a red envelope containing some dollars from his grandparents. Excited to go shopping with his mother, sweets and toys catch his eye. however, he remembers an old man wandering in the street without shoes or socks on that wintry day. Finally, he offers the man his lucky red envelope.
- where to buy
- traditional chinese / isbn: 9781584300847
- amazon
- chinese books
- amazon
7.欢乐中国年 / 歡樂過新年 chinese new year pop-up book
This wonderful pop-up book was given to us by my story treasury! covers Chinese New Year traditions such as cleaning the house, preparing foods such as rice cakes and tofu, the lion dance, and fireworks. there is some overlap with the book 过年啦 (reviewed below). Compared with 过年啦 3d book, 欢乐中国年/歡樂過新年 Chinese New Year pop-up book is a bit longer and harder to read.
- where to buy
- simplified chinese / isbn: 9787539798622
- my treasury story
- china sprout
- me! baby store
- books.com.tw
- china sprout
- purple crop
8.过年啦 celebrating chinese new year
过年啦 (guò nián la) is an interactive book where you can open red envelopes, dress a child in new clothes, perform a dragon dance, decorate doors and hang lanterns. Available in Simplified and Traditional Chinese, the book is beautifully illustrated with realistic-looking people.
there is some overlap with the Chinese New Year popup book 欢乐中国年 / 歡樂過新年 (previously reviewed); this book has a bit simpler language, more interactive, but also more “flat” (it doesn’t have the awesome popups like the other book).
- where to buy
- simplified chinese / isbn: 9787541740947
- buds from china
- taobao
- china sprout
- glory bookstore
- books.com.tw
- seeks.com.hk
- eslite
- free on ximalaya
9.年味儿 lunar new year food
This New Year’s Book with realistic illustrations shows food preparations for the Lunar New Year in Chinese and Korean cultures. With minimal text, the nearly wordless picture book is great for encouraging patient observation and open discussion.
- where to buy:
- simplified chinese / isbn: 9787537972796
- amazon
- china sprout
10.農曆新年的美味 tastes of lunar new year
Even though I swore I wouldn’t buy any more Chinese New Year and Anthropomorphic books, this cute new book caught my eye! This book features 12 unique dishes from China, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Korea! I’ll update this post with more details when we have the book.
- Where to buy:
- English only or English and Traditional Chinese
- Author’s website
- Mandarin or Cantonese
- Author’s website
- Cantonese mom
chinese new year books in chinese with pinyin
1.十二生肖 chinese zodiac
This Chinese New Year folk tale is about the origin of the Chinese zodiac. The beginner level book is part of the Chinese Library series, written in Simplified Chinese and Pinyin with English translations on the back of the book. the story concludes with short exercises and a passage for further reading.
More information: Read the review of the Chinese Library Series: Simplified Chinese Readers with Pinyin & English for more details.
2. monster nian with cd
This chinese new year book is about the fictional monster nian who visits the new year. the main character xinling has to outwit the monster to save shanghai.
This pre-intermediate book (~900 words) is part of the Chinese Library series, written in simplified Chinese with pinyin. the story concludes with short exercises and a passage for further reading.
More information: Read the review of the Chinese Library Series: Simplified Chinese Readers with Pinyin & English for more details.
3.春节 spring festival
春节 chinese new year book is part of the popular 中国传统节日绘本全套10册 traditional chinese festival set of 10 books. although this my kids are not particularly fond of these books, they are very popular and conveniently have pinyin.
- where to buy:
- simplified chinese with pinyin / isbn: 9787511037657
- taobao
- china outbreak
- ximalaya
- compatible with luka reading robot
chinese new year books in english
1. dragon dance: a book to lift the flap of the chinese new year
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This is a fun storybook about Chinese traditions like preparing for New Year’s dinner, red envelopes, and the dragon dance parade! the illustrations are realistic and adorable, and my kids love peeking behind the flaps! I have read this book several times to my daughter’s classmates!
- where to buy: english/ isbn 9780142400005
- amazon
- bookstore
2. holidays around the world: celebrate chinese new year: with fireworks, dragons and lanterns
This book from National Geographic has real photos of Chinese New Year celebrations! the text describes how families celebrate ancestors and give red envelopes. plus vibrant images of the lantern festival and dragon dance.
- where to buy: español / isbn 9781426303814
- amazon
- bookstore
3. maggie’s chopsticks
A girl named Maggie struggles with using chopsticks, and her journey of learning is encouraging as she overcomes her challenges and learns about Chinese New Year traditions and food.
- where to buy: english/ isbn 9781554536191
- amazon
- bookstore
4. golden luck and the 3 pandas
both of my kids went through phases of obsession with this fictional story! this is a chinese-american retelling of golden locks and the 3 bears with cultural elements such as luck, congee, and panda bears. In contrast to the original Goldy Locks story, this version has a happy ending where Goldy Luck apologizes to the Panda family with turnip cakes.
- where to buy: español / isbn 9781580896535
- amazon
- bookstore
5. bringing in the new year
This cute book by Grace Lin is aimed at young children and provides an overview of Chinese New Year traditions.
- where to buy: español / isbn 9780385753654
- amazon
- bookstore
6.团圆 a new year’s meeting
As I mentioned earlier, 团圆 (tuányuán) is one of my family’s favorite stories originally written in Chinese; see the chinese section above for photos of the interior. Below is the link for the English version.
- where to buy: español / isbn 9780763658816
- amazon
- bookstore
7.回家 home for chinese new year
Here’s another favorite story originally written in Chinese; see the chinese section above for photos of the interior. Below is the link for the English version.
- where to buy: Simplified Chinese and English / isbn 9781602209992
- amazon
8.小善的壓歲錢 sam and the lucky money
As mentioned in the Chinese section above, this heartwarming story is about a boy who learns to use the money in his lucky red envelope for a special purpose: helping a homeless man with no socks or shoes on a wintry day. highly recommended.
- where to buy
- traditional chinese / isbn: 9781584300847
- amazon
- amazon
Chinese lunar new year books on our reading list
Many of you recommended this Chinese Lunar New Year to our family! Passing your good review here!
- the great race: history of the chinese zodiac
- simplified chinese, english, pinyin / isbn: 9798575640349: amazon
- traditional chinese, english, pinyin / isbn 979- 8581649008 : Amazon
- bookstore
- amazon
not recommended: this coming new year
We previously included This Coming New Year on our list, a book written by a Korean-Chinese-American author, translated into 3 languages! however, several native Chinese and Korean speakers said the translations are inaccurate.
In addition, the traditions are more focused on Chinese than Korean. the most worrying part is when the text explicitly says, “i call it chinese new year, even though i’m half korean”. for a book that is supposed to represent both cultures, “lunar new year” should have been used. therefore, we unfortunately cannot recommend this book.
Chinese New Year bilingual activity book
daily noodles my funny chinese book: animals
This Chinese activity book for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarten, and first graders has 36 projects involving the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. the text is mostly in English with keywords in simplified Chinese and pinyin. My daughter has enjoyed the variety of crafts, coloring opportunities, and games in this fun book!
more information: read this post on Chinese daily noodle activity books for a detailed review and where to buy them.
what are your favorite chinese new year books?
We’d love to hear which books your kids liked best! please leave a comment with your review and recommendations so we can learn from you too. 🙂
On instagram and facebook, tag a photo @chalkacademy and @chalkacademybooks and use the hashtag #chalkacademy so our family can see it.
on facebook tag us @chalkacademychinese (chalk academy)!
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more chinese new year resources for kids
- 20+ fun chinese new year activities for kids!
- diy cardboard chinese lunar new year market for kids
- chinese zodiac wheel – educational chinese new year printable
- happy new year coloring pages in chinese and english
- chinese new year youtube videos in mandarin chinese
Happy Chinese Lunar New Year folks!
- traditional chinese / isbn: 9781584300847
- simplified chinese with pinyin / isbn: 9787511037657
- English only or English and Traditional Chinese
- simplified chinese / isbn: 9787537972796
- simplified chinese / isbn: 9787541740947
- simplified chinese / isbn: 9787539798622
- traditional chinese / isbn: 9781584300847
- simplified chinese / isbn: 9787505633315
- traditional chinese / isbn: 9789869421508
- simplified Chinese and English / isbn: 9781602209992
- simplified chinese / isbn: 9787533255879