Lunar New Year is almost here! 🧧🎉
On February 17th, families around the world will welcome the Lunar New Year — a vibrant celebration observed across many East and Southeast Asian cultures. Festivities often continue for several days, filled with traditions, storytelling, special foods, music, and family gatherings.
What better way to help students understand and appreciate this important celebration than by sharing beautiful picture books?
In this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, I’ve gathered some of my favourite Lunar New Year titles for 2026 — a mix of some classics and a few exciting new releases. I’ve also made sure to include books that reflect how different Asian cultures celebrate the new year in their own unique ways.
And because 2026 is the Year of the Horse, I’ve included a few picture books connected to the Chinese Zodiac — perfect for sparking curiosity and classroom conversations!
These books make wonderful read-alouds over the next couple of weeks – perfect for connecting, inferring, and building knowledge about cultural traditions around the world.
Sparkles for Sunny – Sylvia Chen
Sunny is fed up with having to wear her sister’s hand-me-downs for Chinese New Year – and this year, she is determined to make her mark! A sweet, heart-warming story and gorgeous illustrations! (Flamingo Books, 2025)
The Chinese New Year Helper – Ying Chang Compestine
A great story that focuses on the customs and traditions of Chinese New Year. I like how the book is also about how young Jai feels when her family doesn’t need her help as they prepare for the celebrations. A lot of young readers may make connections! Colourful illustrations. (Rocky Pond Books, 2024)
Lunar New Year – Hannah Elliot
Such a beautiful little book about the Lunar New Year. Readers learn that Lunar New Year invites us to spend time with family and friends, to light lanterns, to set off fireworks, dance with dragons, and to live the new year in harmony and happiness. Adorable illustrations! (Little Simon, 2018)
Legendary Cakes: A Story of Tết, the Vietnamese New Year – Karisa Greene
Two siblings spend New Years at their Bà’s house and learn how to make bánh chưng, the traditional Vietnamese New Year cakes. A delightful multi-generational celebration of traditional food, stories, and holidays. (Feiwel & Friends, 2025)
Welcoming the Lunar New Year – Lara Lee
When Ren accidently ruins the dragon costume his mother was going to wear in the New Year’s Parade, he turns to his neighbours for help. This new release combines themes of problem solving and community with New Years customs and traditions. Beautiful illustrations. (Candlewick Press, 2026)
Year of the Cat – Richard Ho
Did you know that the cat is one of the only animals NOT included in the Chinese zodiac? Why did cat get left out? This delightful book introduces young readers to both the Chinese zodiac and the importance of apologizing. (Greenwillow Books, 2022)
Tomorrow Is New Years Day Seollal, A Korean Celebration of Lunar New Year – Aram Kim
Colorful, joyful and cute! In this story, a young girl proudly shares Korean New Year’s traditions, food, and clothing with her classmates. A glossary of Korean terms, with pronunciation guide, is included. (Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 2022)
Chloe’s Lunar New Year – Lily LaMotte
I love that this book is both about a Taiwanese family’s traditions and preparations for Lunar New Year but also includes honoring and remembering those who have come before us. Lovely story! (HarperCollins, 2023)
Ruby’s Chinese New Year – Vickie Lee
A delightful story about young Ruby’s adventures as she travels to visit her grandmother for Chinese New Year. Along the way, Ruby encounters all twelve animals in the Chinese Zodiac along with one extra guest. Love how the story weaves both cultural traditions and the zodiac animals! (Square Fish, December 2022)
Ling & Ting’s Lunar New Year – Two Times Lucky – Grace Lin
The fifth book in this early reader series about two sisters was just released and, as always in this series, humor is the big draw, with punny jokes (“What do dragons like to eat during Lunar New Year?” “Fire-CRACKERS!”) and silly situations that will bring out the giggles! Colourful illustrations! (Little, Brown, & Company, 2026)
Bringing in the New Year – Grace Lin
I love Grace Lin’s books! This is a simple story about a family getting ready for Chinese New Year. Love the personal connections readers can make to preparing for their own cultural celebrations. Simple and great for early readers. (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2013)
Chinese New Year Colors – Rich Lo
Simple, bilingual (English and Manderin) Chinese New Years picture book invites readers to take a colorful journey through 14 symbols and colors of the Chinese Lunar New Year. Double page spread at the back is helpful for anyone who may not know what all the symbols are – like me! (Holiday House, 2022)
Let’s Celebrate Korean New Year! – Michelle W. Park
Sisters Eloise and Madeleine explore the Korean traditions and the importance of family and culture in this sweet book. Celebrates colourful Korean wardrobe and traditional food and includes a glossary, dumpling recipe, and a craft activity. (Random House, 2024)
A Sweet New Year For Ren – Michelle Sterling
Such a sweet, warm story. I love the emphasis on family togetherness (across the generations) and how preparing beloved recipes helps honor tradition and celebrate each family member’s personal favorites! The Author’s Note at the beginning helps explain her personal connection to Lunar New Year and a recipe for pineapple cakes (which Ren is finally old enough to make!) is included in the back. (Simon & Schuster, 2022)
I Love Chinese New Year! – Eva Wong Nawa
Readers join Mai-Anne as she celebrates a new year with her family and learns about the origins of Chinese New Year and the twelve zodiac animals. Wonderful, vibrant illustrations in this one! (Scholastic Canada, December 2023)
Ping’s Perfect Pot – Helen Wu
This picture book, released last year, is the story of a young girl’s attempt at making the perfect pot for the lunar year. Great story, great life lessons, great illustrations, great representation, great information! LOVE this one! (Beaming Books, 2025)
Playing With Lanterns – Wang Yage
A look at the 15 day lantern festival that occurs each year during the Chinese New Year in the Shaanxi province of northeast China, told through the eyes of a young girl and her three friends. Colorful and joyful! (Amazon Crossing Kids, 2022)
Why We Eat Fried Peanuts – Zed Zha
Readers join young Mèng, as she helps prepare for the New Year’s celebrations with her family. As they work together, she learns many stories of history, culture, traditions and food from different members of her family. A great “connect” book that focuses on the role food plays in cultural celebrations. A simple recipe for fried peanuts is included at the end of the book. (b&m Kids 2025)
Adrienne Gear - Reading Power Ltd. 