Books

For my favorites in a different format, see my Amazon Chinese New Year favorites List-mania.

To read-to a group:

• Dancing Dragon ** by Marcia Vaughn CNY
  Great for Chinese New Year. An accordion-fold book - practice before reading to a group!
• Red is a Dragon: A Book of Colors by Rosemary Thong
  (not a Chinese New Year story but fun for school this time of year) I prefer her Round is a Mooncake if you did not use it for Moon Festival in the fall. See how many of the things mentioned you can bring in to share and pass around.
• The Rooster's Antlers: A Story of the Chinese Zodiac * by Eric Kimmel CNY
  Beautiful illustrations.
• This Next New Year by Janet S. Wong CNY
  Rhyming text. Good for Chinese New Year. RL 4-8 years
• Paper Lanterns by Stefan Czernecki
  Nice story. I like the pictures of the papercut lanterns even more than the story illustrations.

e-books
Celebrating the Chinese New Year cute

More fiction, mostly longer books:

• Fu-Dog ** by Rumer Godden
  This lovely adventure is set in England where two half-Chinese children meet their Chinese relatives. I like it a lot but it is a �long� book. Refers to Chinese New Year. CNY
• Silk Peony, Parade Dragon by Elizabeth Steckman and Carol Inouye
• The Last Dragon by Susan Miho Nunes
  Ten year old boy finds, repairs and then uses a parade dragon. Set in an American Chinatown.

Still good, but not my favorites:

• Chinese New Year's Dragon by Rachel Sing (Chinese New Year) CNY
• Lion Dancer: Ernie Wan's Chinese New Year by Kate Waters CNY
  6 year old Ernie performs his first Lion Dance. Good for Chinese New Year. RL 4-8 years
• Yum Yum Dim Sum (World Snacks) (Board book) by Amy Wilson Sanger
  We love her first book of sushi but this did not seem as good. It�s seems to have gotten mixed reviews.
• Dragon Dance a Chinese New Year: A Chinese New Year Lift-The-Flap Book by Joan Holub CNY
• Lanterns and Firecrackers: A Chinese New Year Story (Festival Time) by Johnny Zucker, Jan Barger Cohen CNY
  Chinese family prepares for New Year. Read-to preschoolers. Read by 1^st graders. Includes suggestions (to parents) for celebrating.
  
• Sam and the Lucky Moneyby Karen Chinn, et. al. CNY
  Fiction. Introduces Chinatown. Forces the reader to think about giving and appreciation. Pre-reading required. Not a personal favorite.
• The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin (middle grade novel)

Reference books:

• Happy New Year! Kung-Hsi Fa-Ts'Ai: Kung-Hsi Fa-Ts'Ai by Demi CNY
• Celebrating Chinese New Year by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith, Lawrence Migdale.
  A young boy and his family prepare for Chinese New Year. Photos. CNY
• Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes by Nina Simonds, Leslie Swartz CNY, MAF
  Background, crafts, recipes, and legends for 5 Chinese holidays: Chinese New Year, Lantern Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Qing Ming and Dragon Boat Festival.
• Chinese New Year by Sarah Moyse CNY
• Chinese New Year by Diane M. MacMillan. CNY
• Chinese New Year for Kids by Cindy Roberts CNY
  Historical background, directions for snacks, crafts and games. Good for teachers.

Other Chinese New Year books:

• Happy, Happy Chinese New Year by Demi CNY
• Lanterns and Firecrackers: A Chinese New Year Story (Festival Time) by Johnny Zucker, Jan Barger Cohen. Chinese family prepares for New Year. Read-to preschoolers. Read by 1st graders. Includes suggestions (to parents) for celebrating.
• Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn, et. al. Fiction. Introduces Chinatown. Forces the reader to think about giving and appreciation. Pre-reading required. Not a personal favorite.
• Gung Hay Fat Choy (Special Holiday Books) by Jane Behrens CNY
  I have not seen this one myself. Includes photos.
• In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord
  
• The Year of the Dog: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac by Oliver Chin (I have not read it. Perhaps for the youngest.)
• The Year of the Pig: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac by Oliver Chin (I have not read it.)
• Happy New Year! by Emery Bernhard
  New Year in different cultures
• Chopsticks by Jon Berkeley (I have mixed feelings about this - it implies that the Chinese New Year starts with a full moon when the 15 day celebration ends with a full moon. On the other hand, I can see my uncle's Hong Kong apartment building in the illustrations.)
  
• Chinese New Year for Kids by Cindy Roberts
  

Last updated: February 2007

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