Three Books for Celebrating Lunar New Year Year in Early Childhood Settings

Lunar New Year is a beautiful opportunity to explore culture, tradition, belonging and community with children. In early childhood, books are one of the most respectful and developmentally appropriate ways to introduce celebrations from around the world.

Here are three strong, culturally grounded texts to support meaningful learning in your service 👇

🌙 Bringing in the New Year – Grace Lin

This is a beautiful, simple introduction to Lunar New Year traditions through a child’s lens.

Why it’s strong for ECEC:
• Developmentally appropriate language
• Authentic cultural representation
• Introduces traditions like cleaning, family gatherings and red envelopes
• Easy to extend into dramatic play, sensory experiences and art

A perfect whole-group story time text that supports cultural respect and curiosity.

🧧 Lunar New Year – Hannah Eliot

Ideal for toddlers and Family Day Care environments.

Why it’s strong for ECEC:
• Board book durability
• Simple vocabulary for emerging language
• Bright, engaging illustrations
• Encourages repeated reading and familiarity

A gentle and accessible way to introduce celebrations in a respectful and inclusive way.

🐉 Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon – Kat Zhang

A narrative-driven story that supports deeper thinking and creativity.

Why it’s strong for ECEC:
• Promotes persistence and problem-solving
• Connects beautifully to collaborative dragon construction projects
• Encourages sustained shared thinking
• Supports identity, belonging and cultural pride

Perfect for extending learning across the week through art, STEM and dramatic play.

As educators, our role is not simply to “celebrate” but to create meaningful opportunities for children to understand and respect diverse cultures. Lunar New Year is celebrated across multiple countries including China, Vietnam and Korea — and acknowledging this diversity strengthens inclusive practice within our services.

Books create the foundation for respectful celebration.

Which one would you add to your collection?