Book Finder

The new year festival lasts for 15 days full of preparation, celebration, and symbolism. Join Ling, her sister Mei and granny Po Po as they clean the house from top to bottom, pick fresh flowers from the garden, visit friends and family, and carry red lanterns through their neighborhood. Ling invites the reader into her home and family, allowing the reader to experience this special celebration first-hand. Discover more details about how the festival is celebrated in China and beyond in the backmatter plus activities such as guess the riddle, make your own red envelope, and a recipe to make delicious Lunar New Year ‘pot sticker’ dumplings. 

Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year, is Mina’s favorite day of the year. Mina can’t wait to share the customs of Seollal with all of her friends at school. She will show her classmates her colorful hanbok, demonstrate how to do sebae, and then everyone will make tasty tteokguk in the cooking room. Yum! Her little brother may even join in on the fun … if he can find a way out of his bad mood. A glossary of Korean terms, with pronunciation guide, is included.

A retelling of the Nian legend follows the experiences of a young girl who takes action when her village is threatened in the spring by a dragon. But Mei must defeat the dragon within 15 days or it will be free forever. This retelling with a twist explains the origins of Chinese New Year traditions.

On Chinese New Year’s Eve, a poor man who works for the richest businessman in Beijing sends his son to market to trade their last few eggs for a bag of rice, but instead he brings home an empty — but magic — wok that changes their fortunes forever. With spirited text and lively illustrations, this story reminds readers about the importance of generosity.

From dazzling dragon dances to scrumptious steamed dumplings, celebrate the Chinese New Year with this bilingual alphabet book in English and Mandarin Chinese. Lunar New Year is here! It’s time for acrobats to perform, Grandma and Grandpa to make cut paper decorations, friends to share oranges with one another, and so much more! Follow along as two siblings prepare for the festivities and later have a feast with their whole family

It’s the night before Lunar New Year, and a little girl is excited for all of the celebrations to come. She’s prepared dumplings with her mom, bought a new dress in Chinatown, and even helped scare mythical beast Nian away with her cousins and brother. There’s only one problem: she’s a bit nervous about all of the loud noises at the upcoming Lunar New Year Parade. Will she overcome her fears? Written in the style of The Night Before Christmas.

A bilingual board book introducing Chinese characters through the animals of the Chinese zodiac. The adventure loving Dragon, the carefree Horse, and the artistic Goat are just three of the 12 Lucky Animals to be found in the Chinese zodiac, rendered here in bright illustrations. Use the wheel on the back cover to help little readers discover who their lucky animal is and how to pronounce its name in Chinese and English.

A bilingual color concept primer celebrates a rainbow of traditions and objects associated with the Chinese New Year, providing the English and Chinese words for such examples as firecrackers, lucky coins, and sweet peanut puffs. Includes informative back matter.

Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is a time of celebration and it involves much preparation. This festive story is a great introduction to the most important Vietnamese cultural holiday. Readers will learn the significance of each tradition during this special time. As families prepare to celebrate Tết, it is also a time of reflection and togetherness. Families come together to help sweep out the old year, hang dazzling decorations, and prepare lavish meals to share. Discover how the anticipation of Tết and the days of festivities that follow, all culminate in the celebration of families and the Vietnamese cultural heritage.

Zhao Di wishes the New Year would never end! Zhao Di and her friends are excited to go out at night with their paper lanterns and celebrate Chinese New Year. Each holding a unique colorful lantern with a lit candle inside, they admire the breathtaking colors while doing their best to avoid the wind and the sneaky boys in the village. Every night, until the fifteenth day of New Year, Zhao Di and her friends take part in this fun tradition, experiencing the thrill of nighttime in their village. And then ― it’s time to smash the lanterns!

In this funny and festive retelling of a favorite fairy tale, Goldy Luck is asked to take a plate of turnip cakes to the neighbors. The Chans aren’t home, but that doesn’t stop Goldy from trying out their rice porridge, their chairs, and their beds-with disastrous results. But plucky Goldy Luck takes responsibility for her actions and makes a new friend just in time for Chinese New Year.

Kara and Amanda are best-friend cousins. Then Kara leaves the city to move back to the Rez. Will their friendship stay the same? Kara and Amanda hate not being together. Then it’s time for the family reunion on the Rez. Each girl worries that the other hasn’t missed her. But once they reconnect, they realize that they are still forever cousins. This story highlights the ongoing impact of the 1950s Indian Relocation Act on Native families, even today. This story about navigating change reminds readers that the power of friendship and family can bridge any distance.

Ever since the day Mom and Dad brought Bob home from the car dealership, Bob has been a part of Katie’s family. Bob has taken them all over, from powwows to vacations to time spent with faraway family. Bob has been there in sad and scary times and for some of the family’s most treasured memories. But after many miles, it’s time for the family to say goodbye to Bob… This humorous and tender story about a beloved family car — and all the stories and love carried along for the ride — will appeal to every kid whose family has owned a special car!

This moving story shares valuable lessons about fitting in, standing out, and the beauty of joyful acceptance. Vashti Harrison traces a child’s journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal. With spare text and exquisite illustrations, this emotional exploration of being big in a world that prizes small is a tender portrayal of how you can stand out and feel invisible at the same time.

When an apple pie arrives piping hot on the kitchen table, a little pup does everything he can think of to get his paws on it. But will his ABC antics land him a slice? This book is a twist on traditional verse.

Embark on an exciting adventure with paleontologist Karen Chin as she hunts for treasure unlike any other — fossilized dinosaur poo! The book provide readers with a unique perspective on understanding how dinosaurs lived and what the ancient world looked like. 

Discover the true story of the race between two paleontologists to find the best dinosaur fossils in this fascinating, fast-paced nonfiction picture book. They each wanted the biggest, best dinosaur bones. And fast! They used code names and disguises, they snooped and tricked, and did everything possible to keep their finds secret. 

In an African village live seven brothers who make family life miserable with their constant fighting. When their father dies, he leaves an unusual will: by sundown, the brothers must make gold out of seven spools of thread. If they fail, they will be turned out as beggars. Using the Nguzo Saba, or “seven principles” of Kwanzaa, the author has created an unforgettable story that shows how family members can pull together, for their own good and the good of the entire community.

“You’ll have Hanukkah in summer? Talk about backwards.” “Your Hanukkah’s in winter? You’re missing out.” From their homes in New York and New Zealand, cousins Noah and Nora decide to have a competition. Winter versus summer: Who can have the world’s best Hanukkah? But as the eight nights of Hanukkah go on, the contest proves tougher than they imagined. Even as each cousin celebrates the holiday with their own unique traditions, they realize they have more in common than they thought.

Evocative poetry and lovely watercolor artwork brings the Christmas story to life for young readers. Animals from across the ancient Palestinian landscape lumber, gambol, crawl, fly, and parade toward Bethlehem with gifts worthy of the newborn King. Rare ebony wood, a finely tuned harp, mustard and saffron, a zither, apricot cakes, and other treasures are carried to the manger. The animals bow low and join the music of the angels in a welcoming lullaby.

Generations of readers have treasured this 1960 Caldecott Medal winner and its tale of a little Mexican girl’s excitement at the approach of Christmas. Ceci eagerly awaits Las Posadas, the traditional nine-day series of yuletide celebrations. This year she’ll lead the candlelight procession that reenacts Mary and Joseph’s trek to Bethlehem. Meanwhile, Mother takes her to the old marketplace to choose her very first piñata.

Explore winter celebrations around the world: Solstice, Yule, Christmas, Kwanza, Hanukkah, Teng Chieh, Diwali, Soyal, Las Posadas, Zagmuk, Saturnalia.

“Artists have always had a keen eye for finding the most interesting parts of our communities.” Travel with two young people as they explore the world of art across time and distance. From Giza in Ancient Egypt to Prague in 2018, this realistically illustrated book includes a glossary and additional resources.

All children have wishes that reflect their hopes and dreams. Wishes from kids from Guatemala to Japan and places in between are presented in handsome illustrations and brief text. This book is sure to start conversations as readers see reflections of themselves in others from around the world.