Book Finder

Learn about the unique Christmas customs and legends from around the world. Find out why celebrate Christmas on December 25th, who invented the first glass ornament, why people build nativity scenes, why we decorate Christmas trees, and more! Included is information about traditional holiday food, drink, and other traditions: Glögg, Kutia, Lutefisk, Jansson’s Temptation, Julskinka, Bûche de Noël, Hallaca, Kourabiedes, Christmas Pudding, Panettone, Christmas carols, talking animals, and The Nutcracker!

There are countless ways we celebrate and give to others on Thanksgiving. The goodness we share lasts the rest of the year — and sometimes for a lifetime. From joyful preparation of food, to quiet reflection honoring farmers and Native communities, to cherished moments of laughter with friends or family …   there is always room for making more memories together.

In this vibrant tribute to Rock Your Mocs Day, observed yearly on November 15, author Laurel Goodluck (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Tsimshian) and artist Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw) celebrate the joy and power of wearing moccasins — and the Native pride that comes with them.

An intimate look at Juneteenth, this story is a warm exploration of a family and a community. Juneteenth is the smell of brisket filling the air. Juneteenth is the sounds of music, dancing, and cheering ringing from the parade outside. It is love. It is prayer. It is friends and relatives coming together to commemorate freedom, hope for tomorrow, and one another. This book is an ode to the history of the Black community in the United States, a tribute to Black joy, and a portrait of familial love. 

History and food combine in an attractive, illustrated, and family friendly cookbook. Additional activities are suggested including a playlist of music to which to dance! Additional information and resources about Juneteenth are included.

Young children are invited to a powwow in this 1-to-10 counting board book — beginning with one car traveling to the powwow to 10 tribal citizens enjoying the celebration. The indigenous author and illustrator team that wrote Powwow Day (for slightly older readers) now introduce younger readers to the powwow tradition.  

Get ready for Lunar New Year, following a little girl and her family as they get ready for and celebrate the Lunar New Year festival. With information about the significance of certain rituals, told through the excited eyes of a child. Each spread includes 12 lift-the-flaps to see traditions such as decorating the house with lucky red decorations, watching a special firework display, making festive dumplings with Nainai (grandma), reading a story about the zodiac with Yeye (grandpa), watching a lion and dragon dance in the town square, and exchanging lucky red envelopes with family.

Sohee’s favorite part of Seollal (Lunar New Year) is tteokguk — the special Korean rice cake soup traditionally only enjoyed on New Year’s Day. Each bowl is said to make the person who eats it one year older. This year, Sohee wants to eat as many bowls as she can to finally be an eonni, or “big girl,” to her younger siblings and cousins. This funny story of a child’s journey to discover what it really means to be a big girl explores the traditions of the Korean Lunar New Year and the value of family and helpfulness. 

Jin wishes his family would ask him to help prepare the Lunar New Year feast. But boys, or Babas, never get asked ― only Nyonyas, the girls. It’s the eve of Lunar New Year, and Jin can’t wait for the big family reunion dinner. He loves the aromas and the bubbly chatter coming from the kitchen. His grandmother, Mamah, is cooking up a storm! As his aunties dice, slice, and chop, there’s nothing Jin wants more than to learn about the history of his family’s cooking and to lend them a helping hand. But his aunties shoo him away, claiming he’ll just get bored or be in the way. Luckily, Mamah steps in and asks Jin to help her prepare their special meal. Soon, Jin is squeezing, slicing, and stirring, too! This loving picture book about a young Malaysian boy who defies gender expectations will make hearts warm and stomachs hungry. 

This story follows a brother and sister on their way to Grandma’s house to celebrate Lunar New Year. Protected and guided by the 12 magical animals of the zodiac, they’ll travel through the city into a vast tea garden, a serene bamboo grove, and across an ancient stone bridge to gather special treats for their big, celebratory family dinner. Young readers will delight in the clever die-cut surprises throughout and the dramatic quadruple gatefold at the end that reveals a special, festive surprise complete with dragon dancers and fireworks. 

This bilingual English and Mandarin Chinese book introduces children to Lunar New Year traditions — from buying new clothes to special foods and decorations. Children will enjoy seeing different family members preparing for and celebrating the holiday together, and the included family tree is a great visual for teaching the names of different family members.

Sam is trying to figure out what he’s thankful for. He’s also working on a special project to share at the Thanksgiving feast— his own version of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! Parents and teachers will find inspiration for other Thanksgiving crafts and projects, and a section at the back includes fun Thanksgiving facts.

Little Ren looks forward to the preparation for and festivities of Lunar New Year, but she is always too little to help make the delicious pineapple cakes that are her favorite. She watches family members rolling out the dough and loves the mouth-watering smell. Watching and waiting, when will Ren be old enough? Celebrate the Lunar New Year through a young girl’s family traditions in this charming picture book that includes a recipe for pineapple cakes! 

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.