Janet Wong has a great post at Multicultural Children’s Book Day blog on Lunar Year Traditions that span many Asian countries, not just Chinese New Year! But if you are thinking of doing it up for Chinese New Year but need some ideas, I’ve rounded up my posts.
If you need a picture book or two specifically on Chinese New Year …
Top 10: Best Chinese New Year Books for Kids (created during Year of the Dragon, my year)
If you want to hand out Red Chinese Envelopes (craft included to make your own) and wondered what the meaning is …
Red Envelope Crafts for 2nd Grade China Unit (created during Year of the Snake)
If you need Chinese New Year Crafts for kids and teens ….
Chinese New Year Crafts (created during Year of the Horse)
My daughter’s Middle School Chinese teacher is throwing a great Chinese New Year’s party for all her students — 60 of them plus siblings! She is planning crafts, games, cooking demonstrations and a pot luck. Here’s what they planned:
If you want books to learn more about China …
12 Books to Explore China (created during Year of the Sheep)
If you want Chinese New Year Craft Books …
Chinese New Year Crafts and a Book (created during Year of the Horse)
If you want to learn about the Cultural Revolution (a kid friendly version) …
China for Kids with Children’s Books, Culture and Design (my father’s own Joy Luck Club story)
If you want books featuring Chinese American characters …
Top 10: Chinese American Children’s Books (ages 2-14)
If you or your kids are learning Chinese…
How To: Pronounce Mandarin Chinese Pinyin (cheat sheet)
Learn Chinese Words and Culture Through Books for Kids
Teach Kids Mandarin Chinese (and make it fun!)
Chinese Words Are Easy to Learn. Really!
Learning Mandarin Chinese Words, 40 Most Common Characters
Teach Kids Mandarin Chinese in a Fun Way
Introducing Foreign Languages to Your Kids (Spanish and Chinese)
Preschoolers: Learn Chinese Through Nursery Rhyme Book & CD
Learn Chinese Words with Bingo Game
My books:
BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 is a book that I created to highlight books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as the characters in their books.
Wow! This is such a wonderful selections of Chinese books with suggested activities! Love your suggestions for helping kids learn Chinese.
Thanks so much Pat! I have two kids trying to learn Chinese so I’m always looking for ways to expose them.
I was born in the year of the monkey, so we should really do some fun things to celebrate this year!
Hi MaryAnne,
My son was born in the year of the Monkey too!!! I hope it is a great year for you!!
LOVE this post! My daughter will soon be reading IN THE YEAR OF THE BOAR and JACKIE ROBINSON (which is one of m all-time favorite MG novels) and we will be popping over here to explore extension activities. Thank you!
Hi Laura,
I do love In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson too!! I hope she likes it too! (and the extension activities!).
We have a lot of these books! I imagine we’ll add even more of them as the years go by.
Hi Shecki,
You must have a great collection! I need a few more myself!
Chinese new year or the year of the monkey isn’t something that is totally new to my ears but I haven’t really given much attention to learning it or knowing what it involves, or how different it is. Thanks a lot for sharing the collection of books too, I guess some of this will be perfect for our 8 year old.
Cindy
Hi Cindy,
I’m so glad your 8 year old might enjoy some of these Chinese New Year books! Happy Chinese New Year (belated!)!