New Year calls for New Year goals, resolutions, and picture books! Here’s a roundup of my favorite New Year picture books for every classroom and home library!
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1. SQUIRREL’S NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION by Pat Miller and Illustrated by Kathi Ember- Squirrel is learning all about New Year’s Resolutions and is helping her friends in the forest make theirs. However, she is having a hard time coming up with her own.
2. THE NIGHT BEFORE NEW YEAR’S by Natasha Wing- From the popular The Night Before Series, this rhyming book follows two kids as they get ready to ring in the New Year with all the fun and festivities. Follow along to see how they celebrate and prepare for the start of a new year!
3. FELIZ NEW YEAR, AVA GABRIELA! by Alexandra Alessandri and illustrated by Addy Rivera Sonda- Ava Gabriela is excited to celebrate New Year with her extended family in Columbia and eat bunuelos, but the loud celebrations and being in an unfamiliar place causes her to be shy. Read on to find out if she can overcome her shyness and embrace the joyous and vibrant festivities.
4. HAPPY NEW YEAR! by Clara Coleman- Learn how people all around the world celebrate New Year with this delightful book with whimsical illustrations. From different cultures to different places in the world, countdown to the New Year and immerse yourself in all the unique celebrations.
5. THE LUCKY GRAPES: A NEW YEAR’S EVE STORY by Tracey Kyle and illustrated by Marina Astudillo- Rafa is celebrating New Year’s Eve in Spain with his family in the plaza with lively music, fireworks, and grapes. Yes, grapes! As part of the tradition, Rafa must eat a grape each time he hears the twelve-midnight chimes for good luck. Will he be able to do it?
6. TWO NEW YEARS by Richard Ho and illustrated by Lynn Scurfield- When a multicultural family celebrates New Year, they have twice as much fun as they ring in both Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and Lunar New Year with Chinese traditions.
7. SHANTE KEYS AND THE NEW YEAR’S PEAS by Gail Piernas-Davenport and illustrated by Marion Eldridge- Shante visits her grandma, who is cooking up a storm in the kitchen with her favorite New Year’s food but she forgets about black-eyed peas! Afraid that without them, they will have bad luck for the year, Shante takes matters into her own hands and races to the neighbors for help. Will Shante find the black-eyed peas in time to complete their meal? Read on to find out!
8. BRINGING IN THE NEW YEAR by Grace Lin- In this classic story of how a Chinese family brings in the Lunar New Year, little readers are introduced to simple but meaningful Chinese traditions. The text is easy to read and the illustrations are delightful and inviting. This is the perfect story to introduce students to the Lunar New Year and how it is celebrated.
9. TET TOGETHER by Alice Trinh and illustrated by Jade Le- Learn how Vietnamese families celebrate the Lunar New Year also known as Tet in Vietnam! With traditions of food and celebrations, this story is a great introduction to Tet!
If you need fun New Year activities for your little learners, check out the resources below!
