In January/February every year is one of the biggest celebrations in the world: Lunar New Year! For 15 days billions (literally) of people will be celebrating. 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 and 2024 are all years of the dragon. Chinese dragons are the most revered animals in Chinese culture. Here are two of our favorite books about Chinese dragons!
For an introduction to Chinese dragons, there is no greater book than Jin Jin the Dragon. Beijing-native Grace Chang has crafted a magical story about a dragon who is searching for his identity. With help from many wise animals he meets on his quest, he gets a name, and learns what he can accomplish with his inner strength and courage.
The next book I’d like to recommend was one of our first purchases after we came back from China: Moonbeams, Dumplings and Dragon Boats: a Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities and Recipes, by Nina Simonds, Leslie Swartz and the Children’s Museum, Boston. This treasure is a reference guide, holiday cookbook, craft book, customs guide, and folktale library is a phenomenal addition to anyone who would like to explore Chinese holidays. Not only does it cover Chinese New Year, but equally expounds on the Lantern Festival, Qing Ming, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. If you are interested in Chinese culture and celebrations, you will love this book.
If you’d like to learn more about powerful, mystical, Chinese dragons read this article. If you’d like to learn about Chinese New Year, here is an excellent lesson plan that explains everything from symbols, the popular food, and the difference between the Lion Dance and the Dragon Dance. Make your own dragon here!
Chinese New Year Math and Literacy! Check out all of our Lunar New Year Resources.
Available at the Kid World Citizen Teachers Pay Teachers Store, these units are an incredible collection of Common Core aligned reading, writing, math, and critical thinking activities, as well as craftivities and coloring sheets. Kids have fun doing word problems, scrambles, graphing, a maze- and they learn about Chinese culture. Go now! >
The first book looks very interesting. We just had a reading in our library today by Oliver Chin who has “A Year Of…” series. He read his new book “A Year of Dragon”. I like how it gives a little bit of a glimpse into Chinese culture but keeps things light enough for the youngest readers.
Those books that teach about culture, without directly teaching about culture, are perfect for my kids too! They want to hear the story, but they do pick up on the little cultural nuances as well. I love finding books like this!