Chinese New Year

Photo by Layla Mazdyasni

Some of our Carmel Valley Families will be celebrating Chinese New Year and so I put together a top 10 booklist for those in the community that might be interested in learning more about it and sharing with their children.  Chinese New Year is observed for two consecutive weeks, and is popularly known as Spring Festival. It usually starts from late January and early February. The variation in the date of festival is due to the changes in the track of the new moon. The Spring Festival ends on the 15th day when the Lantern festival is celebrated.

Chinese New Year 2012

In 2012, Chinese New Year’s Day will be celebrated on January 23. The New Year festival will start from January 22 (Chinese New Year’ Eve) and end on February 6 (Lantern Festival). 2012 marks the 4710th Chinese New Year, and this time it is the year of dragon according to the Chinese zodiac calendar.

The dragon is the 5th sign of the Chinese zodiac and it is regarded as an auspicious symbol which stands for power, good luck, success, and happiness.

Top 10 books for “Chinese New Year”

1. Chinese New Year
• by David F. Marx
• Interest Level: K-2
2. Happy Chinese New Year! 
• by Jane Manners
• Interest Level: K-2
3. Celebrating Chinese New Year 
• by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith
• Interest Level: Grades 3-5
4. Happy, Happy New Year! 
• by Hitz Demi
• Interest Level: Pre-K
5. My First Chinese New Year 
• by Karen Katz
• Interest Level: K-3
6. Happy New Year!/Kung-Hsi Fa-Ts’ai! 
• by Hitz Demi
• Interest Level: K-3
7. The Year of the Dog 
• by Grace Lin
• Interest Level: Grades 3-5
8. Dragon Dance: A Chinese New Year Lift-the-Flap 
• by Joan Holub, illustrated by Benrei Huang
• Interest Level: K-1
9. Gung Hay Fat Choy: Happy New Year 
• by June Behrens
• Interest Level: Grades 3-5
10. Dragon Parade: A Chinese New Year Story 
• by Steven A. Chin, illustrated by Mou-sien Tseng
• Interest Level: Grades 3-5

Kristin Rude

Kristin Rude is the Owner and Center Director of FasTracKids, Del Mar & Carmel Valley. She previously taught in the Del Mar Union School District. Kristin obtained her teaching credential from the University of San Diego and has her Masters degree in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis on second language learners. When Kristin is not working, motherhood keeps her plenty busy with her 2 children, Connor, age 3 & Katherine, age 2. She looks forward to having her own children benefit from the FasTracKids program. Spending time with her family, golfing, traveling, and continuously learning are among her favorite activities.