Storytime Theme: Lunar New Year

Happy New Year! Today I’m celebrating Lunar New Year by offering a beautiful storytime to ring in the new year. What many used to call Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year is actually celebrated by many Asian countries including China, Korea, Vietnam and more. This year we celebrate the Year of the Rat, which is most exciting because I was born in the Year of the Rat. With twelve Zodiac signs, the Year of the Rat comes around every twelve years and people born in these years are often “quick-witted, resourceful, and smart.” (China Highlights) Enjoy these wonderful stories and all the luck for a happy and healthy new year!

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Storytime Theme: Lunar New Year

Welome Song: Bread & Butter
Bread and butter
Marmalade and Jam
Let’s say hello as quiet as we can (whisper: hello)
…loud as we can

…slow as we can
…fast as we can
…high as we can
…low as we can
…nice as we can (big smile!)

Book: Bringing In the New Year by Grace Lin

Transition: Five Red Dragons
Five red dragons, Making such a roar
One danced away, And then there were four
Four red dragons, Dancing ’round a tree
One danced away, And then there were three
Three red dragons, Dancing ’round you
One danced away, And then there were two
Two red dragons, Dancing in the sun
One danced away, And then there was one
One red dragon having lots of fun
She danced away and then there were none.

Book: Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas by Natasha Yim

Transition: Chinese New Year
Sung to: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
See the dragon dance and prance
Dance and prance
Dance and prance
See the dragon dance and prance
On Chinese New Year’s Day

Hear the firecrackers pop pop pop
Pop pop pop
Pop pop pop
Hear the firecrackers pop pop pop
On Chinese New Year’s Day

Book: My First Chinese New Year by Karen Katz

Goodbye Song: Bread & Butter
Bread and butter
Marmalade and Jam
Let’s say goodbye as quiet as we can (whisper: goodbye)
…loud as we can

…slow as we can
…fast as we can
…high as we can
…low as we can
…nice as we can (big smile!)

If you’re looking for additional picture book titles to share during Black History Month, check out this list I made a few years ago! Abby the Librarian also has an extensive lesson plan for Black History month as well that you can check out.