Picture Books for the New Year

It’s time to return our late December library book haul which means another picture book roundup is hitting your inbox. This month’s theme was winter/the New Year. Our library had a surprising selection of books about the Chinese New Year available. Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution was a big hit. My 1st grader was so excited to read this book to me! She said they read it aloud a couple of times in her class. At the beginning of this year, I did not have a lot of confidence in her ability to read but she’s come so far in the past couple of months. I had such a proud mom moment when she picked out the book and felt confident that she could read it as our bedtime story all by herself! Blanket was one of my personal favorites from this stack.

I’m curious if you’ve read any of these. If not, I encourage you to use the library to stock your bookshelves this year. It can be even more satisfying than seeking out the buzzy new releases.

Most of these are backlist titles from the library but I’ve linked to Bookshop.org when available below. Every purchase through Bookshop.org supports independent booksellers and puts a few pennies in my pocket at no extra cost to you.

Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution by Pat Miller

Squirrel visits her forest friends as she learns about New Year's resolutions and helps her friends get started on theirs. She’s on a mission to come up with a resolution for herself.

The Night Before New Year’s by Natasha Wing

After a night filled with card games and too many cupcakes, the little ones are getting sleepy. Can they make it until the clock strikes twelve with the rest of their family?

Maisy’s Chinese New Year by Lucy Cousins

Maisy invites her friends over to celebrate the Chinese New Year with their friend Tiger. Tiger tells the story of the New Year while they celebrate with fireworks and a dragon parade. This picture book includes a visual glossary of common Chinese New Year's objects.

The Last Dragon by Susan Miho Nunes

Peter buys the last dragon in an antique shop in Chinatown and starts to transform the old, ripped-up dragon into an epic masterpiece with the help of his friends.

One Upon a Dragon’s Fire by Beatrice Blue

Once Upon a Dragon’s fire is about inclusion and overcoming prejudices. It’s the second in a series of books that explores magical creatures and how they get their powers.

Where does Thursday go? By Janeen Brian

Thursday is Bruno's birthday, and he wishes it didn't have to end. But Friday is coming, and he knows his special day will be gone in the morning. What will happen to Thursday during the night? Where will it go?

Not Now, Cow by Tammi Sauer

All of the farm animals are ready for Spring except for Cow. Kids will enjoy the fun refrain “Not NOW, Cow” while learning about the changing seasons.

The Mitten by Jim Aylesworth

This book is such a classic! When a little boy loses a mitten in the snow, a passing squirrel finds it's the perfect place to warm his icy toes. So he climbs inside. How many animals can fit inside a little boy's mitten?

Blanket: Journey to Extreme Coziness by Loren Brantz

A book for kids that love to be COZY. Readers will learn how to make their own snuggly, cuddly cocoon and all the things you can do when you feel safe and warm. It encourages kids to live both inside and outside their safety net.

A Dot in the Snow by Corinne Averiss

A little polar bear, Miki, wanders away while his mother is fishing. He sees a dot in the snow and rushes towards it. The dot is actually a little girl! Miki has never seen a human before and the little girl has never seen a polar bear.

City Night by Eve Rice

This is a short, illustrated poem depicting the beauty and diversity of a city at night. I thought this one was perfect for long, winter nights when sometimes we fail to see the benefit of short days.

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From the Library Archives

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Hoping you make the time to read aloud together,

Elsewhere on the Internet: Goodreads / Storygraph / Pinterest

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