I can’t believe it’s the new year already! In our class, we love to look at picture books for different themes/events and topics throughout the year. The new year can be a hard concept for many of my students to grasp. It’s for this reason, that I find picture books so helpful. They give my students that extra visual understanding. Plus, they are in LOVE with our story times, so it just makes sense to use books.
In this blog post, I’ve put together 15 of my favourite New Year books that I’m sure you and your students will love reading! Each book contains a link to Amazon with an affiliate link if you decide to purchase. What are your favourite books to read when you go back to school in the new year? Are they listed below – or do you have a different one?
The Night Before New Years
This book is adorable. Read all about how the family are determined to stay up until midnight. But, do they make it – or do they fall asleep?
Dragon Dance: A Chinese New Year
This book is a Chinese New Year book. In our class we celebrate holidays and events from all around the World, and this book is a firm favourite. My students love lifting the flaps through the book, and it’s a great way for them to learn about Chinese New Year.
Happy New Year Spot
So, who doesn’t love Spot? This story is all about how Spot isn’t old enough to stay up until midnight to see the new year in but he celebrates in other ways!
A New Years Reunion
Another great book for the Chinese New Year. It’s all about Maomao’s father working away and coming home for Chinese New Year. It’s definitely one of the sweetest stories we’ve read.
Squirrel’s New Year Resolution
This is our absolute favourite book to read for the new year. It’s a great way to help readers understand more about resolutions and to make their own, if they wish.
Happy New Year: A Picture Book for Kids
This is a lovely book to discuss what New Year means. It’s a lovely way for your students to look forward to different things and how special a new year can be.
Happy New Year Strawberry Shortcake
I love the strawberry shortcake books – and my kids do too. There’s just something bright and fun about them.
Shanté Keys and the New Year’s Peas
This is a lovely read to follow Shante to find black-eyed peas. Her mother has told them that they need them for good luck in the new year! As Shante goes on a hunt to find some, she visits her neighbours and finds out how they celebrate the New Year.
Twas the night before New Years Day
Another firm favourite for my students. It’s all about a little mouse who really wants to spend the New Year with his own family.
Who Stole New Year’s Eve?
When I first read the title of this book to my class, can you guess what they said? One of my students shouted ‘The Grinch!” Bless him. And with Christmas just behind us and reading the beloved Grinch book I can see why he thought it might have been him! But, this story is actually about ice sculptures being stolen from the Winter carnival. This book worked well for my older, higher functioning students.
A Happy New Years Day
This is another great book for my older, higher functioning students. It’s a great way to look back in time at celebrations.
New Years Day for Cats
This is another hit with my students. Visit Meow Square to celebrate the New Year and why it is something to cherish. My students especially love the rhyming element of this book.
Happy New Year Mallory
Another nice one for my older, higher functioning students. It was a great way for my students to understand that it doesn’t really matter where you celebrate the New Year – it’s more who with!
Happy New Year Everywhere
My younger students did enjoy this story, but it was more suited for my older students. They loved learning about the different ways that countries celebrate the New Year. After reading it, we watched some videos on youtube of different countries ringing in the New Year – this was a big hit!
A Very Happy New Year
My students loved this story about Rider’s first New Year’s Eve party!
What books will you be reading to your students after Winter break? Do you have any good New Year ones that they love? We’d love to hear about them! Just leave a comment below. If you like this post, consider sharing it to social media for your friends to see too!
