Books that Celebrate Chinese Culture in 2025

Shu Lin's Grandpa by Matt Goodfellow and beautifully illustrated by Yu Rong is a picture book that explores the special bond between a young girl, Shu Lin, and her artistic grandfather. 

The story is told from the perspective of Dylan, a young boy who one day notices a new girl in his class – Shu Lin. Shu Lin doesn’t speak much English and at playtime and lunchtime, he notices she is alone and seems withdrawn. His friend Barney is even a little suspicious of her. 

Then, one day, Shu Lin’s Grandpa visits the class to show children his traditional Chinese paintings and Dylan’s mind is suddenly opened to a different culture. Through her Grandpa’s art, Shu Lin is able to share with the class an important aspect of her identity and culture to the enrichment of the class as a whole. 

I Love Chinese New Year by Eva Wong Nava and Xin Li is a colourful and joyful celebration of Chinese New Year, seen through the eyes of a child – Mai-Anne. This text is a great way for children to understand the traditions and customs of the Lunar New Year and how it is celebrated around the world. 

Mai-Anne is excited that Chinese New Year is just around the corner. She helps her baba and mama to clean their house, put up red lanterns, place bamboo and cherry blossom sticks around and place special Chinese characters on the wall. When her nai nai arrives (the ‘guest of honour’), the family eat a reunion dinner and Mai-Anne is introduced to the ancient story of how Chinese New Year first began. 

A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin won the Caldecott Honor for illustration in 2018.  This is a charming and imaginative picture book that tells the story of Little Star, who is curious and playful as she explores the night sky. The book is inspired by Chinese mooncake traditions, particularly tied to the Mid-Autumn Festival. Little Star’s mother bakes a large mooncake and asks her not to take a bite until the full moon rises. However, Little Star, unable to resist, nibbles a piece every night, creating a beautiful visual of the moon shrinking little by little.

The mooncake itself, a beloved Chinese delicacy, serves as a symbol of togetherness, family, and the harvest. 

Dragon Mountain by Katie and Kevin Tsang is an adventurous fantasy novel that follows four children—Billy, Dylan, Ling-Fei and Charlotte —who all meet at a summer camp in China. Soon after their arrival, they discover that warrior dragons have been trapped in the mountain and they have been tasked with releasing them. The children soon find themselves on a quest to unlock ancient secrets, uncover hidden dangers, and forge a bond with the magical creatures.

The novel weaves together themes of friendship, bravery, and cultural heritage, blending elements of Chinese mythology with an action-packed storyline. This is the first book in an exciting series. 

Kai and the Monkey King by Joe Todd Stanton is a delightful, award-winning adventure story that blends Chinese folklore with themes of courage and self-discovery. This book is part of a brilliant series focused on the adventures of the Brownstone family and the mysterious objects in their vault – each a springboard to explore different ancient mythologies. 

The story follows Kai, a young girl who is hungry for adventure and is increasingly bored with the day-to-day life her and her mother Wen lead. When they receive a distressed letter from a village requesting their help, they rush straight to the library to research all they can. It is here that Kai finds a scroll telling her all about the impressive life of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King. She decides that she will find the Money King herself and ask him for help. 

We adore this series of books and this one is no exception. A brilliant and engaging way to learn about a Chinese myth. 

Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho is a poetic, beautifully written and illustrated picture book about a young girl who embraces her Chinese heritage. 

The narrator, who has “eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea,” reflects on the differences between herself and her classmates, whose eyes are “round and blue.” As she describes her family, she draws strength from the women in her life – her mama and amah. She sees the connection and heritage passed down to her and her mei-mei from older generations. 

This is a moving book about building positive narratives around body image and feeling proud of one’s family heritage. 

Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang is a delightful picture book that follows Amy Wu, a young girl who is determined to make the perfect bao just like her family. Amy's parents and grandmother are skilled at making bao, but she struggles with getting her bao dough to the right shape and size. Despite her early failures, Amy learns that perfection isn’t always the goal, and sometimes it’s the effort and joy in the process that matters most.

The story introduces readers to Chinese culinary traditions, particularly the significance of food as a means of connection within the family. A story that encourages us to embrace imperfection, celebrating the value of practice and personal growth.