Children / Young Adult Social Justice Book Lists

chapter 1. Welcoming the New Year -- chapter 2. New Year history -- chapter 3. Chinese traditions -- chapter 4. Canada celebrates -- Glossary -- To learn more -- Index -- Quick questions

A Chinese-American boy's family observes a cherished tradition.

Chelsea's family is celebrating Chinese New Year! Chelsea gets to stay up late. She watches fireworks and a parade with a dragon! She and her family have a big feast. Find out the different ways people celebrate this special day!

From its beginnings as a farming celebration marking the end of winter to its current role as a global party featuring good food, lots of gifts and public parades, Chinese New Year is a snapshot of Chinese culture. Award-winning author and broadcaster Jen Sookfong Lee recalls her childhood in Vancouver and weaves family stories into the history, traditions and evolution of Chinese New Year. Lavishly illustrated with color photographs throughout.

As summer ends and fall settles in, a family prepares to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. It's time to pick apples, make cards, light the candles, and eat brisket to ring in the new year!

From award-winning author Linda Elovitz Marshall and illustrator Zara González Hoang comes this engaging picture book about celebrating Rosh HashanahRosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur mark the beginning of the Jewish New Year. They offer a chance to think about the present and the past, to "measure" a year and ourselves. This sweet and thoughtful picture book, perfect for reading aloud, invites young readers and their families to take stock of the happy times and the occasional regrets, as well as the new friends made and new skills gained over the year. Happy New Year! Shana Tova!

A National Jewish Book Award Finalist "Delightful." - Kirkus Reviews A clever story about two rival families and a Rosh Hashanah cake recipe. Saralee Siegel has a super nose; she can smell things like no one's business. Her Zadie says that with a nose like that, she'll rule the world. This fast-paced, magical story about a girl who loves to cook, a rival restaurant, and a secret Rosh Hashanah cake recipe, is told in an illustrated chapter book format.

A delicious ode to food, family, and togetherness that celebrates Lunar New Year A little girl and her family are hosting a New Year party, an event marking the Lunar New Year. There's a lot to do before the guests arrive! First, a trip to the market to fill up the Tray of Togetherness, a special candy box for the partygoers. Each of the eight lucky snacks in the Tray has an auspicious meaning: peanuts for a long life, pistachios for happiness, candied coconut for strong family ties...As the family returns home, they pass out delicious good wishes to the friends and neighbors they meet along the way. After the tray has been prepared and the decorations set up, it's time for the party! A diverse group of relatives and friends gathers, ready to celebrate the New Year with the Tray of Togetherness. This sensory, food-focused story is brought to life with eye-catching illustrations and a little girl's cheerful narration. Debut author/illustrator Flo Leung encourages readers to explore culturally specific Lunar New Year practices, while offering a universal message about carrying on traditions and creating community.