New Year's picture books for kids
Most toddlers will not make it to midnight, and that is fine. A New Year story on the last evening of the year gives children their own small celebration, without the late night. This list covers New Year's Eve and countdowns, fresh starts and good wishes, and Lunar New Year and other new years that families celebrate.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Our Amazon links go to Amazon UK (amazon.co.uk). This guide is run by Amor Picture Books (Nova Group), publisher of the Amor books. Our own books are marked Our book. How we choose.
How to use these books
- 1
Count down early
Do your own countdown at bedtime instead of midnight: 10, 9, 8 and a big cheer. Your child gets the moment, and you keep the evening.
- 2
Make one wish each
After the story, ask: "What would you like to do more of next year?" Write the answers down and read them again next December.
- 3
Look back together
Flip through photos of the year and let your child choose a favourite moment. It turns the story into their own.
- 4
Read about other new years
If your family does not celebrate Lunar New Year or Rosh Hashanah, a story is an easy way to learn how friends and neighbours do.
- 5
Keep the bedtime the same
A special night is still a bedtime. The same last book and the same goodnight words help after a busy evening.
New Year's Eve and countdowns
Short stories about the last night of the year, for children who are curious about midnight.
1. Happy New Year, Spot!
Eric Hill
- Age 2 - 5 years
- 14 pages
- Board book
Spot and his friends get ready for a New Year party. A short board book with flaps for the youngest.
Pick this one if your child is around 2 and loves Spot and flaps.
View on Amazon UK2. The Night Before New Year's
Natasha Wing
- Age 3 - 5 years
- 32 pages
- Paperback
A rhyming story about a family trying to stay awake until midnight. Familiar for any child who wants to stay up.
Pick this one if your child wants to stay up until midnight this year.
View on Amazon UK3. P. Bear's New Year's Party
Paul Owen Lewis
- Age 3 - 7 years
- 32 pages
- Paperback
A counting book: guests arrive for a party, hour by hour, until midnight.
Pick this one if your child likes counting and clocks.
View on Amazon UK
Fresh starts and good wishes
Stories about trying something new, helping, and good luck for the year ahead.
4. Squirrel's New Year's Resolution
Pat Miller
- Age 5 - 6 years
- 32 pages
- Hardcover
Squirrel learns what a New Year resolution is and finds out that helping a friend counts too.
Pick this one if you want to talk about a simple wish for the new year.
View on Amazon UK5. Shante Keys and the New Year's Peas
Gail Piernas-Davenport
- 32 pages
- Paperback
A girl searches her neighbourhood for black-eyed peas for New Year good luck and meets her neighbours' traditions on the way.
Pick this one if you want to talk about how other families celebrate.
View on Amazon UK
Lunar New Year and other new years
Not every family starts the year on 1 January. These stories show other new years.
6. Bringing In the New Year
Grace Lin
- Age Baby - 3 years
- 28 pages
- Board book
A family gets ready for Lunar New Year, from cleaning to the dragon dance. Board book edition.
Pick this one if your family celebrates Lunar New Year, or you want a gentle first look at it.
View on Amazon UK7. Dragon Dance
Joan Holub
- Age 2 - 4 years
- 16 pages
A lift-the-flap book about a family celebrating Chinese New Year, ending with the dragon parade.
Pick this one if your child loves flaps and dragons.
View on Amazon UK8. Maisy's Chinese New Year
Lucy Cousins
- Age 5 - 6 years
- 32 pages
- Hardcover
Maisy and her friends share food and a dragon dance. Good for children who already know Maisy.
Pick this one if your child already knows Maisy.
View on Amazon UK9. New Year at the Pier
April Halprin Wayland
- Age 5 - 6 years
- 32 pages
- Hardcover
A Rosh Hashanah story about saying sorry and starting the year again. For older preschoolers.
Pick this one if you want a story about saying sorry and starting again.
View on Amazon UK
Books with a "Publisher" link: age, pages and format come from the publisher's own page. Other ages come from the Amazon UK page for the edition linked. Pages and format refer to the edition linked. If we could not verify a detail, we leave it out. Details checked 1 Nov 2026.
Questions parents ask
Are there picture books about New Year's Eve for toddlers?
Yes. Happy New Year, Spot! is a short board book for the youngest, and The Night Before New Year's is a rhyming story about trying to stay up until midnight.
How do you explain New Year to a toddler?
Keep it simple: the old year is over and a new one starts, and people like to say goodbye to it together. A story and a small countdown at bedtime can help.
Are there books about Lunar New Year for young children?
Yes. Bringing In the New Year, Dragon Dance and Maisy's Chinese New Year are all short picture books about Lunar New Year.
Is there an Amor book on this list?
No. We do not have a New Year book on Amazon, so this list only has books from other publishers.