Happy Lunar New Year!
A story about cultural celebration, rewritten for your child
Every page is redrawn around the child you make it for. Keep the story’s own hero and give them your child’s name, or choose someone new — it takes a minute, and nothing is locked in.
From$34.99 USD
Free to start. No payment to see your child in the story.
- 26 pages, hardcover
- 5.9 × 5.9 in
- Ages 3-5
- Premium, thick pages
- Free standard shipping included
- Printed & delivered in 2-3 weeks (US)
Start with the story’s own hero or pick from our cast — then give them your child’s name.
A joyful personalized Lunar New Year story celebrating family traditions, lucky red envelopes, dumplings, and fireworks with little Mei.
That’s the story. The rest is how it becomes your child’s.
How personalization works
Who is this story about?
Keep the story’s own hero
The hero is already written and drawn for this book. Give them your child’s name if you like — that’s the whole edit.
Or swap in one of our cast
Eight characters to start from, and you rename whoever you pick.
- Luna
- Theo
- Mateo
- Sofia
- Amara
- Layla
- Mei
- Ravi
Or make your own
Describe them in a sentence, or add a photo to guide the likeness. Either way, entirely optional.
The characters are just the start.
Every part of this book is yours to change. Not a name dropped into a template — the whole thing is redrawn around the child you’re making it for.
- Every illustrationAll 26 pages are drawn fresh, not stamped with a face.
- The rooms and placesYour child's actual bedroom, your street, the places the story visits.
- The objects that recurThe specific blanket, the toy they won’t sleep without — carried page to page.
- Everyone else in itSiblings, grandparents, the dog. Named and drawn as themselves.
- The story itselfChange what happens, and the words on the page change with it.
- Or change nothingPick a hero and read it tonight. The rest is there when you want it.
What's Inside This Book
1 of 14 spreads
Every character, scene, and object in this book can be replaced with your own — your child's name, your family photos, your home, your school.
What you get
Free to start. No payment to see your child in the story.
Start free
- Free to start — no card needed
- See your child in the story in minutes
- Rename the hero and edit the story text
- Choose a ready-made character, or add a photo later
- Export a PDF of what you make
Your perfect keepsake
Hardcover book
- Full-color hardcover, 15×15cm
- Free standard shipping included
- Printed & delivered in about 2-3 weeks (US)
- Personalize names, story text & style
- Add your own photos once you are in the editor
Quick summary of Happy Lunar New Year!
Happy Lunar New Year is a personalized children's story starring little Mei as she celebrates Lunar New Year with her family. The book explores cherished traditions including red envelopes, dumpling making, and fireworks, blending cultural learning with warmth and joy.
This personalized children's book places your child inside a joyful Lunar New Year celebration for ages 3–5. Starring Mei, Mama, Baba, and Nai Nai, the 26-page story weaves together sweeping, dumpling-making, fireworks, and lantern festivals into a warm multigenerational adventure.
Key Takeaways
- Introduces authentic Lunar New Year traditions through sensory, story-driven family moments
- Sparks cultural pride and belonging by centering a loving three-generation Chinese family
- Teaches gratitude naturally through Mei's heartfelt red envelope thank-you to Baba
- Builds early cultural literacy with age-appropriate Mandarin phrases like Gong Xi Fa Cai
- Reinforces family bonds through shared rituals that children can recognize in their own lives
Why This Book Works
Personalized books increase reading engagement by up to 1.5x, according to a 2019 study by Dr. Sandra Martin-Chang at Concordia University. When Mei folds dumplings and your child sees their own name woven into the celebration, the story stops being fiction — it becomes memory in the making. That emotional ownership drives repeated reading, which is the single greatest predictor of early literacy success.
Cultural storytelling in early childhood shapes identity before age five, a window developmental psychologist Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum identifies as foundational. This book doesn't just describe Lunar New Year — it embeds children inside the sights, sounds, and smells of it: dough squishing under small thumbs, fireworks cracking at midnight, lanterns glowing like stars. Sensory narrative is the method educators and speech therapists use to anchor abstract concepts like heritage and belonging.
Multigenerational representation matters — children who see grandparents as active story characters develop stronger intergenerational empathy, per a 2020 University of Toronto analysis of children's media. Nai Nai isn't background decoration; she teaches, invites, and leads. Baba gives with joy. Mama cleans with purpose. Each character models a different expression of love within one cohesive family unit, giving children a full emotional vocabulary for what family can look like.
Common Misconceptions
Lunar New Year books are only for Chinese or Asian families
Child development experts encourage all families to read culturally diverse books. Exposure to celebrations like Lunar New Year builds global empathy and curiosity in children of every background, per the American Library Association's diversity guidelines.
Young children won't understand foreign words like Gong Xi Fa Cai
Research from Dr. Ellen Bialystok at York University shows children ages 3–5 absorb new vocabulary fastest through meaningful repetition in context — exactly how this book delivers Mandarin phrases naturally within joyful story moments.
A 26-page book is too long for a 3-year-old's attention span
Story engagement research from the National Literacy Trust shows personalized narratives hold toddler attention significantly longer than generic books. When children recognize themselves in the story, they stay curious through the final page.
How to Read This Book with Your Child
Best time to read: Read in the days leading up to Lunar New Year to build excitement, or any time your family wants to explore cultural traditions together.
Ask your child: 'Have you ever helped cook something special with your family?' Show the cover and point to the red decorations — ask what color they notice most. If you have any Lunar New Year decorations, bring one out to hold while you read. This activates prior knowledge and curiosity.
Conversation Starters
- “What was your favorite part of Mei's Lunar New Year celebration and why?”
- “If you got a red envelope, what would you do with your lucky money?”
- “What special tradition would you want to add to your own New Year celebration?”
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is this book appropriate for?
Happy Lunar New Year is designed for preschoolers ages 3-5 and early readers ages 6-8. The personalized story, vibrant illustrations, and relatable family traditions make it engaging for this age group and perfect for reading together as a family.
Will this book help my child understand Lunar New Year?
Yes! The story gently introduces key Lunar New Year traditions through Mei's celebrations, including red envelopes, dumpling making, and fireworks. It shows these customs in a warm, family context that young children can understand and relate to.
Is this book only for Chinese families?
While it celebrates Chinese Lunar New Year traditions, this book is wonderful for any family wanting to learn about and celebrate diverse cultural practices. It's a beautiful way for all children to appreciate different traditions and broaden their cultural awareness.
What makes this book personalized?
The main character is named Mei, and the story features her experiencing Lunar New Year celebrations with her family, creating a personal connection that helps children see themselves in the narrative and feel celebrated.
Can grandparents gift this book?
Absolutely! This is a meaningful gift from grandparents who want to share cultural heritage with grandchildren. It's also perfect for multi-generational family readings and helps strengthen family bonds around traditions.
When is the best time to give this book?
Perfect for Lunar New Year season, it also makes a wonderful gift during other occasions to families celebrating or learning about the tradition. Consider giving it before Lunar New Year to build excitement or during the celebration itself.
A story about cultural celebration, rewritten for your child
Free to start. No payment to see your child in the story.
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