Celebratory Books about New Year's for Kids!

When you want to celebrate ringing in the New Year with children, there's no better way than reading a good picture book about New Year's Eve and New Year's Day and its diverse traditions around the world.

The New Year books on this book list will inspire kids to look forward to a fresh start, perhaps make a resolution or two, and perhaps even start a New Year's tradition of their own.

So whether you stay up all night, counting down the hours until January first, or if you all head off to bed early for a good night's sleep make it your New Year Resolution to read all of these books and continue in the same way throughout the year.  (Note: Book covers and titles are affiliate links that may earn commission.)

Books about New Year's Day Celebrations

Snow Horses: A First Night Story by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Micha Archer

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This is a wonderfully peaceful book that celebrates the spirit of community at year's end. It's perfect to read when you want the kids to wind down from all the New Year festivities. On a snowy New Year, a young girl takes out two black horses and a sled into the night. Along the way they collect revelers and neighbors for a celebratory sleigh ride.

Freedom Soup by Tami Charles, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara

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Don't miss this marvelous picture book about a joyous New Year's tradition! Ti Gran teaches Belle about the Haitian tradition of making Freedom Soup for New Year. Ti Gran shares the cultural history of the revolution as well as the recipe. By the end of the book your kids will be dancing, singing and clapping along with Ti Gran and Belle.

Felíz New Year, Ava Gabriela! by Alexandra Alessandri, illustrated by Addy Rivera Sonda

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Ava is celebrating New Year's with her family in Colombia, but she is feeling shy. Her mother reassures her that her feelings are normal and slowly, Ava starts to gain self-confidence. I love how the story gives us a taste of Colombian New Year's traditions. Includes a glossary of Spanish words and phrases used in the text.

Every Month Is a New Year: Celebrations Around the World by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Susan L. Roth

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This is a fantastic poetry collection which introduces readers to global new year holidays. Most western children know about January 1, the Lunar New Year and Rosh Hashanah, but  there are 9 more! Singer shares a poem for each month to celebrate a different new year tradition.

MORE: New Year's poems for kids and families

Shanté Keys and the New Year's Peas by Gail Piernas-Davenpor, illustrated by Marion Eldridge

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Eating black-eyed peas at New Year's is a southern tradition signifying good luck for the coming year. When Shanté goes out to her neighbors, looking for the requisite peas, she learns all about how other cultures celebrate New Year's.

The Stars Will Still Shine by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke

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This is not really a New Year-specific book, but is still one of my top of my list of books to read when everyone is talking about new beginnings. I love this gentle reassuring book about how cycles of events continue to come and go. It's optimistic, reaffirming the goodness of life and the kindness of individuals no matter what comes. Read it all year long.

MORE: Picture books about new beginnings

Happy New Year, Spot! by Eric Hill

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So, you need a New Year book for toddlers and preschoolers to explain why they can't stay up until midnight? Good old Spot is your answer! This lovable, dependable children's book character can't stay up either, but he still finds a way to join in the celebration. Expect to read it twelve dozen times in a row. But if it gets the kids to bed, you'll read it twice as many times, right?

P. Bear's New Year's Party: A Counting Book by Owen Paul Lewis

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I really like Owen Paul Lewis' simple illustrative and this is a great New Year's Eve book for toddlers and preschoolers. There are some nice components: a clock for teaching time, interesting vocabulary for groups of animals ("flock", "herd", etc), as well as counting.

Squirrel's New Year's Resolution by Pat Miller, illustrated by Kathi Ember

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This is a fun choice to read if you are discussing resolutions with your children. Squirrel walks through the forest wondering what resolutions she should make for the new year, finally realizing that all her kind and helpful actions are what's really important. After reading, be sure to craft your own family kindness resolutions.

Happy New Year Everywhere! by Arlene Erlbach, illustrated by Sharon Lane Holm

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Are you the kind of person who has the energy for New Year's themed crafts and activities organized by country? If you are, then this is the book for you.

The Night Before New Year's by Natasha Wing, illustrated by Amy Wummer

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Wing has a series of "night before [insert holiday here]" books. This one looks at… you guessed it. New Year's. It's a fun choice for kids addicted to counting down the hours.