Lunar New Year 2025 falls on January 29th and honours the Year of the Snake, and we’ve got the perfect book to pay tribute to this special day. Lunar New Year is celebrated across Asia, and Chloe’s Lunar New Year, written by Lily LaMotte and illustrated by Michelle Lee, takes readers on a journey through a Taiwanese celebration, beautifully exploring themes of love, family, and cherishing holiday traditions. A wonderful book to cozy up with when teaching your children about different cultures, it even includes a little recipe inspiration!
The story unfolds as Chloe’s family prepares for a traditional Lunar New Year reunion dinner. Food takes centre stage, with Chloe eagerly helping out: she piles good luck oranges into a bowl, sets the table with forks and spoons, and assists in preparing her family’s favourite dishes—crispy turnip cakes, hot pot, and steamed ginger fish. In a sweet moment, Chloe shares a good luck orange with her little brother, Noah—half for him and half for her.
With its deeply moving ending, this story highlights the enduring bonds we share with loved ones, making it a truly memorable read. Don’t forget to keep flipping until the very last page for an easy-to-follow fortune cake recipe—it tastes just like sticky toffee pudding!
Fun Facts on the Year of the Snake:
- The Year of the Snake is known for its symbolism of wisdom, intuition, and charm.
- People born in the Year of the Snake are believed to be wise & curious.
- There are five elements within the Chinese Zodiac, wood, fire, earth, metal and water. 2025 is the Year of the Wood Snake, representing creativity & imagination.
Want to know how we serve lunch the Lunar way at RFRK? Click here to read about our scrumptious Gong Bao Chicken! We happily developed this recipe after a partner centre asked us to add more Chinese-inspired meals to the mix. It’s made with Ontario-raised chicken without antibiotics, and is naturally sweet, (thanks to red bell peppers!) savoury & slightly sour, while also featuring the distinctive aromatics of ginger & garlic. Yum!