Mid-Autumn Festival, Mooncake Festival, Moon Festival – whatever you call it, we're reading some fun story books with the kiddos for the celebrations
With the Mid-Autumn Festival just around the corner, we’re looking for ways to immerse in the celebrations and what better to do so than with Mid-Autumn festival books. More than mooncakes, pomelos and lanterns, we’re also digging through the best local libraries and our fave bookstores for some cool Mid-Autumn Festival books! Books are a great way to get kids interested in cultural events and traditions. Singaporean author, Gwen Lee, shares how culturally relevant stories help children see themselves in the pages, deepening the connections to their backgrounds and the stories.
Guess what we found? Tales about rabbits, mooncakes, plus rather cool folklore for kids of all ages: perfect to inspire some fun chats about all things Mid-Autumn and mooncakes…
(Psst, after you’re done reading these books, check out Netflix’s Mid-Autumn Festival movie, Over The Moon for more!)
Mid-Autumn Festival books for kids at a glance
Best Mid-Autumn Festival books for toddlers and preschoolers
- A Big Mooncake for Little Star
- Round Is a Mooncake
- Moon Festival Wishes
- Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me
- Duck! Rabbit!
- Mooncake (Moonbear)
Best for learning about Mid-Autumn Festival traditions
Best for stories about Chang’e and the Moon Rabbit
- The Moon Lady
- The Moon Rabbit
- The Wee Adventures of Shabu Shabu – The Jade Legend
- The Shadow in the Moon
Best for children curious about the moon
Best Mid-Autumn Festival books for older children and teens
20 Mid-Autumn Festival books for kids
1. Our Moon Festival by Yobe Qiu
Mid-Autumn Festival isn’t only celebrated in China. Communities across East and Southeast Asia mark the season with their own customs and stories. Yobe Qiu’s children’s book follows three families – Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese – as they celebrate with different foods, traditions and activities. It’s a lovely way for children to spot the similarities and differences between the celebrations.
Suitable for ages four to eight.
2. The Moon Lady by Amy Tan
Who might be hiding on the moon? In Amy Tan’s The Moon Lady, Grandmother Ying-Ying remembers a Moon Festival from her childhood. Dressed in silk and expected to behave, young Ying-Ying gets into trouble, becomes separated from her family and searches for the Moon Lady, hoping she will grant a secret wish. Filled with vivid illustrations and plenty of imagination, this tale shows children that even their grandparents got up to mischief once upon a time.
Suitable for ages six to nine.
3. A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin
We can’t talk about the Mooncake Festival without mentioning mooncakes! Little Star loves the enormous mooncake she baked with her mama, but she has been told not to touch it yet. Naturally, temptation proves too much. With each secret nibble, the mooncake changes shape, creating a whimsical explanation of the moon’s phases. This gorgeous picture book is an absolute delight for children who love the moon, cake and, of course, mooncakes.
Suitable for ages two to five.
4. The Moon Rabbit: A Celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival by Eva Wong Nava
As Meifung and her family gather beneath the moon with their paper lanterns, she spots the shape of a rabbit in the sky. Her mother then tells her a story of nine scorching suns, a brave archer, a queen and an elixir of eternal life. Eva Wong Nava’s beautifully illustrated hardcover book retells the legend of Chang’e and the Moon Rabbit for a new generation of young readers.
Suitable for ages four to six.
5. Moon Messenger: A Family Reunion During the Mid-Autumn Festival by Jie Wei
Mid-Autumn Festival is traditionally a time for families to reunite, but Maomao’s father is away and cannot join the celebration. Missing him, Maomao writes a postcard and asks the moon to deliver it. We love that the story is presented in both English and Chinese, making it a useful choice for bilingual families and children learning Mandarin.
Suitable for ages four to eight.
6. Mooncakes by Loretta Seto
Under the glow of the full moon, a young girl celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival with her parents. As the family eats mooncakes and drinks tea together, her parents share the history of the festival and three traditional tales: the Moon Goddess, the Jade Rabbit and Wu Gang, the woodcutter. The warm family scenes and lyrical storytelling make this a lovely introduction to Mid-Autumn Festival traditions.
Suitable for ages three to five.
7. Round Is a Mooncake: A Book of Shapes by Roseanne Thong
What shapes can your child spot in the world around them? In this cute rhyming book, a little girl searches her neighbourhood for round, square and rectangular objects. Along the way, young readers will encounter mooncakes, name stamps, rice bowls and other culturally significant objects. A short glossary at the end explains more about the items featured in the story.
It isn’t strictly a book about the Mid-Autumn Festival, but its mooncake theme makes it an easy festive read for toddlers and preschoolers who are learning about shapes.
Suitable for ages two to four.
8. Lin Yi’s Lantern: A Moon Festival Tale by Brenda Williams
Sometimes we have to choose between something we want and something we need. When Lin Yi heads to the bustling market to buy food for his family, he spots a beautiful red rabbit lantern that he desperately wants for the Moon Festival. However, he only has enough money for the items on his mother’s shopping list. What will he decide to do?
This touching story explores temptation, patience and putting others first. It also includes notes about life in rural China and instructions for making a paper lantern at home.
Suitable for ages four to eight.
9. Celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival: History, Traditions, and Activities by Y.Y. Chen and Eugenia Chu
Looking for more than a festive story? This informative children’s book introduces the origins and traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival through colourful illustrations and accessible explanations. Young readers can learn about mooncakes, lanterns, family reunions and traditional legends before trying some of the activities included in the book.
It’s a handy pick for parents and educators who want to explain why Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated rather than focusing on just one legend.
Suitable for ages four to eight.
10. Moon Festival Wishes: Moon Cake and Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration by Jillian Lin
Join Mei and her family as they prepare to celebrate the Chinese Moon Festival. Through simple storytelling and colourful illustrations, younger children are introduced to mooncakes, lanterns and the traditions surrounding this special celebration. The book also includes festival facts and questions at the end, which parents can use to continue the conversation after reading.
Suitable for ages two to six.
11. An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X.R. Pan
At the heart of Mid-Autumn Festival mythology is the bittersweet love story of Chang’e and Hou Yi. Emily X.R. Pan reimagines the legend in this young adult fantasy about Hunter Yee and Luna Chang, two teenagers whose families have a long-standing feud.
As Hunter and Luna grow closer, strange things begin happening around them: fireflies appear, cracks spread through the town and an assassin arrives with a supernatural bow. Blending Chinese mythology, magical realism, family secrets and young love, this one is best saved for older readers. Keep the tissues handy!
Suitable for ages 12 and above.
12. Let’s Celebrate!: Special Days Around the World by Kate DePalma
Mid-Autumn Festival is one of 13 special celebrations featured in this colourful nonfiction picture book. Through lyrical text and vibrant illustrations, children can learn how families and communities mark occasions including Spring Festival, Eid al-Fitr, Día de Muertos and New Yam Festival.
While this isn’t solely a Mid-Autumn Festival book, it can help children see how people around the world celebrate with food, music, decorations and time spent together.
Suitable for ages six to ten.
13. Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle
Here at HoneyKids, we love reading Eric Carle’s books to our kiddos, so naturally, this one had to make the list. Monica wants to play with the moon, but she can’t reach it. She asks her father to bring it down for her, prompting him to fetch an extremely long ladder and climb an extremely tall mountain.
The book’s fold-out pages and colourful illustrations make the moon feel wonderfully enormous. Children will also see it change from full to small and back again, gently introducing them to the moon’s phases.
Suitable for ages two to five.
14. The Wee Adventures of Shabu Shabu – The Jade Legend by Kristina Thornton and Michael Csokas
Shabu Shabu has grown up listening to her grandfather’s stories about his adventures and the legendary Jade Rabbit on the moon. By the time she builds a telescope powerful enough to search for it, her grandfather’s eyesight has faded. But when Shabu looks through the telescope, she spots something – or perhaps someone.
Young readers can follow Shabu and her squirrel friend, Chow, on a whimsical steampunk adventure inspired by the legend of the Jade Rabbit.
Suitable for ages five to eight.
15. Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld
Is it a duck or a rabbit? It all depends on how you look at it. Two unseen narrators argue over the identity of the same clever optical illusion, giving children a funny introduction to perspective and the idea that two people can see the same thing differently.
This isn’t technically a Mid-Autumn Festival book. However, with the Moon Rabbit appearing in one of the festival’s best-known legends, it makes a playful addition to your festive reading pile – especially for kiddos who love silly arguments. So, all of them, then!
Suitable for ages two to four.
16. Man on the Moon (A Day in the Life of Bob) by Simon Bartram
Who is the man on the moon? Apparently, his name is Bob. Each morning, Bob flies to the moon, where he cleans and tidies the surface, entertains space tourists and gives guided tours. He is also certain there are no aliens on the moon – but eagle-eyed young readers may spot a few hiding among the craters.
Although this isn’t a traditional Mid-Autumn Festival story, its humorous take on life in space makes it a fun addition for children fascinated by the moon.
Suitable for ages five to eight.
17. The Shadow in the Moon by Christina Matula
Two sisters are celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival with their family when their Ah-Ma tells them the legend of the Moon Goddess. Through her story, they learn about the skilled archer Hou Yi, his wife Chang’e and the potion of immortality that separates the couple.
The book weaves a traditional folktale into a warm, contemporary family celebration complete with lanterns and mooncakes. It’s an enchanting choice for children who want to know why people look for Chang’e’s shadow on the moon.
Suitable for ages five to eight.
18. The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons
Is your child curious about the moon? This illustrated nonfiction book answers plenty of questions about Earth’s only natural satellite. Children can learn why the moon appears to change shape, how it affects the ocean’s tides and what happens during an eclipse.
The book also covers moon legends and the history of lunar exploration. It’s a handy companion to the folktales on this list, helping children distinguish imaginative stories about the moon from scientific facts.
Suitable for ages four to eight.
19. All Four Quarters of the Moon by Shirley Marr
The last time Peijing Guo’s life felt normal was when she made mooncakes with Ah-Ma during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the yolk inside glowing like a full moon. Now her family has moved from Singapore to Australia, and Peijing is trying to hold everyone together while adjusting to an unfamiliar country.
Her five-year-old sister, Biju, relies on her; Ah-Ma is becoming forgetful; Ma Ma has changed; and Ba Ba must adapt to a new role. With her world shifting, Peijing wonders: if her family is the mooncake, where does she fit?
This thoughtful middle-grade novel explores migration, identity, family expectations and belonging, making it a meaningful read for older children.
Suitable for ages eight to 12.
20. Mooncake (Moonbear) by Frank Asch
Forget making mooncakes – how about tasting the moon itself? Bear is curious about what the moon tastes like, so he builds a rocket and blasts off to find out. Convinced that he has finally reached the moon, Bear takes a bite and makes a delicious discovery.
This classic picture book isn’t about Mid-Autumn Festival, despite its title. However, its moon-themed adventure is a sweet and funny choice for younger children. Settle down with a slice of mooncake and enjoy it together.
Suitable for ages two to five.
Love these Mid-Autumn Festival books for kids? Continue the celebrations with our guides to the best mooncakes in Singapore and Mid-Autumn Festival activities for families.
