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!)
20 books about the Mid-Autumn Festival for kids to read
1. Our Moon Festival by Yobe Qiu
It’s not just the Chinese folks that celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival; in fact, it’s collectively known as Moon Festival in other Asian countries. Yobe Qiu’s children’s book shines the spotlight on three families – Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese – celebrating the festival according to their cultures, traditions and activities. Readers can see the similarities and differences in how this festival is being celebrated.
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 4 to 8
2. The Moon Lady by Amy Tan
Do you know who else may be hiding on the moon? The Moon Lady! Take a peek into Grandmother Ying-Ying’s childhood as she looks for the Moon Lady to grant her a secret wish. On the day of the Moon Festival, Ying-Ying is dressed in silk and should be behaving nicely; instead, she gets into trouble and finds herself lost in the busy streets of China. Filled with vibrant illustrations and plenty of imagination, kiddos will love learning that even grandparents were naughty once upon a time.
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 6 to 9
3. A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin
We can’t forget one of our favourite things about the Mooncake Festival – mooncakes! This gorgeous picture book will make you want to bake your very own giant mooncake. But beware of cheeky ‘Little Stars’ who get munchy and turn the full mooncake into a constellation of crumbs. From the galaxy-like home to the moon’s changing phases, this book is an absolute delight for kids who love the moon, cake… and mooncakes!
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 2 to 5
4. The Moon Rabbit: A celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival by Eva Wong Nava
The beloved legend of the Mid-Autumn Festival is retold by Meifung’s mother in this luminous, hardcover book. As they gather for a celebration with their paper lanterns, Meifung spots the “rabbit” in the moon. That’s when her mother tells her a story of nine scorching suns, a brave archer and his queen, and an elixir of eternal life — the story of how the Moon Rabbit came to be.
Buy from: Kinokuniya
Suitable for ages 4 to 6
5. Moon Messenger: A Family Reunion During the Mid-Autumn Festival by Jie Wei
Mid-Autumn Festival in China is a celebratory time for families. Unfortunately, Maomao’s father is away and will not be able to celebrate with the family. Maomao thus decides to write a postcard for his father and asks the moon to deliver it for him. We loved that the story is told in both English and Chinese.
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 4 to 8
6. Mooncakes by Loretta Seto
This book tells the story of a family celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival together. While they eat mooncakes and drink tea under the moon, the girl’s parents explain the festival’s history and three ancient tales. There are a lot of rave reviews for this on Amazon, so this is a must-get and a must-read!
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 3 to 5
7. Round is a Mooncake: A Book of Shapes by Roseanne Thong
Have you noticed that mooncakes are exclusively round in shape? Bet you didn’t know that! In this cute rhyming book, a little girl goes around her neighbourhood looking for things that are round, square, and even rectangular in shape. Most of the items she found are of Asian origins, and a short glossary explains the cultural significance of the objects featured in the book.
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 2 to 4
8. Lin Yi’s Lantern by Brenda Williams
Sometimes we have to choose between what we want to do and what we should do. When Lin Yi heads to the bustling market to buy food, he spots a beautiful red rabbit lantern. He wants to buy it for the Moon Festival, but he only has enough money to buy the food he needs, so what will he do? A poignant story about temptation and discipline, the book also includes instructions for making your own lantern.
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 4 to 8
9. Celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival: History, Traditions, and Activities – A Holiday Book for Kids by YY Chen and Eugenia Chu
Celebrate the magic of the Mid-Autumn Festival with this engaging book for kids! Through vibrant illustrations and fun storytelling, young readers will uncover the festival’s ancient origins, explore its cherished traditions, and enjoy a variety of festive activities. It’s a joyful introduction to the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 4 to 8
10. Moon Festival Wishes: Moon Cake and Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration by Jillian Lin
This beautifully illustrated book invites children to join Mei and her family in celebrating the Chinese Moon Festival. As they prepare for the big day, little readers will also enjoy learning the story behind this special holiday, with fun facts and questions at the end.
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 2 to 6
11. An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X.R. Pan
At the heart of the Mid-Autumn Festival myth is the tragic love story of Chang’e and Houyi. This book reimagines it as a modern coming-of-age tale of young love, full of the same magic and heartbreak. Grab tissues for this bittersweet story of love and grief.
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 12 to 14
12. Let’s Celebrate!: Special Days Around the World by Kate DePalma
With lyrical, sensory text and vibrant illustrations, this nonfiction book offers a child’s view of 13 memorable days celebrated around the world, including the Spring Festival, Eid al-Fitr, and Día de Muertos.
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 6 to 10
13. Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle
Here at HoneyKids, we love reading Eric Carle’s works to our kiddos… So naturally, this one has to make it to this reading list. Monica wishes she could play with the moon. The only problem is, she can’t reach it! The little girl then decides to ask her father to bring the moon down to her. Readers will learn about the lunar phases while reading this book.
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 2 to 3
14. The Wee Adventures of Shabu Shabu – The Jade Legend by Kristina Thornton and Michael Csokas
Shabu Shabu’s grandfather has been telling her stories of his adventures and of the legendary Jade Rabbit of the Moon since she was tiny. By the time Shabu has built a strong enough telescope, her grandfather can no longer see the Jade Rabbit, but she does see something… or is it someone? Kiddos will have a blast following the steampunk adventure of brave Shabu and her friend Chow, the squirrel.
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 5 to 8
15. Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld
Some cultures believe a man lives on the moon, some believe it is Chang ‘E, and some believe it is a rabbit. It’s not the first time a rabbit has been mistaken for something else. Not exactly a Mid-Autumn book, but this fun read-aloud board book is a hit with kiddos who love silly arguments (all of them, then!).
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 2 to 6
16. Man on the Moon (A Day in the Life of Bob) by Simon Bartram
Speaking of the man on the moon, who is he? Well, apparently his name is Bob, and his job is to fly to the moon every day and make sure it is kept clean and tidy. He entertains space tourists and educates visitors on the moon, and keeps an eye out for aliens. Not that there are any, he would know if there were! See if you can find any funny creatures hiding among the craters…
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 5 to 8
17. The Shadow in the Moon by Christina Matula
The story of Chang’E, the lady on the moon, comes to life in this enchanting book following two sisters celebrating and learning about the Mid-Autumn Festival with their family. Learn about the archer, Hou Yi, his brave wife, Chang’E, and how a potion of immortality ended up tearing these two lovers apart.
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 5 to 8
18. The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons
Is your child curious about the moon? Get them this book, where they can read up on fascinating facts about the moon. From how the moon affects the ocean‘s tides to why there are eclipses, your littles will discover a lot about Earth’s sole natural satellite. Legends about the moon, trivia, and facts about the moon landing are also included.
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 4 to 8
19. All Four Quarters of the Moon by Shirley Marr
The last time Peijing Guo’s life felt normal was making mooncakes with Ah-Ma during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the yolk inside glowing like a full moon. Now in Australia, Peijing believes they’ll be okay if they stick together, but cracks are forming in her family. Five-year-old Biju relies on her, Ah-Ma is forgetting, Ma Ma has changed, and Ba Ba must adjust to a new role. With her world shifting, Peijing wonders — if her family is the mooncake, where does she fit?
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 8 to 12
20. Mooncake (Moonbear) by Frank Asch
Forget making mooncakes – how about sampling a bite of the moon itself? Moonbear is curious about what the moon tastes like and sets off in a rocket. Turns out, the moon is made of cake, not cheese! Sit back with a slice of mooncake and enjoy this classic tale by beloved author and illustrator Frank Asch.
Buy from: Amazon
Suitable for ages 2 to 5
Love this list of Mid-Autumn Festival books for kids? Check out our roundup of Singapore’s best mooncakes!
This article was originally written by Sheralyn Loh in 2018, updated by Jay Panicker in 2024, updated by Andrina Loo in 2025.
