A Warm Chinese New Year Morning at SouthPark Library: CCST Chinese Storytime Recap
- Charlotte Chinese Story Time
- Jan 24
- 2 min read
Even with the winter cold, our community showed up with warmth, curiosity, and so much joy.
On Saturday, January 24, Charlotte Chinese Story Time (CCST) hosted a Chinese New Year–themed Storytime at the SouthPark Library Community Room. We were grateful to welcome 40 families for a morning filled with stories, music, movement, and hands-on cultural learning.
A Full Room, A Shared Celebration
From the moment families arrived, the room was buzzing—children settled in with parents and grandparents, cozy coats tucked to the side, eyes ready for storytime. Seeing families of many backgrounds sitting together, learning together, and celebrating together is exactly why we do this work.
Storytime: Language + Culture in a Kid-Friendly Way
We began with a festive welcome and a short introduction to Chinese New Year traditions—what the holiday is, why the date changes each year, and how the celebration lasts for 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival.
Children then enjoyed a bilingual, interactive storytime experience that included:
Chinese New Year vocabulary (simple, practical words kids can remember)
Songs and movement activities to keep little learners engaged
A fun introduction to the Chinese Zodiac, including the Year of the Horse
Throughout the program, kids were encouraged to participate—answering questions, trying out new words, and joining in the actions and songs. Their energy and confidence grew as the morning went on.
Cultural Highlights: Lion/Dragon Dance Fun
One of the most exciting moments was the cultural showcase featuring our lion/dragon dance props. Children watched, smiled, and leaned in close—many seeing these traditions up close for the first time. The room filled with laughter and wonder, and it became a beautiful reminder that culture is best learned through lived experience.
Special Guest Artist: Horse-Drawing Art Workshop
After storytime, we transitioned into our Chinese New Year art workshop led by local artist Ms. Wang, who guided children through a creative horse-drawing activity inspired by New Year traditions and the Year of the Horse.
Kids proudly created their own New Year artwork—each one unique, imaginative, and full of personality. Seeing children hold up their finished pieces with big smiles was one of the highlights of the day.
Thank You, Community
We are deeply thankful to:
SouthPark Library for hosting and supporting community cultural programming
Ms. Wang for sharing her time and talent with our children
Our dedicated volunteers who helped with setup, check-in, facilitation, and cleanup
And most of all, the families who bundled up, showed up, and made this celebration so special
Events like this remind us that language learning doesn’t have to feel like “class”—it can feel like connection, community, and joy.
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