Custom Chinese New Year dragon book with your child’s photo

What happens in your child and the New Year Dragon

1. Your child finds a puzzled dragon outside the front door.
2. A fluttering ribbon leads your child along the pavement.
3. A gentle drumbeat points the way to the missing drum.
4. Your child gathers the dancers with the dragon’s help.
5. The parade begins with ribbon, drum and dancers together.

How the first page could read

On the morning of the New Year celebration, your child heard a soft swish outside the front door. A long, bright dragon curled along the pavement, looking puzzled. “My ribbon has slipped away, my drum is missing, and my dancers are nowhere to be found,” said Dragon. “Will you help me get ready?”

Your child’s name, look and little details replace these words, and the whole story is written for their age.

Why this story works

This gentle, busy-neighbourhood story gives children aged 4–7 a clear role: your child notices what the dragon needs, looks carefully around familiar streets and brings the parade together one piece at a time. The ribbon, drum and dancers make satisfying clues for children to spot and remember when the book is read again. A friendly dragon stays at the centre of every scene, so the celebration feels welcoming rather than overwhelming. It also creates a natural opening to talk about parade music, bright decorations and the ways families mark a new year. With your child on the page, the small acts of helping feel especially immediate.

Reading it together

• Pause at each clue and ask your child what they think your child should look for next.
• Let your child make a quiet drum rhythm or ribbon swish when those objects appear.
• After reading, invite your child to draw their own parade route through the neighbourhood.

Suggested art style: Storybook watercolour

Storybook watercolour gives the parade ribbons, lantern-lit streets and friendly dragon a warm, detailed feel. A sidekick idea: a ribbon-tailed parade dragon with a soft drumbeat. You can pick any of the four styles and change the details in the form.