Amazing Books for Kids Learning Chinese

We all agree that reading brings us joy, beauty, and knowledge. When we expose ourselves to a variety of words, we expand our vocabulary. By understanding stories, we improve our comprehension skills. Books also offer a way to explore a fun and larger world.

For those learning Chinese, reading can speed up progress by teaching grammar, vocabulary, and culture. But how do you choose Chinese books for your kids?

First, consider your child’s language level:

1. Beginner Stage: Just started learning Chinese, can recognize Pinyin and understand simple words or phrases.
2. Intermediate Stage: Can recognize Pinyin and basic Chinese characters and express themselves with simple sentences.
3. Advanced Stage: Can read independently and understand advanced grammar and syntax.

For beginner level children, Pinyin books with pictures are a great option. Intermediate level children can benefit from books with both characters and Pinyin. Advanced level children need books with higher-level words and complex sentences.

Every child has different needs, so here are some fantastic Chinese children’s books that cater to a range of levels.

1. Chineasy for Children: Learn 100 Words

Difficulty level: Beginner and intermediate

Author ShaoLan wrote this book to help inspire her children to learn Chinese. She developed a groundbreaking visual method for teaching Chinese characters in a way that is both easy and fun for kids.

Chineasy uses Shaolan’s novel method to transform Chinese characters into captivating and engaging pictograms. These colorful symbols provide the meaning and origin of Chinese characters. Children find it simpler to remember Chinese characters using this book because they view them as diverse, meaningful pictures. The book is organized by theme, such as numbers, family, animals, and food.

Please note that this book mainly focuses on learning Chinese characters. Some of the characters used in this book are in “traditional” forms.

This book is for those who would like to:

• Introduce or reinforce Chinese characters
• Build vocabulary
• Understand Chinese culture

Other Chineasy books to  consider:

• Chineasy: The New Way to Read Chinese
• Chineasy Everyday: Learning Chinese Through Its Culture

2. Easy Peasy Chinese: Mandarin Chinese for Beginners – 走向中文

Difficulty level: Beginner and intermediate

The author of “Easy Peasy Chinese,” Elinor Greenwood, is a writer and editor of children’s books. She has a Chinese degree from Leeds University and is enthusiastic about Mandarin Chinese education. She likes to motivate Chinese learners with fun activities and teaching aids, such as stickers and pictures.

If your child is just beginning to learn Chinese and wants to learn to introduce themselves, express numbers and dates, tell time, discuss food and interests, and discover Chinese culture, try this book! “Easy Peasy Chinese” is a fun and visually appealing book. It covers the basics for beginners and uses Pinyin. Your child will learn the most common words and phrases and then form simple Chinese sentences.

The book includes a CD to help your child learn how to pronounce Chinese phrases correctly.

This book is for those who would like to:

• Reinforce Chinese characters
• Build vocabulary
• Understand Chinese culture
• Improve pronunciation
• Have simple conversations

Accompanying Workbook:

Easy Peasy Chinese Workbook: Mandarin Chinese Practice for Beginners

3. Mina’s First Day of School – 米娜上学的第一天

(Simplified version; Traditional Version)

Difficulty level: Intermediate

Katrina Liu, an American-born Chinese author, wanted to raise her daughter to become bilingual. So, she created the Chinese picture book series “Mina Learns Chinese,” based on her daughter’s life. All her books are specifically designed for young audiences.

“Mina’s First Day of School” is a helpful picture book with an adorable story and engaging illustrations. Your child will follow Mina on her first day of school, reading easy-to-grasp dialogues and learning common phrases in Chinese.

The book includes Pinyin, Chinese characters, and English. Even if you are unable to read the book to your child, the audio book is available. Plus, Mina’s story helps mentally prepare your child for school. How great is that?

This book is for those who would like to:

• Build vocabulary
• Learn daily conversations
• Reinforce pronunciation
• Improve listening skills

More stories about Mina

• Mina’s Scavenger Hunt: Simplified Version; Traditional Version
• I love my grandpa: Simplified Version; Traditional Version

4. Father and Son – 父与子

Difficulty level: Intermediate

German cartoonist E.O. Plauen created the well-known comic “Father and Son” in 1934. The colorful comic artfully portrays the affection between a father and son. This version includes both Chinese characters and Pinyin.

Unlike the other recommendations listed here, “Father and Son” is a comic book series. While some parents may disapprove of comics as a medium, they can be used strategically to help children improve their reading and language skills. The images help children understand the language easier and students are often eager to read them, even in an unfamiliar language.

If you enjoyed “Father and Son” as a child, your kids will love it too, and they will try their best to understand the language to follow the compelling stories.

This book is for those who would like to:

• Build vocabulary
• Learn daily conversations

Another comic book recommendation with Pinyin:

• Big Head Son and Small Head Dad （大头儿子和小头爸爸）

5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid – 小屁孩日记

Difficulty level: Advanced

The author of “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”, Jeff Kinney, came up with the idea for this book series in 1998. It’s a collection of the unique diaries of a middle-school boy. The series was posted online in 2004 and published in 2007. Since then, it has sold over 200 million copies in 65 languages. Bilingual versions are also available, which can help non-native speakers understand the text by comparing the Chinese and English versions. The side-by-side formatting helps readers recognize new terms and untangle more complex sentences.

More importantly: It’s “Diary of a Wimpy Kid! This series is so popular because children love it, and they want to keep reading it.”

This book is for those who would like to

• Build vocabulary
• Improve reading comprehension

Other Diary of a Wimpy Kid books

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series

Introducing your child to Chinese literature at an early age can have many benefits, such as improving their language skills, increasing their cultural knowledge, and promoting a love of reading. With a wide range of books available, from picture books to comic books to bilingual editions, there is something for every young reader. As a parent, you have the power to ignite your child’s curiosity and create a lifelong love of learning. So why not choose a Chinese book and start enjoying some family reading time today?