This past summer, my kids and I read 小小的我 and 最亲爱的奶奶! These picture books were originally written in Japanese and have been translated to simplified Chinese and traditional Chinese.
Both of my children (2-year-old son and almost 5-year-old daughter) loved the touching narrative and beautiful, realistic illustrations.
These stories would be perfect for families looking for Montessori friendly Chinese books.
Here is a quick review of 小小的我 and 最亲爱的奶奶 with many photos and a video!
This post has affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for further details.
小小的我 Review
Title: 小小的我 (Xiǎo xiǎo de wǒ / Little Me)
Author: 笠井真理
Age level: 3-7 years
Where to buy:
- Simplified Chinese / ISBN: 9787510153310 / Publisher: 中国人口出版社
- Traditional Chinese with Zhuyin / ISBN: 9789862483688 / Publisher: 大好書屋-日月文化
This is a story that all children can relate to!
A little girl expresses her shyness around strangers, fear of the dark, and her wish to do things independently, such as walking her dog.
However, she is trying very hard to overcome these challenges! You can listen to the audiobook for free on Ximalaya in this link and on YouTube (see below).
Here is a video of the traditional Chinese version of the story recorded by Peggy Lin. Please note that the wording is slightly different between the simplified and Chinese versions.
最亲爱的奶奶 Review
Title: 最亲爱的奶奶 (Zuì qīn’ài de nǎinai / Dearest Grandma)
Author: 笠井真理
Age level: 3-7 years
Where to buy:
- Simplified Chinese / ISBN: 9787510153327 / Publisher: 中国人口出版社
- TaoBao
This is a sweet story about a child and close relationship with her beloved grandmother. The story opens with the grandmother teaching the child about her family and how to finger knit.
However, the grandmother is getting old and ill, and the child has to say goodbye to her.
This story may be sad for a family who has recently lost a loved one, but it may also be therapeutic to read about a child who has suffered grief and heartache.
It’s an opportunity to discuss in a gentle way that our life on Earth is temporary and that our eternal home is Heaven.
Where to buy Chinese books for kids
For more Chinese book recommendations for kids, please visit and bookmark this link of our favorite books! Every week, I will be adding book reviews to this website!
If you’re wondering where to buy Chinese books for children, please click here for a list of the most popular online bookstores!
Chinese audiobooks for kids
For free Chinese audiobooks for children, check out:
- Free Chinese Audiobooks for Children on Ximalaya 喜马拉雅
- How to Use Ximalaya FM When You Can’t Read Chinese
Recommended articles about how to teach kids Chinese
If you need tips on how to teach your child Chinese, these posts are for you!
- Teach Your Child a Second Language at Home with 5 Key Steps
- How To Get Your Child To Speak the Minority Language
- Raising Multilingual Children as a Non-Fluent Parent
- 10 Ways to Get Your Child to Read Throughout the Day
- 6 Fun Ways to Assess Reading Comprehension With Kids!
Bilingual English and Chinese Facebook Parent Group
As always, please leave a comment with any questions, and I’ll try my best to answer them! Or better yet, please join our Facebook group! Montessori-inspired Kids Learning Chinese and English is a community of parents worldwide who are excited to share bilingual book recommendations, Montessori tips, and learning materials!
Happy reading, friends!
Leave a Reply