10 Best Chinese Books for Kids and Teenagers (with Amazon Links)

What is this list?

The 10 Chinese books are classified in three age groups. Two of them are Chinese translated versions of globally popular picture books. The other eight are all original Chinese books for native Chinese kids, most of which are award-winning books. They cover various topics including animal and nature, family and school life, Chinese history and culture, and stories of Chinese characters.

Who is this list for?

• Bilingual kids: kids who have a good Chinese foundation, for instance bilingual kids who have been learning Chinese with families or communities. `
• Chinese learners: all Chinese learners in different levels as they are very good authentic materials with fun content and simple language.

0-3 years old

猜猜我是谁

色彩丰富的图片，简单有韵律的语言，和孩子通过书中的洞洞玩捉迷藏的游戏。孩子可以在书中学习和动物相关的词汇。

Peek-a Who

Colorful pictures and simple rhyming texts help children guess what's peeking through the die cut windows in these two fun board books. Good for kids to learn Chinese vocabulary of animals.

Link: amazon 

小鸡球球成长系列图画书

以一只绒毛小鸡为主角，讲述了小小孩的生活中最常见的问题，每个故事都讲述了宝宝的一次成长经历。书中也随处可见的“藏与找”的游戏。

Little Chick Series

With a fluffy chick as the protagonist, it tells the most common problems in the life of small children. Each story tells a baby's growth experience. There are also a lot of peek-a-boo games in the books.

Link: Amazon 

3-9 years old

熊亮·中国绘本

提名2014年国际安徒生插画奖。 同文并茂，从儿童的角度以生动的语言, 讲述了10个民俗故事。

Xiong Liang · Chinese Picture Book

Nominated for the 2014  Andersen Award, the books tell 10 traditional Chinese stories from the perspective of children with vivid language and pictures.

 Links: Amazon   (Kindle edition and hardcopy)

安的种子

以三个小和尚为叙述线索，讲述了一个有关大自然规律的寓言故事。人物和画面有着很强的中国文化特色。

An’s Seed

It’s a story about the laws of nature with three monks as the main characters. The pictures have strong Chinese cultural characteristics.

Link: Amazon 

十二生肖谁第一 

金羽毛世界获奖绘本 。十二生肖的动物们参加热闹的渡河比赛，各显神通。这是一本很好的介绍中国传统生肖文化的书。

 Which Chinese Zodiac Wins the Race

Golden Feather World Award-winning Picture Book. The animals of the Chinese zodiac participate in a lively cross-river competition and show their specific powers. This is a good book to introduce kids the traditional Chinese zodiac culture.

Link: Amazon 

会说话的汉字

通过图片和文字方式生动地诠释了中文汉字。每个汉字分别有甲骨文、金文、小篆、隶书和楷书五种字体。

Chinese Characters that Talk

The Chinese characters are vividly interpreted through pictures and text. Each Chinese character is presented in five fonts: oracle bone script, inscription, Xiaozhuan, Lishu and Kaishu.

Link: Amazon  (Kindle edition)

葫芦兄弟

 同步中国经典动画片， 讲述了从7只神奇的葫芦中蹦出来的7个本领超群的兄弟，为救家人和妖精们展开周旋。情节有趣，语言简单，带有拼音注音，适合孩子自主阅读。

 Calabash Brothers

In accordance with the classic Chinese cartoons, it tells about seven brothers with super powers who jumped out of seven magical gourds to` fight against the devils to save their families. With a fun plot, simple language and Pinyin, the book is suitable for children to read independently.

 Link: Amazon

10-18 years old

 丁丁当当

作者为2016年国际安徒生奖获奖者曹文轩。这是一部关注特殊儿童的作品，讲述了一对唐氏综合征兄弟的故事一系列温馨或冷冽的故事。改书入选国际青年书籍委员会残疾儿童优秀书籍。

Dingding Dangdang

A series of works by Cao Wenxuan, winner of the 2016 International Andersen Awards，follows the life of two brothers with Downs Syndrome living in a small rural Chinese village. This series was selected as one of IBBY’s Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities 2015.

 Link：Amazon（Kindle edition）

装在口袋里的爸爸

 中国首位迪士尼签约作家、著名儿童文学作家杨鹏创作的系列畅销作品。讲述了主人公和拇指爸爸的神奇历险。

 The Dad in Pocket

 A series of best-selling children books by Yang Peng, the first Disney signing writer and famous children's literature writer in China. It tells the exciting adventures of a boy and his thumb-sized dad.

 Link: Amazon  (Kindle edition and hardcopy)

最西游作文

这是一本故事书，也是一本作文指导书。根据西游记的故事改编，针对小学生作文中写人、记事、写景、状物、想象、应用等体裁，在每回的故事中融入一个写作技巧，适合怕写作文，愁写作文，爱读故事的小学生阅读。

 A Writing Journey to the West

This is a story book, as well as a writing guide for kids. It is adapted from the story of Journey to the West and incorporates a writing skill in each chapter. It is suitable for young learners to get more interested in writing.

Link: Amazon  (Kindle edition and hardcopy)

Our Chinese for Young Learners program provides 4 to18-year-old young learners immersive, interactive, and fun ways to learn Chinese. Our goal is to let young learners build interest in Chinese, gain ability of using Chinese, and have multi-cultural awareness.  Various courses included general Chinese, Chinese picture books reading, local Chinese school course, etc.  Learn more