Author: Zhang, Yue 張越
Where to buy? Books.com.tw
Age: 3+
Since reading is such an indispensable part of my kids’ Chinese-learning journey, I think it would be a good idea to share books that we have read and talk about why we love them. This first book I want to share today, surprisingly, is not a book in traditional Chinese. I picked it up from the shelf at my local library in a hurry while my two kids who were heading in the opposite directions (can anyone relate??). I would not have borrowed it if I had time to flip through the pages since it is in simplified Chinese. But it turns out to be my preschooler’s favorite book at this time and also mine. We have read it together so many times that I dream about reading the story in my sleep. She will also read it to herself in her room during her nap time. This is the first book from which she learned new Chinese characters outside of just numbers. Almost every time we read this book together, she will spot a character and relate it to something she already knows. And this gives me the opportunity to teach her a new characters. Not only do we love the story and the illustrations, we also love how much she likes reading Chinese books because of this story. I wish there was a traditional Chinese version. But I still think this book is worth collecting and I have already added it to our Chinese book library.
Summary of the Story
A little rabbit stumbles upon a mobile bakery at night while it was searching for delicious food. This story tells how the rabbit and Mr.Wolf were brought together by their shared passion for delicious bread, and how their encounter develops into friendship despite their worries about each other. Through trail and error, they gradually understood and trusted each other and eventually pursued their ideal together.
Why my kid likes it
My preschooler is at the point where she can follow a story line and understand it. When I pick out books for her these days, I know that baby books or books that are purely informational will no longer satisfy her. She needs to read stories that engage her imagination. And this book captures her mind every time we read it together. She is also very detailed-oriented, and will spot minor details in the illustrations and ask many questions. The colors and the characters of this book are warm, welcoming and rich that most kids will find engaging.
Also, the author captures my preschooler’s mind with the phrase “ka-chi-ka-chi (the “crunchy” sound of the best bread).” She giggles every time I read that line and that warms my heart.
Why mama likes it
One of the most rewarding experiences of reading this book with my preschooler is that she has learned 15 new Chinese characters through reading this book over and over again! She is also at the point where she has memorized the pages so she could recite the lines (without knowing how to pronounce the characters lol ) when she lands on a particular page. But exposure and repetition are important. It is just a matter of time that she can remember other complex characters and read the entire book on her own. Other than the language aspect, this is also a beautiful story about teamwork and collaboration. And the importance of showing gratitude to the people who helped you along the way and giving back to people around you.
This is a heart-warming story to read with your child and I highly recommend this book to any parents with preschoolers! Also, I have created an activity book based on this story. It is available on my resource page. My preschooler loves doing activities that relate to her reading. And I like how I can use these worksheets to strengthen her learning of new vocabulary.
What are some of your children’s favorite books in Chinese? We are always looking for good books to read and would love to know what other people like!
