Learning Chinese language is more than just the Chinese characters, the semantics, the syntax. I firmly believe that to truly understand, learn, and to teach a language, you have to also immerse yourself in the culture. This post is about one of my favourite bilingual Chinese English children book author Li Jian, who has done an incredible job of weaving Chinese culture into his picture books.
If you would like to find out more on how you can support your child’s language acquisition at home, this is a well thought out and accessible article on how immigrant parents can support children’s home language learning.
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About Li Jian 李健
Li Jian 李健 is an award winning Chinese picture book illustrator/author, who majored in Chinese painting and is based in Hubei, China. Since 2011, he has authored more than 20 picture books, and has won multiple awards for his books in China. Most famous of his books is 雨龙 The Water Dragon.
What we like about Li Jian's books
First off, it is fairly difficult to find good quality bilingual Chinese English books. There are many bilingual self-publishers on Amazon, and sad to say, the translation are pretty uneven. Li Jian’s books translation have held up so far!
Secondly, the illustrations are mesmerising. Li Jian is a trained illustrator and he specialises in traditional Chinese brush strokes, which is really beautiful to see. While they are not bright and vibrant, their muted colours actually brings a subtle beauty to the images.
Thirdly, Li Jian’s stories are so culturally rich. I cannot think of any other Chinese illustrator who has succeeded in bringing Chinese culture, Chinese language and English language as wondrously as Li Jian.
In this post, I will introduce you to two of his most popular book series: The Chinese Zodiac Story Book Series, and the Story of China Book Series.
Chinese Zodiac Book Series
Recommended Reading Age: 4-8
The Chinese Zodiac Book Series as the name suggest is organised by the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. I though it’ll be really fun for my children to read the Chinese legend about their own Chinese Zodiac! So far, we have read 3 of them (Sheep Beauty, The Magic Rooster, and The Little Pigs and the Sweet Ricecakes), and have truly enjoyed all of then; the stories are well written and the illustrations are gorgeous. I am not sure how real these Chinese stories are, but certainly, they have all been thoroughly enjoyable.
Each Chinese Zodiac animal has his/her own associated traits, and Li Jian writes his story based on those traits.
For example in “Sheep Beauty 羊姑娘“, an injured sheep is rescued and cared for by a benevolent doctor. When the village the doctor lives in is threatened by an evil beast, the sheep transformed into a young girl to save the village. People born in the year of the Sheep are known to be gentle and caring. And those traits are thoughtfully told in the story.
Chinese Zodiac Book Details
The latest book in this series in Tiger Brother, so it may prove challenging to get a copy of it. And as of the time of writing this post, Rabbit has yet to be published yet.
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602204591
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
Ever wondered why the rat is the first animal in the Chinese Zodiac? This book will tell you why as the smart and sneaky Rat teams up with Grandpa in search of the Golden Seed.
Written by Dong Hu. Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602204669
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
Grow along with the diligent and helpful Little Calf as he learn the ropes of plowing the fields, pulling the cart from his Mother, as well as how to persevere and be courageous.
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781938368677
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
A father finds a little tabby kitten, who turns out to be a Siberian tiger! As the tiger grows in strength and size, they have no choice but to send it back to the mountains. However the bond of the boy and tiger has been cemented and they will remain loving brothers for life.
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602209787
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602209824
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602209848
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
A story of kindness even in times of hardship. A little boy finds a pony and shares what little food he has with it. One day while crossing the Yellow River, the now grown horse jumped into it, and retrieved a mysterious drawing which revealed the secret of farming. With this drawing, the boy and his family were able to grow crops successfully.
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602209886
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
People born in the year of the Sheep are known to be gentle and kind. In this story, the sheep beauty shows her wit and kindness by saving an entire village from an evil beast.
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602209817
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
Don’t get this book if you are expecting the story of the Monkey King (Journey to the West). This is an imagined prequel to the story of the Monkey King. In this tale, the Little Monkey sets off on an adventure to find the immortal pill, to save the Old Monkey King.
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602209954
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
This tale tells the story of a mother’s all encompassing love for her son, who has to travel to the capital city for his Imperial exams. She lovingly sews a rooster on his outfit, who turns out to be magical and saves him on his at times perilous journey.
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602209985
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
The darkest tale of all the Chinese Zodiac stories. Two brothers thought they hit the jackpot when they found a bronze dog. Shockingly the bronze dog grew bigger and swallowed the older brother! The younger brother first instinct is to break the bronze dog to get his brother. However, the bronze dog is offering him three gifts instead if he doesn’t break him. What will the younger brother choose?
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602204539
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
It’s almost Chinese New Year, and three little pigs have gone home to visit their mother. Mother is not home, but there are some delicious sticky rice cakes. Perhaps they can have a bite without Mother knowing?
Chinese Culture Book Series 故事中国
Recommended Reading Age: 4-8
Another Chinese cultural book series that Li Jian has created thus far is the Story of China series 故事中国. These stories follow a little boy Xiao Ming as he visits the famous sights of China
- Xi’An, Home of the Terracotta Army
- Beijing, Great Wall of China
- Beijing, Forbidden City
- Henan, Shaolin Temple. The birthplace of Kung Fu
- Shandong, Home to wise man Confucius
Xiao Ming has other worldly experiences while exploring these sights and magically travel back in time to meet Chinese historical figures.
So far, we have read the Chinese versions of all of them interactively on the Ella Book App except for Ming’s Kung Fu Adventure in the Shaolin Temple. You can see the video of the interactive book of Ming’s Adventure on China’s Great Wall below.
Do note that the books read on Ella Book App are only in Chinese.
Truthfully, I far enjoy the Chinese Zodiac Series more than the Chinese Cultural Series. The storylines are sadly not as engaging, and interesting. Perhaps because the books are trying to be factual at the very same time it aims to be mythical? We still like reading and learning about the different Chinese landmarks in these books, though it is probably more interesting because we read it in an interactive mode. I think there is simply too much to cover historically and factually to all fit in neatly into 42 pages.
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602209831
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
You know the story of the Nutcracker? Think of this story as a nutcracker in a Terracotta soldier suit, but without the dancing.
Xiao Ming’s mother buys him a little Terracotta figure which came alive! They get on a copper carriage to the Emperor’s tomb in Xi’An for a personal tour.
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602209879
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
Chinese ebook version available on Apple Books.
Xiao Ming goes to Beijing with his mother and father to see the amazing Great Wall of China. He loses his way but meets a kindly soldier who helps him, and shows him the special features of the wall.
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602209855
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
Chinese ebook version available on Apple Books.
Xiao Ming meets the last emperor of China of the Qing Dynasty. They compare toys and trinkets, and go on a magical dragon ride.
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602209893
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
Confucius is the most famous Chinese philosopher ever lived, whose teachings form the foundation of East Asian philosophy.
In this story, Xiao Ming is visiting the hometown of Confucius and lo and behold, meets the real McCoy!
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602209978
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
Before I stumbled on this book, I have to admit I have never heard of the Mogao Caves. Turns out it’s a UNESCO site! Located along the famous Silk Route, these caves are home to thousands of Buddhist paintings and statues.
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602209923
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
Learn about Kung Fu this time as Xiao Ming goes to Shaolin Temple to learn some kickass Chinese moves.
Additional Chinese Cultural Books by Li Jian
Recommended Reading Age: 4-8
A couple more books that are worthy of mention touches on two famous historical Chinese figures:
- Mu Lan – the famous lady soldier of China who selflessly took her father’s place to fight the Chinese civil war.
- Cang Jie – the inventor of the very first Chinese script.
- Zheng He- the great Chinese explorer of the glorious Ming Dynasty.
- Genghis Khan – the mighty Mongolian warrior who sought to unite China under Mongol.
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602204638
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
The story of Hua Mu Lan has been popularised in recent years by Disney, but did you know the original ballad that the story is based on? In this book, there is no romanticisation, just a good old tale of family love and bravery from a girl named Mu Lan.
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602209947
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
A mythological Chinese figure said to have 4 eyes and the official historian of the Yellow Emperor, Cang Jie is said to have invented the very first Chinese writing system.
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602209909
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
A true historical figure, Zheng He sailed around the world under the glorious golden civilisation of China under Zhu Di’s rule.
Written and Illustrated by Li Jian.
ISBN (Simplified Chinese/English): 9781602209916
Available for sale at Amazon and Book Depository.
Another true historical figure, Genghis Khan or Temujin was a victorious Mongolian warrior, who sought to unite China under Mongolian rule.
Happy Reading and Learning about Chinese culture with your family!!
