This article is part of our guide to Chinese American Children’s Books. Sign up for our newsletter to receive our best activity, recipe and craft ideas before every Chinese holiday.
My wife and I have intentionally sought out children’s books about Chinese culture and the Chinese American experience to read with our son. Almost all of these stories, we’ve come to realize, were written by American authors for a Western audience. In contrast, we’ve encountered very few English-language children’s books by Chinese authors about Chinese culture as it exists in China.
“The idea of a picture book with a fun story is something quite new in China,” Andrew Rushton of NorthSouth Books explained in a Publishers Weekly article earlier this year. In addition, didactic cultural messaging and translation difficulties have historically prevented children’s titles from crossing the Pacific from China to the United States.
More translated children’s books from China have been appearing on American shelves in recent years, however, driven by domestic demand from China’s growing middle class, increased interest in China among American parents and an overdue realization by American publishers that international authors write beautiful, entertaining stories.
This latest generation of children’s books from China should feel familiar to American parents. They’re 20-32 page picture storybooks with uplifting themes and attention-capturing protagonists. The difference? These are books written for childhood in China, translated into English to help American kids learn about another language and culture.
Access to Chinese children’s books in English adds a valuable dimension to a Chinese American childhood, as well. Even after many trips to Asia, Chinese culture as practiced in China can remain both familiar and foreign at the same time. And, while books written in Chinese are available in the United States, translated titles promise more visibility and cross-cultural connections.
Here are a few of my favorite children’s books from China for your next trip to the library or bookstore.
Home For Chinese New Year
This story captures the joy of family reunion central to Chinese New Year by describing the journey family members take to get home for the holiday. Jiajun’s father takes a train, bus, three-wheeled motorcycle and ferry to return home, all the while protecting a gift for his son.
My Beijing
A whimsical comic book that follows Yu’er and her grandpa through their adventures living in a small Beijing neighborhood. Little Yu’er trains for the Special Olympics, visits a wild place full of musical insects, hears a special story about her grandparents and shows a cranky painter the sweet side of life.
Feather
This is a beautifully lyrical story from award-winning author Cao Wenxuan about the journey of a single feather. “Am I yours?” the feather asks each passing bird, as she longs to soar in the sky. Only later does the feather discover that walking upon the earth can also be wonderful.
Buddy Is So Annoying
Notable because it’s told through a Chinese cultural lens, this is the type of silly story that’s so common in children’s literature. It’s a tale about friendship and how having someone around to keep you company and annoy you is a wonderful thing.
Look! What Do You See?
Pure, clever fun from Xu Bing, one of the world’s foremost contemporary artists. At first glance, this book looks like it’s filled with Chinese calligraphy. Only a closer inspection reveals a puzzle, a work of art and a collection of classic American songs.
Who Wants Candied Hawberries?
Beijing’s winter streets are full of candied hawberry vendors selling this traditional treat. This story is about a kind peddler pushing his cart on his normal route through Cat’s Eye Hutong. How will he find customers on such a freezing day?
An’s Seed
This story strikes me as the closest to what you might think of as a “traditional” Chinese children’s story. Set at a monastery, Ben, Jing and An each receive a dormant lotus seed to plant. While Ben and Jing fail impetuously, An leads his everyday life as usual, waiting patiently for spring to come.
Your turn! What are your family’s favorite children’s books from China? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below!
Jennifer
Thanks for this list! I’m always looking for new books to share with my children.
Wes Radez
You’re welcome, Jennifer! Glad you found a few new useful titles. ~Wes
Helena
Hello, Wes! Thank you for sharing this !! So many beautiful books for children! I was wondering if there’s a favorite female character among the youngest in china. Can you help me to find out?
Wes Radez
Hi Helena, thanks for your note! I’m sorry that I’m not an expert about the popularity of specific characters in China! ~Wes
fatmah alhussain
Hi,
I’m a Saudi children’s publisher who aims to open windows on other cultures for our children. What books would you recommend to translate into Arabic about China and its culture for children, and can you provide me with the original publishers to seek translating rights?
Thank you for this very enlightening blog.
Fatmah
Wes Radez
Hi Fatmah, thanks for your question! I would start your search in my children’s books section, perhaps with the Lunar New Year titles. The publishers are listed inside each book jacket. ~Wes
Molly
Thank you, thank you for curating this list. I am a middle school social studies teacher and I wanted to bring daily read aloud to my China unit, but I did not want to bring in a collection of culturally irrelevant, Western texts. Your efforts will help me be a better, more sensitive and accurate teacher.
Wes Radez
I’m so glad you found these resources useful, Molly. Makes me feel good to help enrich your classroom! ~Wes