7 Best Books about Learning Mandarin Chinese for Kids [2025]

Want to learn Chinese? Interested in Chinese culture? Then the Chinese books about learning Mandarin may be your top resource!

One of the important things in the process of learning Mandarin Chinese is choosing the right learning materials. A well-chosen book can greatly influence your learning progress. Whether it’s to pass the Chinese Proficiency Test, improve your conversational Chinese skills, or learn about Chinese characters, choosing a book that aligns with your learning goals is crucial.

A right book is usually well-structured, systematic and specialized. It not only guides you through the intricacies of the language, but also keeps you engaged and motivated throughout the learning process.

In this article, we will focus on vocabulary resources, basic grammar learning textbooks, simplified Chinese writing skills, and books on Chinese history and Chinese stories that are appropriate for kids, beginners, intermediate learners and advanced Chinese learners with different books about learning Mandarin. Check it out!

Part 1. Benefits of Using Books to Learn Mandarin Chinese

Books are one of the best ways to learn Chinese. They can be used for self-study or in conjunction with a tutor’s instruction. Books can provide detailed explanations of important language topics, sample sentences, practice activities and more.

Compared to private lessons or face-to-face courses, books are a cheap and affordable way to learn. Books are also very convenient because they can be carried around.

Part 2. Top 7 Books about Learning Mandarin Chinese

Here’s the table about the top 7 Chinese books to help you learn Mandarin Chinese:

Book	Best for	Buy it
Mandarin Chinese Picture Dictionary: Learn 1,500 Key Chinese Words and Phrases	Building your vocabulary	Find it on Amazon.
Integrated Chinese: Simplified Characters Textbook	Learning Chinese characters	Find it on Amazon.
Chinese Short Stories for Beginners: 20 Captivating Short Stories To Learn Chinese & Grow Your Vocabulary the Fun Way!	Reinforcing vocabulary	Find it on Amazon.
Learning Mandarin Chinese Characters Volume 1: The Quick and Easy Way To Learn Chinese Characters!	Learning characters to improve your written Chinese.	Find it on Amazon.
Reading and Writing Chinese: Third Edition	Improving your reading and writing in Chinese.	Find it on Amazon.
Chinese Stories for Language Learners: A Treasury of Proverbs and Folktales in Bilingual Chinese and English	Learning Chinese culture and improving your comprehension.	Find it on Amazon.
Niubi!: The Real Chinese You Were Never Taught in School	Improving your confidence when speaking to real people	Find it on Amazon.

1. Mandarin Chinese Picture Dictionary: Learn 1,500 Key Chinese Words and Phrases 

This is a very convenient book about learning Mandarin. The Chinese words and phrases included in the book, along with the supporting pinyin, can give you a better understanding of Mandarin Chinese and facilitate your learning of Mandarin Chinese. It covers 1,500 of the most useful Mandarin words and phrases. Each word and sentence is given in Mandarin characters (and comes with a pinyin version to help you pronounce it correctly), and also comes with an English meaning.

The words are divided into 40 different themes or topics, ranging from basic topics such as meeting new people and using public transportation to specific cultural topics such as celebrating Chinese festivals and eating Chinese food.

• Age Group: all ages, especially kids and beginners.
• Reasons for recommendation: This book is recommended because of its fun and visual approach to Chinese language learning. Its inclusion of colorful pictures, online recordings audio by native speakers, and focus on practical and essential vocabulary make it an introductory tool for beginners, especially visual language learners.
• Pros:

1. Reader-friendly format with visual aids.
2. Covers a wide range of topics.
3. Includes a pronunciation guide and online audio.

• Cons:

1. Most are basic understanding materials and may lack depth for advanced learners.
2. Limited explanation of mandarin Chinese grammar compared to traditional textbooks.

2. Integrated Chinese: Simplified Characters Textbook

Integrated Chinese is the leading book about learning Mandarin Chinese and is widely used in colleges and universities around the world. The third edition of this well-respected series has been completely updated to meet the needs of today’s learners. It features new communication and interactive exercises, vivid full-color design, and contemporary vocabulary that reflects modern usage.

In addition, it enhances Chinese cultural understanding through a diverse cast of characters and a realistic storyline that connects all conversations and readings. For those interested in further exploring Mandarin Chinese, the second edition of this series is still available to order, ensuring a comprehensive choice for students of all levels.

• Age Group: college students.
• Content: Level 1 of the textbook consists of 20 lessons, and Level 2 is divided into two volumes to be studied on a semester-by-semester basis. It features student-centered objectives, progress checklists, task-based exercises, a coherent story-line that connects conversations and readings, and up-to-date vocabulary and cultural insights.
• Reasons for recommendation: This series is highly regarded for its comprehensive, interactive approach to learning Mandarin. The updated edition focuses on real-world applications and cultural contexts, making it appealing and relevant to modern learners.
• Pros:

1. Well laid out structure with clear learning objectives.
2. Enhanced cultural coverage and relevant vocabulary.

• Cons:

1. Grammatical depth may need to be paired with additional resources for learning.
2. Primarily geared towards an academic environment and may not be suitable for all Chinese learners.

3. Chinese Short Stories for Beginners: 20 Captivating Short Stories To Learn Chinese & Grow Your Vocabulary the Fun Way!

Books about learning Mandarin are more than just structured lessons or practice routines; they highlight the importance of consistency in language acquisition. You may have a great teacher or a great learning app, but without regular practice, the knowledge you gain will quickly fade. That’s why reading engaging material is so important for anyone serious about learning a new language.

In this book, the author has compiled 20 easy-to-read, engaging, and fun stories designed to help you expand your vocabulary and enhance your understanding of the beautiful Mandarin Chinese language. By immersing yourself in these stories, you’ll not only enjoy the learning process, but you’ll also master the essential tools to effectively improve your language skills.

• Age Group: all ages, especially beginners.
• Content: This book contains 20 easy-to-understand stories based on real-life scenarios with English translations and pinyin. Each chapter includes a summary, glossary, slang and comprehension questions to enhance learning and understanding of Chinese culture.
• Reasons for recommendation: Recommended for its engaging and practical approach to language learning. With its blend of cultural insights, vocabulary building and interactive elements, it is an effective resource for beginning Chinese readers to practice exercises their reading skills.
• Pros:

1. Engaging stories enhance Chinese vocabulary and cultural knowledge.
2. Pinyin and English translations aid Chinese mandarin reading comprehension.
3. Interactive questions reinforce mandarin Chinese learning.

• Cons:

1. May not provide in-depth Chinese grammar explanations and language skills.
2. Stories in the book are simple and may not challenge more advanced Chinese learners.

4. Learning Mandarin Chinese Characters Volume 1: The Quick and Easy Way To Learn Chinese Characters! 

This Chinese character workbook introduces 178 basic Chinese characters and over 534 standard words that use them. Ideal for both self-study and classroom settings, it is an excellent choice for students preparing to take the Chinese government’s official HSK Level 1 exam or the Advanced Placement (AP) Chinese Language and Culture exam.

Each character is presented with a step-by-step diagram that illustrates the writing process. To encourage practice, the workbook includes designated free-writing boxes. In addition to each character, learners will find its meaning and pronunciation, as well as key vocabulary compounds and example sentences that provide context.

To reinforce the learning experience, review exercises are included in the book, and an index at the back allows users to look up characters based on their English meaning or Romanized Pinyin pronunciation. This structured approach makes Learn Mandarin Chinese Characters a valuable addition to any series of books about learning Mandarin Chinese.

• Age Group: High school and college students, especially those preparing for exams such as HSK Level 1 and AP exam.
• Content: This book contains 178 basic Chinese characters and over 534 related Chinese words. Each character includes pronunciation, meaning, writing diagrams, and example sentences. Review practice exercises and an index enhance practicality and reinforce learning.
• Reasons for recommendation: This book is recommended because of its clear and organized approach to learning Chinese characters. It emphasizes practical vocabulary and test preparation, completes mandarin Chinese, and is an invaluable resource for students proficient in Mandarin Chinese studying.
• Pros:

1. Focuses on basic characters for test preparation.
2. Step-by-step writing instructions help with character memorization.
3. Includes extensive Chinese vocabulary and review exercises.

• Cons:

1. Limited cultural context compared to other narrative Chinese resources.
2. Focuses primarily on character recognition rather than learning to speak Chinese and conversational skills.

5. Reading and Writing Chinese: Third Edition 

Learning to write Chinese is essential to achieving proficiency, and this bestselling guide has been thoroughly revised and updated to meet your needs as you learn Mandarin. It offers 1,725 ​​essential Chinese characters, detailed with their current definitions, derivations, pronunciations, and examples of correct usage in a cleverly compressed web. This comprehensive approach enables learners to effectively master the nuances of each character.
A key feature of Reading and Writing Chinese is its focus on Pinyin, the official system for transcribing Chinese characters (Hanzi) into the Latin alphabet. Pinyin is now widely used in mainland China and Singapore. In addition, the guide includes traditional characters still used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, making it a complete reference for Mandarin learners.
Throughout the text, students will find resources designed to strengthen their ability to read and write Chinese effectively. This makes Reading and Writing Chinese an essential addition to any collection of books for learning Mandarin.

• Age Group: High school students, college students and all adult learners, especially for those preparing for HSK exam.
• Content: This guide covers 1,725 basic Chinese characters in both simplified Chinese and traditional forms. It includes definitions, pronunciations, etymologies, mnemonic phrases and example sentences. The text also provides resources for HSK and AP exams, as well as reference tables.
• Reasons for recommendation: This book presents a comprehensive and organized approach to learning Chinese characters. It focuses on both simplified Chinese characters and traditional Chinese characters and provides extensive vocabulary, test preparation materials and comprehension skills, making it an invaluable resource for intermediate Chinese learners and advanced Chinese learners to studying mandarin Chinese.
• Pros:

1. Comprehensive coverage of commonly used Chinese characters.
2. Includes mnemonic and etymological information.
3. Well-structured for easy reference and test preparation.

• Cons:

1. Due to its depth of content, it may present many difficulties for absolute beginners.
2. Less emphasis on conversational Chinese skills than narrative-focused resources and books.

6. Chinese Stories for Language Learners: A Treasury of Proverbs and Folktales in Bilingual Chinese and English

Books about learning Mandarin often contain rich cultural insights, and one delightful resource is this book of classic Chinese proverbs and the traditional stories that inspired them. This engaging collection is designed to improve language skills and cultural understanding.

The stories are presented in a bilingual format, with the Chinese and English versions presented on facing pages. Each story not only tells the story behind the proverb, but also includes explanations of its contemporary usage, cultural annotations, vocabulary, and discussion questions to deepen understanding.

To further support language learners, this book also includes recordings of the stories read aloud by native speakers. This feature provides students with a great opportunity to improve their pronunciation and comprehension, making the learning experience even more immersive.

• Age Group: Intermediate Chinese learners, including high school and college students, other adults who want to learn Mandarin Chinese.
• Content: This book contains 22 classic Chinese proverbs with bilingual stories that also explain their meaning and cultural context. Each story includes Chinese vocabulary, discussion questions, and audio recordings by native speakers to help you with pronunciation and comprehension.
• Reasons for recommendation: This book is recommended for its unique blend of Chinese language learning and Chinese cultural insight. Focusing on proverbs, it provides valuable lessons on language and Chinese culture and is a rich resource for intermediate and advanced learners of Chinese.
• Pros:

1. Bilingual format aids comprehension and language practice.
2. Includes audio recordings to improve pronunciation.
3. Engaging cultural stories enhance Chinese vocabulary and adaptation to Chinese contexts.

• Cons:

1. May be challenging for beginners as content is at an intermediate level.
2. Limited in scope, focusing primarily on proverbs rather than broader Chinese language skills.

7. Niubi!: The Real Chinese You Were Never Taught in School

Books about learning Mandarin come in many forms, and one particularly interesting book is this one – a guide to mastering the art of Chinese slang and informal expression. While learning a language can be a long process, this book ensures you learn to speak like a native, incorporating the colorful dialects used by Chinese speakers of all ages in a variety of situations.
Filled with hilarious anecdotes, engaging illustrations, and mini-cultural lessons, this eclectic guide to learning Chinese slang provides contextual explanations that enrich your understanding of usage. With a unique approach, this book is an excellent addition to any book on learning Mandarin, making the language acquisition process both fun and enriching.

• Age Group: Adults and older teenagers, especially those interested in learning informal or slang expressions in Mandarin.
• Content: This book covers colorful slang, vernacular phrases and dirty talk in a variety of Chinese contexts, such as trading and Internet slang. The book includes anecdotes, cultural lessons, and contextual explanations to help readers understand the nuances of informal Chinese.
• Reasons for recommendation: This book is recommended for Chinese learners who want to improve their conversational skills in Mandarin by incorporating slang and colloquial expressions. It uses humor to make learning engaging while providing practical language tools.
• Pros:

1. Fun and engaging way to learn informal language.
2. Includes cultural insights and contextual explanations.
3. Suitable for beginners and intermediate learners.

• Cons:

1. Focuses on slang and is not suitable for learners seeking formal language skills.
2. Potentially offensive content may not appeal to everyone.

Part 3. How to Find Quality Mandarin Chinese Books for Children?

To make your journey of learning Mandarin Chinese more exciting, we provide you with 10+ free download PDFs:

• 小王子 (The Little Prince)
• 西游记 (Journey to the West)
• 战争与和平 (War and Peace)
• 伊索寓言 (Aesop’s Fables)
• 安 徒 生 童 话 (Andersen’s Fairy Tales)
• 三只小猪 , 小红帽 (The Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood)
• 了不起的盖茨比 (The Great Gatsby)
• 傲慢与偏见 (Pride and Prejudice)
• 唐诗三百首 (Three Hundred Tang Poems)
• 杜甫诗全集 (Poems of Du Fu)
• 红楼梦 (Dream of the Red Chamber)

Hopefully, they can help expand your literary horizons and boost your enthusiasm for learning Mandarin Chinese.

Moreover, it is not easy to find excellent Chinese learning books that are suitable for you. Here’s how to get started:

1. Chinese bookstores: Look for your local Chinese bookstore or the Chinese book section at the mall. The clerk can recommend mandarin Chinese books that are appropriate for kids or beginners and the others.
2. Online platforms: Use websites such as Amazon, Dangdang.com, or JD.com which offer a wide range of books for learning Chinese. User reviews can be very helpful.
3. Join a Chinese learning group: Follow Chinese learning online forums or social media groups to share learning experiences and foster a sense of community.

Remember, it takes constant exploration and experimentation to find right books about learning mandarin for you!

FAQs on Books about Learn Mandarin Chinese

1. What is the best Chinese book for kids and beginners?

Chinese for Dummies is the best book for Chinese beginners because it covers all the important language topics without being overwhelming.

This book starts with the basics; it doesn’t assume that you already have some basic knowledge of Chinese. This book will help you learn Chinese grammar, Mandarin Chinese vocabulary, Chinese culture, and spoken Chinese.

3. How to use books to learn Mandarin Chinese?

Chinese books are most helpful when used in conjunction with other language resources. Examples include online Chinese courses, teacher-led lessons, etc. Books provide good explanations and are a great way to learn vocabulary, but there are other, more effective ways to practice essential Chinese language skills such as speaking and listening.

Therefore, it is helpful to include language apps or online courses to cover all skills in your daily study.

It is also a good idea to create a study plan so that you can stay on track to achieve your language goals. Studying at least a few times a week is important to remember and reinforce what you have learned.

You can also set a daily reminder on your phone or find a study buddy to help you with your responsibilities.

4. What makes Mandarin Chinese language so hard to learn?

Learning Mandarin Chinese is challenging for several reasons.

First, Mandarin has four main tones and the nature of its tones means that the meaning of a word can change depending on the tone.

Second, the writing system for Chinese characters is complex, using thousands of characters rather than an alphabet, making reading and writing a major obstacle.

In addition, the grammar of Mandarin differs from many Western languages in that it lacks verb conjugation and plurals, which can be confusing to learners who are used to these structures.

Finally, cultural nuances and idiomatic expressions add to the complexity of Chinese, requiring learners to understand not only the language but also the context in which it is used.

5. What is the best choice of Chinese learning books with kids?

When choosing Chinese learning books for kids, you may consider the following books:

The Little Doctor of Chinese Characters: helps children learn the construction and writing of Chinese characters.

The Chinese Storybook: Contains fables and traditional stories to enhance language skills.

Happy Chinese: incorporates games and activities to make learning more fun.

These books are both fun and educational, and can stimulate children’s interest in learning. Chinese learning books with interesting content and illustrations may be the best choice for kids when learning Chinese!

6. How do you say books in Chinese language?

In Chinese, “书” is the translation of “books”, with the pinyin “shū”. This word can be used to refer to all types of books, including textbooks, storybooks, novels, etc.

In everyday conversation, you can use the word “书” to refer to books. In everyday conversation, you can use “书” to refer to a single book, or you can use “书籍” to refer to a whole book or type of book.

The Chinese writing system is rich and complex, and you can learn more about it through books such as those recommended in this article.

Conclusion

I hope this article will help you find a book that will take your Chinese language skills to the next level. Learning Mandarin is a fun and rewarding journey, but it also requires hard work.

However, if you are persistent and continue to study regularly, you will make great progress without even realizing it!