Reading Chinese books is one of the most effective ways to promote your child’s Chinese language development. Through exposure to Chinese characters and sentence structures, children’s books help build vocabulary, increase comprehension, and develop critical thinking skills. Reading also helps children learn proper grammar and pronunciation.
Chinese Bookstore Online Retailers
Below are the online retailers that offer a wide variety of Chinese books and Chinese learning materials. With these options, there’s no need to travel abroad or trouble relatives with the task of purchasing books for us. Say goodbye to the hassle of hauling heavy boxes back from overseas, as these small businesses ship Chinese children’s books right to our doorstep.
JoJo Learning
Along with the Luka Reading Robot, Jojo Learning also offers a vast selection of picture books in Simplified Chinese from around the globe, providing young readers with access to an array of culturally diverse stories and perspectives. Jojo Learning is the authorized seller of the renowned Luka Reading Robot and stocks a wide variety of children’s books that are compatible with this popular educational device.
Language: Mandarin, Simplified Chinese
Shipping: Global Shipping
Browse the JoJo Learning Website
Yo Baby Shop
Since 2017, two moms from Taiwan have been sourcing hard-to-get books and kids’ items from Taiwan and Asia. They have since expanded to a brick-and-mortar location in the City of Industry, California, where they host storytime and other events to support Chinese-speaking families.
Language: Mandarin, Traditional Chinese
Shipping: United States, Canada, and Mexico
Browse Yo Baby Shop
Gloria’s Bookstore
As one of the largest online retailers specializing in Chinese children’s books in the United States, Gloria’s Bookstore boasts an extensive collection of thousands of book titles. Based in Santa Clara, California, they also organize periodic warehouse sales at their location, providing customers with exciting opportunities to explore and purchase books at discounted prices.
Language: Mandarin, Traditional Chinese
Shipping: United States and Canada
Local Pickup: Santa Clara, California
Get $5 off at Gloria’s Bookstore
Mr. and Mrs. Books
Based in Los Angeles, CA, Mr. and Mrs. Books is operated by a husband and wife team and their 3 children. They curate only the most popular books from Taiwan to help parents build their children’s Traditional Chinese home libraries.
Language: Mandarin, Traditional Chinese
Shipping: Continental United States
Browse Mr. and Mrs. Books
Chinese Book Subscriptions
A book subscription for kids brings numerous benefits, including exposure to a wide variety of books, regular access to new and curated selections, convenience, time-saving for parents, encouragement of reading habits, and support for literacy and language skills. By providing a constant stream of engaging books, subscriptions enhance children’s literary horizons, vocabulary, comprehension, and overall development while instilling a lifelong appreciation for the joy and value of reading.
Curio Books
Award-winning foreign language books and learning materials for children ages 0-10. Currently available in Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.
Languages: Mandarin, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish
Shipping: United States
Get 10% off Curio Books with code mbmandarin
Book Box Chinese by Mrs. Books
Books Box Chinese is a quarterly book subscription. Each box includes 6 books plus surprise activities and freebies.
Language: Mandarin, Traditional Chinese
Shipping: Continental United States
Learn more about the Book Box Chinese subscription
Duck Duck Book Club
Experience the joy of receiving a brand-new book delivered straight to your doorstep every three months! Duck Duck Books specializes in publishing and curating books that promote social-emotional learning, providing valuable resources to parents in their endeavor to raise kind-hearted individuals. By joining, you can save between 10-40% off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP).
Languages: Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese), Spanish, English
Shipping: Continental United States
Where to Buy Used Chinese Books
Motherly Notes Used Chinese Books
Join the Motherly Notes Used Chinese Books Facebook Group and score some deals on pre-loved Chinese books. Establishing a home library is a significant investment and buying used books can help you save a lot of money. Children outgrow books quickly and you can resell your books to offset the cost to purchase new books.
Buy Nothing Group
If you live in a community with a large Asian population, join your local Buy Nothing Community. My group has been my greatest resource for saving money and reducing clutter. Buy nothing helps to reduce waste and is a huge driver of sustainability. I have gifted and received Chinese books from other parents, as well as other useful items.
Public Library Book Sales
We live in the San Francisco Bay Area and our public libraries regularly have book sales. I have found many books starting as low as $0.25. The best deal I found was a set of Little Newton magazines with the DVD for only $0.50 each magazine. Check your local brand for sales!
Chinese Books Reviews and Related Articles
Digital Books from Taiwan Public Library - Looking for a digital library like Epic in Chinese or Raz Kids in Chinese? 兒童文化館 (Ér tóng wén huà guǎn) is an educational website for children that houses the digital books from Taiwan Public Library. All books are in Traditional Chinese with Zhuyin. This is a great FREE educational resource. Continue Reading
Chinese Science Books – DK Eye Know - Take a peek at our favorite Chinese Science Books that come with a Reading Pen. This set is a must-have for every home library. Continue Reading
Ciaohu Magazine for Kids - After months of debating I finally invested in a Ciaohu subscription. My kids are excited each month when a box arrives in their name. See what comes each month and how to place an order. Continue Reading
Chinese Kids Books on Behavior and Feelings - Have a picky eater? Child with a bad temper? Here's a list of Chinese Kids Books on Behavior and Feelings to teach your child how to transform grumpy moods. Continue Reading
Reading Strip DIY and Sagebooks Update - If your child is reading the Pinyin in Sagebooks instead of the Chinese characters, you may want to try a reading strip. Reading strips can make reading easier by reducing visual stress. Cover up the Pinyin and English translation to help focus on the Chinese characters. Continue Reading
Printable Book About Germs and Preventing Illness - This winter has been the pits for our family. It seems each holiday or long weekend has been spent cooped up with one of us recovering from the flu or a cold bug. The other day through social media I discovered MIIIA*Mia’s 口罩小衛兵, a printable book about germs and preventing illness by wearing face masks. Her social media post has since been shared almost 8,000 times in just 4 days! Incredible! You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram and please… Continue Reading
Habbi Habbi Reading Wand Review - Last week Monday was a school holiday. That night my daughter came down with a fever and was home from school for 3 days. That’s total of 4 days that one of us had to stay home from work because we have no back up childcare. The first morning with my sick baby, I had no idea how I was going to get any work done. Then, I remembered a gift we received, the Habbi Habbi Reading Wand! The previous… Continue Reading
Book That Inspired My Son To Write - My son still remembers the Museum of Natural History in New York City, even though it’s been two years since our last visit. Perhaps that is why he enjoyed the book Dear Dinosaur so much. This is the book that inspired my son to write on his own! Really not a big deal, but kind of a big deal fro a kid that doesn’t like writing! The book is interactive with cards and letters that you have to open to… Continue Reading
Dinosaur Books With Big Text - It’s no secret that kids love dinosaurs. Dinosaur books are not difficult to find, so what’s different about this list of books? These are dinosaur books with big text! My kids can recognize many of the characters in their simpler books but, they rarely read on their own. While reading together I notice most of the books have very small text. I find myself trying hard to read the characters. For someone learning Chinese, the small text makes it difficult… Continue Reading
Books on Hygiene - My boy, my first born child, 我的臭豆腐, is starting kindergarten next month. Friends, I’m totally spazzing out. In preschool there is a teacher per 6 students. In preschool they all go as a group to wash their hands before they eat. They brush their teeth after lunch. Kindergarten is going to be a free-for-all. I cannot get HFM again. Please, not again! We’ve been reading these books on hygiene. Please work. Please, please work! 刷牙小小兵勇闖蛀牙王國 Brushing Soldiers of Cavity Kingdom… Continue Reading