Are you raising bilingual kids but aren’t sure how to teach them to read Chinese characters? Le Le Chinese books and reading pen help children practice reading independently, even when their parents aren’t confident Chinese readers.
If you’ve been researching Chinese reading resources, you’ve probably heard of Sagebooks 500. So which should you buy? Sagebooks, Le Le Chinese, or both? In this review, I break down the Le Le reading system. This will help you determine if this set is the right investment for your family.
What Is Le Le Chinese?
Le Le Chinese (樂樂文化) is a Chinese reading system developed by an educator with more than 20 years of teaching experience. The Le Le Chinese Listening and Reading System focuses on building Chinese literacy through reading, helping children recognize characters and develop reading skills without relying heavily on writing practice. It’s designed to make learning Chinese less frustrating, especially for children growing up bilingual or those who don’t live in a Chinese-speaking environment.
Le Le Chinese uses physical books with audio support. The short book format makes it easier to incorporate reading into everyday routines.
Learn 1000 Chinese Characters
The 300 Le Le Chinese books use approximately 1,000 common Chinese characters throughout the series. The stories start with simple characters and phrases, then gradually introduce full sentences. Characters appear repeatedly across different stories, helping children recognize them and reinforce what they’ve learned through repetition.
What is included in the Le Le Chinese Reading System
300 Graded Chinese Readers
The complete set contains 300 books organized into three levels: red, yellow, and green. Each level builds on the previous one, helping children progress from beginner reading toward greater independence.
Audio Reading Pen
With the Le Le Chinese reading pen. Children can tap words, sentences, or other designated areas in the books to hear the corresponding audio. This is particularly helpful for families whose parents cannot read Chinese. Instead of having to look up every unfamiliar character, children can listen and learn independently.
Traditional and Simplified Chinese
Le Le Chinese books teach Mandarin with both Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese editions.
Sound Magic Stickers
Le Le Chinese also offers 3,000 Sound Magic Stickers that work with the reading pen, allowing you to turn any book into an audio book. Record yourself or your child’s grandparents reading a favorite story to create a special keepsake. Children can also record their own voices and play back the recordings with a simple tap of the pen.
Who Is Le Le Chinese Best For?
The Le Le Chinese books and reading pen are a great option for any parent who wants to help their children learn to read Chinese, regardless of their own language skills.
As a second-generation Taiwanese American heritage speaker who is still learning to read Chinese, the reading pen is such a time saver. I used to rely on my phone to look up unfamiliar characters, but now my children can tap the text and hear the pronunciation instantly.
For non-heritage families learning Chinese, the reading pen is equally useful. It lets children hear the correct pronunciation, even when their parents don’t speak or read Chinese themselves.
How We Use Le Le Chinese
Each day, I have my kids read 3-5 Le Le books to supplement their in-person tutoring. We started Le Le Chinese after Sagebooks 500, which introduces children to 500 Chinese characters through a structured series of books. Le Le Chinese gives children additional opportunities to practice what they’ve already learned, while the reading pen lets them learn new characters.
I recommend keeping the books in clear storage bins. Keep books visible so they are not forgotten!
Where can I buy Le Le Chinese?
The complete Le Le Chinese collection costs $1,680. You can buy Le Le Chinese directly from the official Le Le Culture website. They offer international shipping.
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If you can afford it, Le Le Chinese is a great addition to your Chinese learning library. If you’re lucky, you can find a pre-owned set for about half price in Used Books By Motherly Notes Facebook group.
