Mandarin for Preschoolers and Toddlers

By Mei Lin

Preschool Mandarin is about sounds, rhymes and first words, long before any reading. These books are for children of about 2 to 5 and the grown-up beside them, at home, at nursery or in a toddler group. They cover hello and goodbye, family, animals, colours, counting, vehicles, feelings, manners and bedtime.

Your child listens, points, colours and says words back while you read the lines aloud. By the end of a book, a child can say its first words, such as hello, goodbye and thank you. You don't need to speak Chinese, because every line has pinyin and English, and most of the books have free audio.

8 preschool books. Free.

Best first book

Mandarin for Preschoolers: First Words Activity Book

Colour, circle, match and count first Mandarin words with Bao the panda, for ages 3 to 5. The grown-up reads, and the child points, colours and copies. For a 2-year-old, start with Mandarin for Toddlers.

Preschool & toddlers (8)

Mandarin for Preschoolers: First Words Activity Book
Kids 3-5 (pre-A1) · 28 pages · Kids
Mandarin for Toddlers: Rhymes, Action Games and Coloring (Ages 2–4)
Kids 2-4 (pre-A1) · 27 pages · Kids
Chinese Flashcards for Kids: 96 Picture Cards to Print (Ages 3–7)
Kids 3-7 (pre-A1) · 15 pages · Kids
Bedtime Chinese: 10 Goodnight Stories to Read Aloud (Ages 3–6)
Kids 3-6 (pre-A1) · 23 pages · Kids
Things That Go in Chinese for Kids: Cars, Trains, Planes and Boats (Ages 3–6)
Kids 3-6 (pre-A1) · 12 pages · Kids
Feelings and Manners in Chinese for Kids: Happy, Sad, Please and Thank You (Ages 3–6)
Kids 3-6 (pre-A1) · 13 pages · Kids
Mandarin Circle Time for Preschoolers: Immersion-Style Routines to Do at Home
Kids 2-4 (pre-A1) · 24 pages · Kids
Mandarin for Preschoolers: Animal Sounds Coloring Book (Woof, Moo and Quack in Chinese)
Kids 2-4 (pre-A1) · 21 pages · Kids

Frequently asked questions

What ages are these preschool Mandarin books for?

About 2 to 6. Mandarin for Toddlers is for ages 2 to 4, Mandarin for Preschoolers for 3 to 5, and the bedtime stories, vehicles and feelings books for 3 to 6. The picture flashcards suit ages 3 to 7.

Can I teach my toddler Mandarin if I don't speak it?

Yes. You read the lines, and every one has pinyin and English. Mandarin for Toddlers has free audio that reads each line slowly with a pause to say it back, and there's no tracing or reading for your child.