Graded Readers

[wrbt]

I remember when the Chinese Breeze came out it seemed like the only game in town but the graded reader format really seems to be taking off. There is a thread about China Breeze in the textbooks subforum http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/17182-chinese-breeze-%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E9%A3%8E%EF%BC%89-graded-readers/ but I don't think I consider them textbooks, they are more supplemental in nature so I'm starting a thread here to discuss the various resources.

Step By Step Reading for Practical Purposes

http://www.chinasprout.com/shop/BLH141 (see related products on bottom for rest)

Reading China

http://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Kingdom-Graded-Readers-Reading/dp/7560082351

China Breeze

http://www.chinabooks.com.au/ChinaBooks/search.cfm?records_to_display=50&search_stage=results&search_string=Chinese%20Breeze&keyword_form=yes

Chinese Biographies

http://www.cheng-tsui.com/store/products/chinese_biographies

Tian Tian Zhongwen

http://www.mydiscoverchina.com/index.php?target=tiantianzhongwen

Readings in Chinese Culture

http://www.amazon.com/Essays-Readings-Chinese-Culture-Intermediate/dp/0887275354

Tales and Traditions

http://www.cheng-tsui.com/store/products/tales_traditions

What did I miss?

[HedgePig]

The "My Little Chinese Story Books" Series by Victor Siye Bao, published by Peking University Press.

http://www.chinasprout.com/shop/BSE307

There are 40 in the series. Each story is only around 500 characters long and I think they are all at the same difficulty level - I'd put them at just-beyond-beginner. The books are heavily illustrated and the characters are clearly printed with pinyin in a smaller font as well. There is a vocab list at the end but no other English translation. From around no. 20 onwards, there is also a page at the back with the story repeated in characters only. I've noticed that some of these character only-pages use a quirky font which isn't ideal for learners.

Each book has a CD with a flash program reading the story page by page and with the text being highlighted karaoke style. (I'm not sure if this is always sold together.)

I think these books are aimed at Chinese children living in English speaking countries. I myself really don't need all the illustrations and I'd like something a little longer. However I think they are reasonably useful addition, particularly given the shortage of suitable books at the beginner levels.

[elina]

What did I miss?

Read Chinese Everyday:

http://www.studychineseculture.com/search.asp?keyword=Read+Chinese+Everyday&thetype=bookname&submit1=SEARCH

Graded Chinese Reader:

http://www.studychineseculture.com/search.asp?keyword=Graded+Chinese+Reader&thetype=bookname&submit1=SEARCH

On our site, we have most of the books on Chinese Graded Readers/ Easy & Funny Reading Materials (Some with Free CD), as long as they were published in mainland China:

http://www.studychineseculture.com/class.asp?fid=265&sid=515&tid=0

[JenniferW]

Is there anyone in the UK who would like three of the level 1 Chinese Breeze readers? I've read them, but they're in good condition (no pencil annotations, etc) - and I would happily post them to someone in the UK who would like them. They're not exactly what you keep on your bookshelf for lots of future re-reading and reference!

[hatapota]

Is there anyone in the UK who would like three of the level 1 Chinese Breeze readers? I've read them, but they're in good condition (no pencil annotations, etc) - and I would happily post them to someone in the UK who would like them. They're not exactly what you keep on your bookshelf for lots of future re-reading and reference!

I'd love them if they're going spare! I've only read one of these ("Can I dance with you?") and it was really refreshing to read something a bit longer than things from textbooks, but not so difficult that I had to look up many words. I can post this one on to anyone who's interested and in the UK?

[wrbt]

I picked up a few of these.

Step By Step Reading for Practical Purposes - Good stuff! What they have an overall topic for a book (like economy) then about a dozen articles related to it. I think shortest was 4 minutes on the audio, the longest 9 minutes. Genuinely interesting material though, the one I have has texts on growing consumer debt, revitalization of small towns, migrant workers, housing reform, deng. The format is characters on left page, pinyin on the right page, with vocab in the margins. I've ordered a bunch more of these books.

Reading China - Meh. Not terrible but not as good as above. The level 2 books have the pinyin interwoven with the characters (line of chars, line of pinyin) and personal pref I absolutely hate that. The level 3 books have no pinyin except for the vocab which is in the margins. They have cultural notes in each chapter. What I didn't like was 1) the articles are much shorter there are 25 in the book so there is never much "meat" to anything, 2) again personal preference but the topics are often almost childish with fables and stuff.

Audio quality on enclosed CD is outstanding for both series.

[wrbt]

Also = I'm done with the ones I have so anyone in continental U.S. who wants 'em I'd be happy to send 'em your way. They are in good shape and I have the CD for each, total price for all four = $0.00, although you could probably help your karma but sending a $5 bill back my way to cover shipping, but I won't hold you to it.

[JenniferW]

Is there anyone studying Chinese in the UK who would like a copy of the Level 2 Chinese Breeze book, 'Our geese have gone' / 我家的大雁飞走了？ I've just finished reading it and am living somewhere in England that there's no-one to pass it on to and I'd happily post it to someone in this country who wants it.