Graded Readers for Chinese Language Learners Series: 500 - 1200 Characters (BLCUP)

[Mati1]

This series of graded readers is divided into three levels: 500, 800, 1200 characters.

According to blcup.com level 3 has not been released yet (keeping fingers crossed) and I can't find all 20 level 2 books there either. (UPDATE: available now)

However this series is starting to become available in the West. See my attached photos for proof that these books can be ordered from European shops. (I bought them via http://www.chinabooks.ch but the page does not show which books are actually in stock and if they are out of stock it can take some months ...). I've successfully bought nine level 1 books (the store is missing one ...) and 10 level 2 books (two story arcs). I am now also in possession of the first four level 3 books, bought in China. (UPDATE)

 

Graded Readers for Chinese Language Learners - 学汉语分级读物 (BLCUP)

Level 1 (500 ch.): 10 independent books (folktales). (85 - 111 pages)

Level 2 (800 ch.): 20 books divided into four story arcs (literary stories)

Level 3 (1200 ch.): 20 books enumerated in chronological order. I guess the stories are mainly independent: (historic stories) (UPDATE)

 

Comparing the number of pages of level 1 and 2 with Chinese breeze level 2 and 3, the books of this new series contain maybe 10 to 25 more pages per book. The page layout allows for more text per page and the physical size is also a bit bigger than with Chinese Breeze books.

 

Since no level 4 Chinese Breeze books have been released and (UPDATE: Ch. Br. level 4 available) Mandarin Companion is not there yet, I am very excited about this new series, which can help everyone on his / her way to the intermediate level.

These books have an advantage over Chinese Breeze, that is many new words are explained in simple Chinese instead of providing an English word. That's great at an elementary level and I don't have that in my other readers.

 

The only real drawback is that there are no audio recordings available. Therefore I suggest that everyone buys the Chinese Breeze readers as well, for the included mp3 cds and to conveniently reach the 500 characters level. (Don't forget the Mandarin Companion readers, but they are also missing audio recordings.)

 

Pros:

• Good amount of text per book
• No English vocabulary

Cons:

• No audio available
• (Price: 29 Yuan vs. 16 Yuan for Chinese Breeze)

 

Have fun reading!

 

 

[Edit: Added level 1 page numbers]

[Mati1]

I am happy to announce that the remaining level 2 books have been released. In addition, the first eight level 3 books have been slowly coming out in the second half of 2017.

Since I do not want to wait 6 - 12 months to be able to buy something when I want to support the producers, I have asked my a friend in China to get some for me. At the time she was able the get four level 3 books online. As it turned out the availability was still very limited; she received the four books in three packages spread out over two months or so. She then proceeded to send me a standard (budget) package and it only took two weeks to arrive.

At the moment I am reading the last of my level 1 books of this series and so far I have enjoyed all the books. (I know, I should read more often.) I hope that I will also enjoy reading level 2 and 3 that much.

I am still excited about this series because it gives us (together with the other well known series) a path up to an intermediate level (or close to it, depending on your definition).

 

(OP updated.)

[Luxi]

Have you looked here?

https://www.purpleculture.net/reading-materials-c-1_101/?page=1&sort=2a

They're in Hong Kong, accept Paypal payments (you don't need to have a Paypal account to use Paypal with a credit card) and shipments by air mail take about 2 weeks. 

You can click the Ask a Question button to check if the books you want are in stock.

 

 

[Mati1]

Thanks Luxi for mentioning purpleculture. I did not know that they are based in Hongkong. I can see that they have level 2 listed, but no level 3 books yet.

I have only ordered books from a Chinese book shop once, it was from http://www.studychineseculture.com/. They are based in Beijing. I guess both shops would be willing to assist you in getting new books which they do not have listed yet.