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ODCF announces a new children's series,
My Life in China: The Story of Xiao Min©. This new series of ten books takes Xiao Min® (meaning “little clever”) from her early childhood through going on to college.

It allows children adopted from China and their classmates to imagine about and explore with their parents and teachers what life is like in China through the eyes of Xiao Min. We hope everyone will see and understand through Xiao Min the differences and similarities between life in China and life in a western country. Chinese culture and values are included along with Chinese language learning.

Books are suitable for all age ranges of children and include English, pinyin and simplified characters. The book series is available to order now and five additional titles will be added to this series this year!

About the Series: Xiao Min lives with her parents and grandparents in a village in China. Though her family is not rich, her life is full of simple pleasures. Early on Xiao Min helps her parents in the rice fields, her mom combs her ponytails, she plays with her friends in school (as she gets older), and her family celebrates Chinese New Year. Even though her family later welcomes a baby boy, she is still encouraged by family members to continue her education and to be a good student. Xiao Min goes to college and has the chance to pursue her dream – to become a teacher. Check out the five books available now in this series below. Ten books will complete the series this year. Attention Parents and Teachers: Each book includes at the end of the story, a Chinese culture learning page providing information useful in understanding the theme and book contents.
Book 1: Xiao Min and Her Family ©
Xiao Min is a toddler and is learning to speak. She is learning to say things like: Ma Ma (mom), Ba Ba (dad), grandparents, colors, body parts, toys, etc.
Book 2: Xiao Min and the Four Seasons ©
Xiao Min is about 4 to 5 years old and lives in the countryside. She enjoys all the fun of playing outside with her friends and picking flowers with her grandmother. As summer ends her family prepares for the Mid-Autumn Festival to celebrate the harvest.
Book 3: Xiao Min Visits the City ©
Xiao Min is about to turn 6 years old and she visits the big city with her family for her birthday. Her aunt and uncle live there with her cousin and the uncle works at a big factory. Xiao Min talks in simple sentences about cars, buildings, seeing the zoo, and eating in a restaurant. She has a birthday cake and sings happy birthday.
Book 4: Xiao Min Goes to School ©
Xiao Min is 6 years old when she start school. She shares about her school, her teacher, her books, making new friends, and playing games. At the October 1st holiday, the family has a new member - a baby boy.
Book 5: Xiao Min and the Lunar New Year ©
Xiao Min is 7 to 8 years old in this book. She celebrates the Lunar New Year with her family. She experiences fireworks, decorates the house, celebrates the Kitchen God Day, receives Hong Bao from her grandparents, enjoys eating many of the holiday foods, visits her relatives, and has fun at a Temple Fair.
The Xiao Min series was developed and written by: Dr. Jane Liedtke and Sun Xiao Bing by Sun Xiao Bing, Dr. Jane Liedtke, Merritt Wilson, Willa Wang, and Megan Zaroda . Editors and Translators: Emily Liedtke and Jane Liedtke Illustrated by: Yan Peihong and Chen Xiaohong Copyright © OCDF 2009 Permission to Cite & Reprint Upon Request The Xiao Min character, image, and all book titles are Copyright OCDF © 2009 and Registered Trademarks®. All rights reserved world-wide.

Reviews

Jean MacLeod, author of At Home in this World, a China Adoption Story, and co-editor of Adoption Parenting: Creating a Toolbox, Building Connections

Xiao Min ('Little Clever') begins this series of ten Mandarin language learning books as a very young child, living with her parents and grandparents in a Chinese village. The beginning Mandarin student will learn basic vocabulary along with Xiao Min (with pinyin, and simplified Chinese characters), and will be introduced to Chinese family culture. As Xiao Min grows from toddler to college student, each book’s vocabulary and story topic becomes a little more complex. Children will experience, in a linear, age-appropriate fashion, the differences and similarities between life in China and life in a western country. Mandarin language learners of all ages will appreciate the saga’s infusion of Chinese values, the description of daily activities and family relationships, and the lively illustrations capturing Xiao Min’s celebrations and school days. Books 1-5 are currently available from OCDF.

 Our Chinese Daughters Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with offices in Bloomington, IL and Beijing. OCDF Publications is devoted to ensuring educators and parents have access to high-quality, accurate Chinese culture education resources.

Updated 10.11.2010