ChinaSprout's New Products

How Do I Do? Series II - US$4.88

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

How Do I Do? Series II same as Series I, tells the story of daily life of children encountered at the schools and at home. Each story is told by first person with children's perspectives and languages. It shows how they resolve the conflicts with parents and others, their good and bad behavior, willingness to listen and to accept. After reading this seires, parents can better understand the children's way of thinking and behavior patterns, and to enhance parent-child relationship as well as to re-establish of family smooth relationship. Ages 6-12.

Discovery of Animal Kingdom Series - US$12.99

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

This series include four books, Ask An Ocean Creature, Ask An Animal, Ask A Bug, and Ask A Dinosaur. Have you ever thought that if the dinosaurs, ants, dolphins, or kangaroo would say, they will be able to tell you the story? They will tell you everything that you want to know about animals. State your questions, we will listen and answer. Ready? Then we get started! Ages 4-8.

Science Verse - US$16.99

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

What if a boring lesson about the food chain becomes a sing-aloud celebration about predators and prey? A twinkle-twinkle little star transforms into a twinkle-less, sunshine-eating-and rhyming Black Hole? What if amoebas, combustion, metamorphosis, viruses, the creation of the universe are all irresistible, laugh-out-loud poetry? Well, you're thinking in science verse, that's what. And if you can't stop the rhymes . . . the atomic joke is on you. Only the amazing talents of Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, the team who created Math Curse, could make science so much fun. Ages 4-8.

Math Curse - US$16.99

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Did you ever wake up to one of those days where everything is a problem? You have 10 things to do, but only 30 minutes till the bus leaves. Is there enough time? You have 3 shirts and 2 pairs of pants -- can you make 1 good outfit? Don't worry -- it's just the Math Curse striking! An amusing book about dealing with numbers in everyday life. Ages 7 and up.

Let�s Go Guang! Chinese for Children Multimedia Kit - US$49.95

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Let�s Go Guang! Chinese for Children, is a language program developed by aha!Chinese in conjunction with linguists and educators and tested by parents and kids. The series uses aha!Chinese�s Migration to Immersion, MTIM�, method of instruction in which Chinese words and phrases are methodically introduced within an English environment. New phrases are continuously introduced and each episode builds on the words and phrases learned in the episodes preceding it until the end of the series at which point �immersion� is achieved. The target age is for children 2-8 years old, however anyone who wishes to learn Mandarin Chinese will also enjoy the series. Each episode is packaged together as part of a multimedia learning system.

The first component is an animated series, which features a Chinese-American sister and brother team, Ling and Kai. The story revolves around their special relationship with Guang, the Chinese Dragon. Through the series, you and your children will learn Mandarin Chinese and will explore Chinese culture, both in China and in America. In addition to the animated story, Chinese lessons are interspersed throughout the story, and use repetition and music to focus on key phrases spoken in the story. Each episode also has live narrated footage of some aspect of Chinese history and culture, whether it is a historical landmark, holiday, Chinese school, marketplace, food, etc. Through use of video as a medium, children learn both visually and aurally. The video allows us to place certain words and phrases in contexts that would otherwise be impossible to recreate with any other medium.
The second and third components of the aha!Chinese learning system are an audio CD and storybook, whose tale closely mirrors that of the animated video. The read along CD features a lively narration of the story and songs from the DVD. Mandarin Chinese is presented along with English, in a Romanized form called Chinese pinyin, making it readable for non-Chinese speakers. There is a guide in the back of the book that illustrates the Chinese character that corresponds to the Chinese pinyin. The book serves to reinforce the lessons learned in the video. While some children learn best visually, others enjoy reading books, or being read to, over and over again.
A fourth component is a set of flashcards, which include the Mandarin Chinese vocabulary words and phrases used in the story. These cards can be used as typical flashcards or to play games such as a matching memory game to reinforce the material in a fun way that provides hands on learning.
Each episode teaches about Chinese history and culture, through visits to famous Chinese landmarks, different Chinese foods and simply through the interactions of the �Let�s Go Guang!� family members themselves.
In the first episode of the series, Meet Guang, the Chinese Dragon, we meet Ling and Kai and learn about their chance encounter with Guang the Dragon during a visit to see their grandparents. We learn over 45 common everyday basic words, phrases and numbers. We also explore Chinese Gong Fu and the popular Chinese meal of dumplings.

Chinese SAT II: Sample Tests - US$24.95

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Compiled by the Association of Northern California of Chinese Schools, this study guide includes sample tests and tips on how to score high on the SAT II Subject Test in Chinese. Each book includes two free audio CD�s and questions that test grammar, reading and listening comprehension.

Chinese for Youth Student's Workbook (Level 4) - US$22.5

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Designed to go with the textbook in the "Chinese for Youth" (Level 4) program, this workbook is filled with learning activities based on the content introduced in the text. It contains a variety of exercises, which provide plenty of opportunities for children to practice the four key communication skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Please note that this price is for the Student Workbook only. Related materials, including supportive CD, must be purchased separately. Ages 8 to 16.

My Little Book of Chinese Words - US$17.95

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

This handsome picture book focuses on the visual aspect of Chinese characters. Words are introduced on the verso with the modern Chinese character and a smaller ancient character in the upper left corner of the page, so one is immediately aware of the evolution of the visual form of the word. On the right, a full-page illustration is rendered in a way that echoes the strokes of the character. For example, the picture for the character "high" shows a pagodalike building similar to the form of the calligraphy. The words are grouped so that terms such as "see," "look at," and "ear" follow "eye," whose written character is part of these other related characters, indicating the relationship of the basic word to the others. The artwork is rich and colorful; these striking linotypes at times include in their design or as their frame what appears to be boldly patterned origami paper. In fact, the whole book is artistically satisfying: the design, the colors, the thoughtfulness of the visual presentation, and the square, thick shape just the right size for easy browsing. The book is, however, problematic in terms of its usefulness. Though the pinyin translation of the Chinese characters is given, no pronunciation guide is included. In addition, the pinyin doesn't show any indication of tones. For example, "tian" is the Chinese for both "field' and "sky," but nothing indicates that the pronunciation of the two words differs slightly but significantly. Overall, this is an attractive guide to understanding Chinese characters but not to understanding the spoken language. Ages 4-8.

Chinese New Year Greeting Card - US$2.95

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

These New Year cards feature playing children decorated with the blossom flower and papercuts in the background or with a tiger in cotton ornament design, along with the Chinese character Ji Xiang - Good Luck. English greeting "Season's Greetings and Best Wishes for the New Year" is on the front and inside of the card.

The Year of the Tiger Greeting Card - US$2.95

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

This New Year greeting card features a tiger in cotton ornament design, decorated with golden firecrakers on the corners and the Chinese characters Nu Nian Ji Xiang - Good Luck in the Year of the Tiger. The greeting message "Season's Greetings and Best Wishes for the New Year" in English is on the front and inside of the card.