The series Graded Readers
for Chinese Language Learners is composed of 50 books, divided into three
subseries, namely folktales, literary stories and historical stories,
corresponding to Levels 1-3 respectively. The rich and fun content and
easy-to-understand language makes it easy for everyone, whether they are
foreigners learning Chinese, children with parents of Chinese origin, ethnic
minority students of the Chinese language, or even primary school students in
China, to read this series. It enables the readers to gradually improve their
Chinese reading skills and enhance their understanding of Chinese culture by
reading and enjoying stories.
The “Folktales” subseries includes 10 stories, hence 10 books,
adapted from folk legends, each book written in 20,000-30,000 Chinese
characters. The titles of the 10 books are Hua
Mulan, Lady White Snake, The Cow Herder and the Weaver Girl, A Golden Millet Dream, Chang’e Flying to the Moon, The Old Man
under the Moon, The Butterfly Lovers, Nie Xiaoqian, Chen Shimei, and Beauty from
the Painting.
In the book Chang’e Flying to the Moon, the brave tiger slayer Hou Yi was in love with Chang’e, a girl living in the neighboring village. Hou Yi went to Tianshan where he learned tremendous ability from the Queen Mother of the West and killed ten evil beasts. Then he went back home and married Chang’e. However, the villain Feng Meng who had always coveted Chang’e murdered Hou Yi. Chang’e, after eating a magical pill from the Queen Mother of the West, flied to the moon and became an immortal after avenging Hou Yi.
Ms. Chen Xianchun is a professor at Beijing Language
and Culture University who has engaged in the teaching of Chinese as a foreign
language since 1975, equipped with rich Chinese teaching experience. Professor
Chen has made profound research into the teaching of Chinese reading and has
published, in addition to more than 20 academic papers, many monographs and
textbooks such as Teaching Reading and
Psychology, Typical Characters and
Events in Chinese Culture, A Primer
on Modern Chinese Reading, An
Intensive Chinese Course, and Read
This Way.