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 subseries “Historical Stories” is composed
of 20 books based on the history of the Spring and Autumn period and the
Warring States period between 770 BC and 202 BC. On the basis of the historical
records in Commentary of Zuo, Records of the Grand Historian, Discourses of the States, and Strategies of the Warring States, each
book is given a number according to the chronological order, and readers can
read the books in order.
The Story of an Armchair Strategist tells the story of Zhao Kuo, son of the famous general Zhao She of Kingdom Zhao in the
Warring States Period, who, as the successor of the great general Lian Po, with
only book knowledge and no war experience, was defeated by the Qin army,
causing a death toll of 400,000.
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, AnIntensive Chinese Course,
and Read This Way.