My First Book of Mandarin

A brilliant, colorful way to learn your first words in Mandarin!

Introduce your child (or yourself!) to the incredible language of Mandarin! Featuring over 800 first words with bright, bold illustrations, My First Book of Mandarin provides each word in English, traditional and simplified Chinese characters, and a romanization that makes pronunciation a breeze. Readers will also find cultural tips, sample sentences, and simple hints on usage and word choice. An index in the back includes a complete list of all words in the book with handy page references. With a special emphasis on the culture and customs you'll find in China itself, My First Book of Mandarin is divided into sections including People, Personal Pronouns, Courtesy, Geography, Family, Transportation, Science, Sports, Holidays and Festivals, Meals, and more.

About the Series

The Little Library of Languages teaches beginners the basics of foreign languages through brightly colored illustrations and simple explanations of grammar, spelling, language systems, pronunciations, counting, and more. The perfect gift for families about to travel abroad or for kids who love learning about other people and places. 

Titles in the series include:

My First Book of French (Spring 2022)
My First Book of Japanese (Spring 2022)
My First Book of Mandarin (Fall 2022)
My First Book of Spanish ISpring 2023)
My First Book of Thai (Spring 2024)
My First Book of Korean (Fall 2024)

Timothy Tsai grew up in Provo, Utah. Born as a Chinese American and raised by immigrant parents, Tim learned English at school while learning Chinese at home. Tim was taught by his parents to diligently preserve his family’s Chinese heritage. He has also been fortunate enough to visit family back in China on several occasions to learn more about his ancestors and their traditions, values, and culture. 

Tim has always had a fascination with different languages. Having taken Spanish classes, French classes, Japanese classes, and even some Chinese classes, he has had plenty of experiences as a novice language learner and understands the time and effort it takes to master a language.

Tim currently resides in Orem, Utah, with his wife and is obtaining a master’s degree to become a marriage and family therapist. When he is not working or studying, he enjoys playing video games, playing basketball, reading books, watching anime, and spending quality time with his wife, family, and friends.