I didn’t really start my Chinese book shopping habit until the twins began reading more independently last summer. In the early stages of our journey, I stocked up on books when they were around 1–3 years old but slowed down after that. Since they couldn’t read on their own, I only picked up a few books to read to them each night.
Everything changed when I started practicing reading with Little Bun. The number of books we needed suddenly skyrocketed, especially after I set a goal of 100 books for them last year. While it seemed like we had plenty, we quickly ran through most of what we owned.
Beyond bridge and chapter books, the books my kids read most often by themselves are comic books. They grab them first thing in the morning or just before bed. Little Bun reads the text, while Little Bao seems to focus more on the illustrations. Either way, I see this as an important step in building a reading habit!
Pleasure reading in Chinese takes a lot of effort to achieve, but I view comic books as a gateway. Even manga and other translated comics—which aren’t typically seen as “good” reading material for kids in Taiwan—can help develop a love for reading. With proper selection, as long as my kids are reading, I consider it a win. Many of these comics don’t include zhuyin, which forces them to rely on characters, providing valuable practice for zhuyin-free reading.
For families looking to encourage Chinese reading, I highly recommend having comic books around the house. Lay them out where kids can easily find them. Before you know it, they might surprise you by picking them up and immersing themselves in Chinese reading all on their own.
Comic books we like
Bao & Bun's Bilingual Journey 
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