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.