 
Books and Me Children's Chinese Library, founded in 2005 by the Zhaoyu Cultural Foundation, is the first Children's library in Northern California that aggregates more than 6000 Chinese books, audio/visual media for young children.
We offer FREE Mandarin Story Time on Saturdays. Art, Kindergarten Chinese, Cantonese, Online Abacus, and others classes are taught in Mandarin with a fee to facilitate a Chinese immersion environment.
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Books and Me Library is now open to all members on Saturdays from 11:00am to 4:00pm with NO appointments needed. Members can check out up to 8 books without a fee. Our in-person story time started on Saturday, 8/6/2022! During the weekdays, appointments are still required by email with your Books and Me library ID number before your visit. Masks are still required on site and we highly recommend you and your family get Covid vaccination up to date.
- 2022 Fall Class Registration Starts NOW!
Parents can register Fall class ONLINE ONLY.
Please read Covid19 Safety Protocols and details of each class flyers carefully to choose the right group. To register, please read carefully and fill out Fall 2022 Class Registration Form ! You will receive a PayPal invoice within 2 business days for payment. Registration is not completed until you make the payment.
Please finish the registration process (including payment) at least two days before the first class date. There will be a $10 per class session urgent process fee will be charged on the PayPal invoice.
*All classes are open to our members only, and require parent participation or present when classes held in the library.
* Most classes are taught in Mandarin, but all teachers are bilingual.
*Please read the registration form carefully, esp. regarding rules on student's absence, transfer, or class refund. Class materials required by the Abacus and art classes are not refundable once purchased.
*Due to Covid-19 pandemic, ONE PARENT OR GUARDIAN of each student younger than 4 can wait in the reading room/the library till the class ends.
- NEW! 'Move With Me"Story/Circle Time
FREE Trial Classes Offered:
Saturday, 10/1/2022, 11:30-Noon
To register a Trial class, please sign up here!
Need parents or caretakers' participation, IN-PERSON class every Tuesday
Class dates:
Session A: 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, 11/1 (5 weeks)
Session B: 11/8, 11/15, 11/29, 12/6, 12/13 (5 weeks, no class 11/22)
Class Time:
RM21 9:40-10:20 am, for 2 to 3.5 year-old
RM22 10:30-11:10 am, for 3.5 to 5 year-old
- Fall Wonderful Art Class
Professional art teacher will lead your children to try various art media (sketch, watercolor, charcoal, acrylic....) and improve their drawing and painting skills. Children move through levels based on age and skill development.
Session A - Birds and Flowers: 9/10-10/15, no class 9/17.
Session B - Watercolor: 10/22-12/17, no class 11/12, 11/19, 11/26.
Please choose groups by age:
In Person Groups:
WA61: 9:30-10:30, for 8-11 years and older
WA62: 10:45-11:30, for 4-5 year olds.
WA63: 11:45-12:45, for 6-7 year olds.
WA65: 3:45-5:15 (1.5 hours), for 11+ (including high schoolers) or younger students by invitations only.
Art Portfolio Group (WAPRO): 5:15-7:15 (2 hours): by invitation only.
Online Groups:
WA64V1: 1:00-1:45, for 4-7 year olds.
WA64V2: 2:30-3:30, for 8-11 year olds.
- Fall Mandarin Chinese Class
**Now offer Partial Terms Registration**
All NEW curriculum and teaching method for your 3-6 years old! Learn to recognize Chinese characters in this fun class filled with songs, rhymes, games, and stories! 100% Mandarin Immersion.
Class meets on Saturdays:
Session A: 9/10-10/22.
Session B: 10/29-12/17, no class 11/26.
In Person Groups:
MC60: for 5-6 year olds, 9:45-10:30 am. Accepting Beginners
MC61: for 3-4 year olds, 10:40-11:25 am. Accepting Beginners
- Fall Cantonese for Young Children
Instructed by professional teacher who is also a native Cantonese speaker.
Class will meet on Saturday mornings.
Session A: 9/10-10/22.
Session B: 10/29-12/17, no class 11/26.
All online Groups:
CT62V (7-12 year olds): 9:00-9:50, for advance students.
CT61V (5-8 year olds): 10:00-10:50
CT60V (4-8 year-olds): 11:00-11:50, for beginners with basic Cantonese listening skills.
- Fall Abacus and Mental Math Class
Plan to improve your child's math skills and learn to focus in the new school year? Come join the effective Elementary Abacus class. Our students, age 5 and above, won medals at regional competition! In the weekly class, they learn clear place values and number sense, and improve computation speed by special Abacus technics. Build solid foundation in math and gain confidence in the future class!
Tuesday Online Groups
Session A: 9/6-10/18.
Session B: 10/25-12/13, no class 11/22.
ABA22V: 4:30-5:30 , for Beginners
ABA23V: 5:30-6:30
ABA24V: 6:30-7:30 (Advance group, by invitation only.)
Saturday Online Groups
Session A: 9/10-10/22.
Session B: 10/29-12/17, no class 11/26.
ABA61V: 2:30-3:30
ABA62V: 3:30-4:30
ABA63V: 4:30-5:30
For further question regarding Fall 2022 Classes, please email librarian@zhaoyu.org.
- Information about Summer 2022 Online Classes:
Summer Wonderful Art Class
Summer Mandarin Chinese Class
Summer Cantonese for Young Children
Summer Abacus and Mental Math Class
To register Summer 2022 Online Classes, please fill out Summer 2022 Online Class Registration Form.
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- Books & Me Children's Chinese Library is open to MEMBERS only.
Membership is free. You will need a Books and Me Library Card to use the facility and check out library items. Please read our library policy carefully.
**To apply for a library card , please use this link: to apply online and email a proof of California Residency to librarian@zhaoyu.org to complete the application and need to pick up the library card later in person
**VIP Membership: Make a donation (min. $40/year) every year to receive borrowing privilege and priority in class registration; and help Books and Me Library provide better service to our community. Please fill out the form here .
or email us at librarian@zhaoyu.org for details.
**All check-out procedures have to be completed 15 minutes before closing time. It will be greatly appreciated if you can reserve enough time to browse and borrow our library materials when visiting the library.
**Due to our members' generosity, limited space, and the pandemic, we CANNOT accept any donation of books and Audio/Visual materials (CDs, VCDs, VHS, or cassette tapes) until further notice. We really appreciate your support to Books and Me Library
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Free Saturday In-Person Mandarin Story Time: 11:30am-Noon.
Children's stories told in Mandarin, for children 3 year and older only. All members are welcomed to join but weekly sign-up online is required.
Please Note: Our regular story time will be cancelled this Saturday, 10/1. We will, instead, have a Free "Move With Me" Trial Class on 10/1 where Teacher Lydia will give members a sneak peak on this new class that mixes music and movement for 2-5 year-olds. Parent participation is required and the space is limited! Please sign up here by 11:59 on Fridays
- Library Operating Hours:
| Monday |
11 am - 4 pm; visits by appointment only |
| Tuesday |
11 am - 4 pm ; visits by appointment only |
| Wednesday |
11 am - 4 pm ; visits by appointment only |
| Thursday |
11 am - 4 pm; visits by appointment needed |
| Friday |
11:00am - 4 pm; visits by appointment only |
| Saturday |
11 am - 4 pm; NO appointments needed |
| Sunday |
closed |
4600 El Camino Real,
Suite 205
Los Altos, CA 94022
Tel: 650-941-4379 , Email: librarian@zhaoyu.org
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- Books and Me has thousands of books and audio/visual
materials for children, in both Simplified and Traditional Chinese.
Topics cover natural sciences,
history, culture, education, parenting and more.
- To renew library items, please email to
librarian@zhaoyu.org. You only can renew once per item.
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Library Theme - Mid-Autumn Festival
Suggested Reading List (Chinese editions):
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Book: The Red-Eyed Rabbit
Written by: Wen Hua Wang
A-Wu is a special rabbit. He doesn't want to be those traditional rabbits who eat carrots, have red eyes, and wear white coats. So, A-Wu asks the bald crow to help with his eyes, but surprising he becomes the first rabbit to land on the moon! This is a creative story to tell an old holiday legend. Adults and kids will like this fun story while enjoying holiday atmosphere during the Mid Autumn Festival. Traditional Chinese, Zhuyin, suitable for children over four years old.
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Book: The Moon Lady
Written by: Feng Zhu Wu
Once upon a time there were ten suns in the sky which caused disaster to people. A man names Hou Yi shot down nine of the suns, and turned into a beloved hero by people. However, Hou Yi became a conceited and cruel ruler, he wanted to live forever. His wife, Chang Er, stole the magic potion which would make her husband immortal.... "The Moon Lady" is a legend of Moon Festival. People worship the moon on every fifteenth day in lunar August to commemorate Chang Er.
Traditional Chinese, Zhuyin, suitable for children over five years old.
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- Volunteers:
The success of Books & Me depends on your involvement. We
are looking for volunteers in many fields. Please write to hr@zhaoyu.org if you are interested in
lending a hand.
- Library Assistant/Admin
- Marketing Assistant
- Storyteller/Activity Teacher
- Activity Organizer
- Web Engineer
- Representives from Chinese schools
- Book Carriers
- Equipment:
Your junk can be a treasure for us. Please contact gift@zhaoyu.org for equipment
donations.
- Chinese children's audio CDs with or without books
- Chinese children's videos
- A flat screen computer monitor 19" or larger
- A Computer projector SVGA resolution or better
- A Projector screen
Due to space constrain, we do not accept
English books, books for adults (except parenting books), and homework
practice type of books. We also do not accept toys and craft items
unless specified on the website.
- Donations:
Public support is essential to the success of the Library. Your
donation to Books & Me through the Zhaoyu Cultural
Foundation is tax deductible. A small donation can help us bring
more books and better service to your children and the community. For
more information, please click here, or contact us at: gift@zhaoyu.org.
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