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A Nest in Springtime: A Mandarin Chinese-English Bilingual Book of Numbers
In English and Mandarin Chinese, Belle Yang's bilingual board books celebrate the natural world with simple concepts and beautiful, bold illustrations.
In springtime, when wild geese come to nest, there are eggs for counting. But how many goslings will there be? And how many in the whole paddling family, when Papa and Mama join them? Tonal marks used in the book are explained in a final spread, along with a pinyin translation of the Chinese characters.
In springtime, when wild geese come to nest, there are eggs for counting. But how many goslings will there be? And how many in the whole paddling family, when Papa and Mama join them? Tonal marks used in the book are explained in a final spread, along with a pinyin translation of the Chinese characters.
24 pages, Board Book
First published April 24, 2012
1 person is currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Belle Yang
20 books15 followers"My Chinese name is Xuan, or "Forget-All-Sorrow." It is also Chinese for "lily of a day," notes Belle Yang. "If life spans a mere day, why spend it in worry?" Indeed, the author-illustrator of HANNAH IS MY NAME recalls a seemingly worry-free childhood in Taiwan and Japan, where she "doodled and fiddled around with words and discovered they were her life."
Now an author and painter, Belle Yang has developed a remarkable style that draws on her rich cultural background, influenced not only by childhood memories of Taiwan and Japan and her experience of immigrating to the United States at age seven, but also by her studies in Scotland and China. It was Belle Yang's homecoming from China to the U.S. after the Tiananmen Massacre that precipitated a new dedication to her art. "I returned with gratitude in my heart for the freedom of expression given me in America," she says. "I returned convinced that I would firmly grasp this gift with both hands." And since officially becoming an artist "sometime in the early nineties," Belle Yang's work has consistently garnered widespread acclaim for its vividness and authenticity. Notes Amy Tan, author of THE JOY LUCK CLUB, "Belle Yang is an American writer who writes in English and thinks in Chinese. Her writing feels Chinese. . . . It is as though we, the readers of English, can now miraculously read Chinese."
Belle Yang's latest book perfectly captures the essence of this Chinese-American fusion. HANNAH IS MY NAME is an immigrant story especially close to the author's own: "HANNAH IS MY NAME is based on our first years in San Francisco," she says. "I missed my old friends and teacher, but it was not a miserable yearning. It was a great privilege to come to the United States, and we didn't look back." Like the author, Hannah and her family move from Taiwan to San Francisco, where she takes a new name, begins a new school, learns a new language, and starts to adjust to a new way of life. Illuminated by Chinese-influenced paintings in jewel-like colors, Belle Yang's immigration tale represents one of the many facets of the American dream.
Belle Yang has written and illustrated four books and has participated in solo museum shows. She lives in California.
Now an author and painter, Belle Yang has developed a remarkable style that draws on her rich cultural background, influenced not only by childhood memories of Taiwan and Japan and her experience of immigrating to the United States at age seven, but also by her studies in Scotland and China. It was Belle Yang's homecoming from China to the U.S. after the Tiananmen Massacre that precipitated a new dedication to her art. "I returned with gratitude in my heart for the freedom of expression given me in America," she says. "I returned convinced that I would firmly grasp this gift with both hands." And since officially becoming an artist "sometime in the early nineties," Belle Yang's work has consistently garnered widespread acclaim for its vividness and authenticity. Notes Amy Tan, author of THE JOY LUCK CLUB, "Belle Yang is an American writer who writes in English and thinks in Chinese. Her writing feels Chinese. . . . It is as though we, the readers of English, can now miraculously read Chinese."
Belle Yang's latest book perfectly captures the essence of this Chinese-American fusion. HANNAH IS MY NAME is an immigrant story especially close to the author's own: "HANNAH IS MY NAME is based on our first years in San Francisco," she says. "I missed my old friends and teacher, but it was not a miserable yearning. It was a great privilege to come to the United States, and we didn't look back." Like the author, Hannah and her family move from Taiwan to San Francisco, where she takes a new name, begins a new school, learns a new language, and starts to adjust to a new way of life. Illuminated by Chinese-influenced paintings in jewel-like colors, Belle Yang's immigration tale represents one of the many facets of the American dream.
Belle Yang has written and illustrated four books and has participated in solo museum shows. She lives in California.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 17, 2017
This dual language board book (both written and illustrated by Belle Yang) basically and simply introduces the numbers from one to ten in both English and Mandarin Chinese. The fact that the pinyin has been included, is much appreciated, however and in my humble opinion, it really should have been used within the text proper (right and immediately underneath the Chinese characters) and NOT just placed at the back of the book as a supplement (for while the additional pinyin is indeed a wonderful language teaching and learning aid, having it relegated to the back means that one has to constantly flip back and forth, which is or at least can be somewhat if not majorly distracting and time consuming). The accompaying illustrations are sweet, bright and descriptive, but also rather cartoon like and juvenile in look and feel, and as such definitely mirroring both scope and general purpose (as A Nest in Springtime is most definitely primarily meant and conceptualised for the very young, for children just learning their numbers). That being said, A Nest in Springtime might also be of use for introducing basic numbers in Mandarin Chinese to teenagers and/or adults taking a first year, beginnig level language course (provided that the instructor does not limit himself or herself to course materials primarily meant and created for young children, as that could rapidly and easily become tedious and frustrating to and for teenaged and adult learners, not to mention majorly annoying).
March 11, 2024
Very pretty. Tot refuses to count, instead saying "many ducks". Lol.
August 8, 2018
In Mandarin or English, learn to count to ten with a family of geese in the spring time.
I like that these books provide a pronunciation guide in the back so you can really learn to count to ten in Mandarin from this book. The story is very simple but cute, so a good pick for those with short attention spans and those learning a language.
I like that these books provide a pronunciation guide in the back so you can really learn to count to ten in Mandarin from this book. The story is very simple but cute, so a good pick for those with short attention spans and those learning a language.
February 10, 2020
Simple counting story told in English and Mandarin Chinese text with cute illustrations.
May 13, 2021
The book tells a wonderful story of a mated pair of wild geese as they build their nest, watch over their eggs and teach their hatchlings how to swim.
There are 11 double page spreads to the story, with Chinese text on the left page and the English translation on the right page. The final double page spread contains the Pinyin pronunciation for the Chinese text. Surprisingly (for a book in Mandarin), the Chinese text is written in Traditional Chinese characters, which makes it ideal if you are focused on teaching your child Cantonese.
My daughter (who was two years old at the time of reading) loved to count each of the ten goslings. She enjoyed this book so much that she didn't want to return it to our local library...I had to renew the loan three times!
What made this book stand out was the way Belle combined a sweet story and beautiful illustrations to teach concepts about numbers and counting in a fun way. It was the first time I had seen a bilingual book with that unique combination. Belle's work was a huge part of the inspiration for me to write and publish my own bilingual book!
There are 11 double page spreads to the story, with Chinese text on the left page and the English translation on the right page. The final double page spread contains the Pinyin pronunciation for the Chinese text. Surprisingly (for a book in Mandarin), the Chinese text is written in Traditional Chinese characters, which makes it ideal if you are focused on teaching your child Cantonese.
My daughter (who was two years old at the time of reading) loved to count each of the ten goslings. She enjoyed this book so much that she didn't want to return it to our local library...I had to renew the loan three times!
What made this book stand out was the way Belle combined a sweet story and beautiful illustrations to teach concepts about numbers and counting in a fun way. It was the first time I had seen a bilingual book with that unique combination. Belle's work was a huge part of the inspiration for me to write and publish my own bilingual book!
September 6, 2025
This BB is about geese getting ready for their eggs to hatch. Mom and dad are paying close attention to their nest, soon they will have eight goslings to take care of! A simple story that speaks to family and how it is important to belong somewhere. I really liked the art; it is very stylized, but really goes well with the story.
December 28, 2020
Though this book lacks much of a plot, it is redeemed by the fact that is in both Chinese (traditional characters) and English. My husband and I had fun reading the Chinese (pinyin was available on the last page of the book).
August 31, 2024
I am grateful for this Chinese/English series of books. And as others have said, it would be smoother to have the pinyin pronunciation on-page instead of as an appendix. My heart actually skipped a beat when one of the ducks was missing, to be honest.
May 21, 2018
Cute. My mom thinks the Chinese sounds a little stilted, but unfortunately, I can’t tell!
August 15, 2018
Counting to ten
Language: Mandarin and English
Language: Mandarin and English
October 7, 2021
Fun board book!
April 22, 2012
Belle Yang has two new bilingual board books. Each is a concept book. A Nest in Springtime is a bilingual book of numbers in English and Mandarin Chinese. Summertime Rainbow, the second book, is a bilingual book of colors in English and Mandarin Chinese. Both books have simple text. But just because they're simple doesn't mean they're boring. Each concept book has a simple story to it as well.
July 9, 2012
This is a picture book about numbers for primary readers. With English on the right hand side and Mandarin characters on the left of the spread, seasonal stories are told. Pinyin pronunciations are provided at the conclusion as well. Illustrations are vibrant. It teaches young children numbers, counting, spring, Mandarin Chinese, English at the same time.
November 15, 2012
A bilingual (Chinese/English) board book about geese and their nest of 8 baby goslings. Part counting book, part nature book this board book ends with some instructions for learning Chinese. It covers tones and reviews all of the characters used in the book and their pronunciation.
December 22, 2019
Cute little book I had in my classroom at OCC for a while. I believe I left it there.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews