MOCAKIDS Author Meet & Greet with Michele Wong McSween
February 1, 2022, 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Join Gordon, Li Li, and Brooklyn-based author Michele Wong McSween for a special Mandarin lesson featuring all your favorite zodiac animals and more. Michele will read and teach English and Mandarin words from her bilingual book, Gordon & Li Li Celebrate Chinese New Year, where Gordon & Li Li learn about good luck foods, special greetings for a happy and prosperous New Year, and more! A special Year of the Tiger craft will follow the reading! Best for children ages 3-5. Older and younger siblings welcome!
What you’ll need: crayons, scissors, glue stick, a paper bag, and this tiger puppet template (click to download).
This event is free to the public. To join, simply register here! Please note that this workshop will be recorded via Zoom and available on Facebook Live.
MAKE: Click here to download the tiger puppet template. We’ll make it together during the program!
COLOR: Click here to download Lunar New Year coloring sheets featuring Gordon & Li Li!
About the Books
Gordon & Li Li Celebrate Chinese New Year: Gordon and Li Li are cousins. Li Li is from Beijing, China, and speaks Mandarin. Gordon lives in Brooklyn, New York and speaks English. They are so excited to celebrate Chinese New Year together! Gordon & Li Li Celebrate Chinese New Year is an adorable and informative must-have book for any family who wants to get little ones excited to learn about Chinese New Year — and a second language! Each page features the English and pinyin spelling along with the Chinese character and the phonetic Mandarin pronunciation to help readers practice.
Gordon & Li Li Learn Animals in Mandarin: Learn animals in Mandarin with panda cousins Gordon & Li Li in this jam-packed activity book!With over 100 engaging activities, this book — created by author Michele Wong McSween — will inspire active and curious little ones to get excited about learning animals in Mandarin. From simple coloring pages to the more challenging Chinese Character Search, this book is filled with activities that will entertain kids for hours. Grab some crayons and pencils and get ready to color, write, and draw with Gordon & Li Li in this fun-filled Chinese activity book!
My First Mandarin Words: Learn English and Mandarin words with panda cousins Gordon and Li Li in this charming and colorful bilingual first words book! Gordon and Li Li are cousins. Li Li is from Beijing, China, and speaks Mandarin. Gordon lives in Brooklyn, New York, and speaks English. When Li Li visits Gordon for the first time, the cousins must learn to communicate using simple, everyday words.Children and caregivers can read along with Gordon and Li Li as they learn basic English and Mandarin words and their correct pronunciation. Each spread of this sturdy book spotlights a different theme, including greetings, everyday words, numbers, and animals! And every word features the English and Pinyin spelling along with the Chinese character and the phonetic Mandarin pronunciation to help readers practice.This is an adorable and informative must-have first words book for any family who wants to get little ones excited to open the door to learning a second language — and future language success!
About the Author
Michele Wong McSween is a mom, fashion designer, author and a fourth generation Chinese American. Growing up in Sacramento, CA, she never learned Chinese and wanted to be sure her own boys were confident with Chinese language and culture. After enrolling them in early-learning Mandarin classes, McSween looked for appropriate Mandarin bedtime reading and found that little was available. She created Gordon & Li Li with an appealing, simple and modern design aesthetic that would engage kids and parents alike.
Buy the Books!
Gordon & Li Li Celebrate Chinese New Year and other books in the Gordon & Li Li series are available for purchase at the Gordon & Li Li website, Yu & Me Books, Pearl River Mart, Greenlight Bookstore, McNally Jackson, Books Are Magic, and booksellers near you. They make the perfect gift for budding Mandarin learners.
MOCAKIDS Storytime program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council; by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature; and by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
