What better way to celebrate International Women’s Day last weekend than by inspiring girls to believe they can change the world? On Mar 8, our Daisy troop – Beijing’s youngest members of the global Girl Scouts movement – set off on a storytelling adventure to honor the extraordinary achievements of women throughout history. Each scout chose a heroine from the worlds of art, science, sports, politics, and beyond to read a short story about her life and legacy. To share these stories in a setting as grand as these legendary ladies, we headed to Beijing City Library (北京城市图书馆 Běijīng Chéngshì Túshūguǎn). Move over, Bird’s Nest, and make way, Pants Building! Designed by Norwegian architects Snøhetta (of Oslo Opera House fame) in collaboration with local partner ECADI and inaugurated just over a year ago, this striking new landmark is a masterfully designed space that connects people, books, and nature.

The library is located in Tongzhou, so getting there takes some time. From the city center, it takes about an hour by metro or a 30-minute to drive – but the destination delivers. Turn it into a full-day outing: Wander around the library’s vast wonderland of books, watch a free movie in the children’s cinema, then let the kids run wild in the nearby Green Heart Forest Park (城市绿心森林公园). It’s shū (books) with a side of shù (trees)!

This place is a masterclass in integrating architecture with nature. The world’s largest indoor reading space is encased in a 16-meter-tall glass-walled atrium that bathes the interior in light and offers panoramic views of the surrounding forest park. The roof is supported by 144 soaring, tree-like columns that evoke the canopy of a ginkgo forest – a nod to Beijing’s botanical heritage. Carving through this vast space is the “Valley,” a meandering pathway that mirrors the course of the nearby Tonghui River and links the north and south entrances.

Visitors can ascend the Valley’s sculpted “hills,” which double as bookshelves and seating, feeling immersed in a continuation of the landscape outdoors. This visionary design earned the 2024 IFLA/Baker & Taylor Public Library of the Year Award, the highest honor in global library architecture. 

Here’s what you can expect:

• Take your passport along to open a Member Card for adults and children. It’s free and valid at all branches in the Beijing Library city-wide system.
• You can check out books for 42 days. Late returns incur a RMB 0.1 fee per day, per book. You can return books at any library branch.
• Spread over three floors, the facilities include reading rooms for ancient literature, periodicals, digital collections, media such as movies and music, exhibition spaces, lecture halls, conference rooms, and other areas that are helpfully signposted on maps throughout the library and in a brochure at the info desk at the entrance.
• All floors are accessible with ramps and elevators.

• The children’s section includes an extensive collection of foreign language books, primarily in English and for young children rather than adolescents. These books cannot be taken home, so be ready to grab a cozy seat and read on the spot.
• Book a day in advance for movie screenings at the children’s cinema, which go fast on weekends. Check WeChat for showtimes and a selection of kids movies dubbed in Chinese.
• Wifi service is provided in the library for members – your login and password are your member card number and date of birth.
• There are three cafes that serve beverages and light meals. Manage expectations – the coffee is less what you’d get at Metal Hands and more like 7-Eleven.
• BCL’s WeChat mini program lists their calendar of events. We popped into an exhibit called “Sounds of Beijing” and caught a musical performance in the auditorium.

Over the weekend, our Girl Scouts shared their heroine stories from the popular Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls in the children’s section, followed by a picnic lunch at a quiet tearoom on the second floor. It is worth noting that most areas are quiet zones, and library staff carry signs reminding visitors not to be loud. We wrapped up our visit by letting the girls unleash their energy by bike riding in the expansive outdoor space surrounding the library, which includes a performance hall and the Grand Canal Museum.

Find it:
260m southeast of the intersection of Shangmatou Lu and Huilin Lu, Tongzhou District
通州区上码头路与惠林路交叉口东南260米
Hours: Tue-Sun, 10am-8pm. Closed Mondays
How to get there: Tongzhou Beiguan station on Line 6 is the closest metro station. An on-site metro stop is currently under construction.
Admission: Free
Website: https://bjlib.clcn.net.cn/en
WeChat:

Images: Tara Fegelein

Xiaozhen Library, a beacon of community learning and empowerment founded by high school students, is once again opening its doors to the youth of Beijing for an enriching summer camp experience. They’re calling for teen volunteers to join in and make a difference by teaching English to eager young learners. This unique opportunity not only fosters a love for learning but also cultivates a sense of social responsibility and leadership among high school students.

Founded on the principle of youth empowerment, Xiaozhen Library has been a hub for community engagement and learning since its inception. Now, they are extending their reach by inviting high school students between Grades 9 and 12 to volunteer and contribute to their summer camp program. Fluent in English and passionate about community service, these volunteers will play a pivotal role in shaping the educational journey of young children in Beijing.

Volunteering at Xiaozhen Library’s summer camp offers high school students a platform to make a meaningful impact while honing their leadership and communication skills. By sharing their knowledge and passion for English, volunteers will not only inspire a love for the language but also foster cross-cultural understanding and communication.

The requirements for volunteering are simple yet impactful: Students must be in Grades 9-12, have a commitment to community service, be fluent in English, and have a desire to make a difference.

Whether it’s leading interactive language sessions, organizing creative activities, or simply lending a listening ear to young learners, volunteers will have the opportunity to contribute to the holistic development of children in the community.

As the summer camp unfolds, volunteers will not only enrich the lives of young learners but also gain valuable insights and experiences that will shape their own personal and academic journeys. From building confidence and empathy to developing leadership and teamwork skills, volunteering at Xiaozhen Library’s summer camp offers high school students a chance to make a difference while growing personally and professionally.

In a world where youth empowerment and community engagement are more important than ever, Xiaozhen Library’s summer camp provides a platform for high school students to step up, make a difference, and inspire positive change in their community. By volunteering their time and skills, teens can become catalysts for transformation, leaving a lasting impact on the lives of others while shaping their own futures.

Application for the volunteer teaching positions for this year’s Xiaozhen Library summer camp is now open. Scan the QR code below to apply.

Images: Xiaozhen Library, Pexels

Wouldn’t it be just perfect if there was a library filled with kids’ books and comfy couches where parents could also enjoy a good cup of coffee? Well, now there is! At least for a little while…

The latest pop-up collaboration at East Hotel’s Domain is just that! Domain has partnered up with YiShan Books, a children’s bookstore founded by Huasheng Media for a limited time-only pop-up library that’s filled with both Chinese and English children’s books.

The pop-up library will be open to all avid readers of all ages daily from now until Jan 1, 2023.

Finding a kids’ library with English books is already a rare gem, but here’s what makes this place especially awesome.

– Domain has comfy couches all over the place and even small nooks in the corner where you can read and work for hours without interruption.
– They make a mean cup of coffee!
– They’ve got freshly made cakes and cookies every day.
– They’ve got a comfort food menu that’s healthy, delicious, and inexpensive.
– Finally, they’ve got a wall where they project movies for kids all day long. Those who want to take a break from the books can put on a pair of headphones and zone out to Tom & Jerry for a while.

Find it:
2/F, EAST Beijing, 22 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区酒仙桥路22号东隅北京酒店2层
Tel: 8414 9830
Daily 6am-10pm

Images: YiShan Books

I miss public libraries. Like so many things in life, I didn’t realize how much of a privilege it was to have one until I didn’t anymore. Having free, open access to books is one of the things I miss most since moving to Beijing. It’s not that I read a whole lot, but I miss being able to pick up a book that interested me, even if it was just the cover, and bringing it home if only to return it 21 days later and getting no further than the first chapter. Plus, the library was a refuge for me to bring my kid when he was younger! Somehow the quiet imposing nature of the library just shut him up, and the wooden floors with cushioned reading nooks were like a little playground. Not to mention we could read all sorts of kids’ books there that I would have spent a fortune purchasing.

So when I passed by what looked to be a library here in Beijing, you can imagine my excitement. There were those wooden floors, reading nooks with bean bags, and shelves filled with endless possibilities tucked between colorful covers. I stepped inside and went up to the counter where a young attendant greeted me with smiling eyes, and I asked if it was a library. It was, but a commercial one. I wasn’t quite sure of the concept so it took a while for the nice lady behind the counter to explain it to me.

Known in English as iRead Library, the place functions as both a commercial book lender, as well as a sort of kids’ education center. For a yearly membership fee of RMB 499, you are able to visit the library 12 times and borrow up to 10 books each time. There is no limit on how long you can borrow the books for, but your membership only lasts a year, so you probably won’t want to keep the books for longer than a month. It sounds pretty good right? Except they limit browsing time to no more than 30 minutes, during which you have to find the 10 books you want to borrow. That takes out half the fun of spending hours just drifting down the aisles, imagining what twists and turns lie in the pages of each story.

So I asked them about spending more time at the library, and that’s where the education center part of their operation comes in. For RMB 1,299, you can opt for an annual membership that allows for up to three hours at their premises, whereby you and your kid can take part in various activities such as arts and crafts and guided reading. The best part is that you can visit the library unlimited times with this option.

The staff assured me that their premises were clean and disinfected multiple times a day, which matched what I could see of the place. Aside from Chinese books, there are also plenty in English, French, German and Dutch. A search on Dianping later revealed that there’s a voucher for you and your kid to experience the library for a mere RMB 169 on the weekdays and RMB 199 on weekends. That’s totally worth it in my book.

小宝图书馆 iRead Library
3rd Floor, Zhuyuan Cultural Education Industrial Park, Beiyuan Road
北苑路诸园文化教育产业园3层

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Images: Courtesy of the vendor on Dianping

In a city with practicality, money, and no classics, we see the quiet Beijinger. Its youngest live in two worlds: the television static, and the cradle. Its oldest between the hospitals and telephones. Finally, the readers. They live in paragraphs more often than on earth. They speak with so much passion, and we want to be the main character of their books.

From the youngest to the oldest, there is a search for perfect places, the sweet shapes of coffee, cushions, and chords. They are found in the following compendium, those bookstores sequestered in quiet streets, some cafés flowing with Clair De Lune instead of cups. Where rabbit holes lead to typewriters, all hiding in a languorous afternoon, a summer in Beijing.

Café Clark

A Japanese or Korean-style café offers a panacea for any ailment. They beautify the confetti of life in woodwork, its details, and escapes. Café Clark has the cherubic cushions, Zakka scenes, Ghibli comics, and lo-fi incantations of a quintessential Asian bookstore café. Would you not read a little (long) chunk of noon away, and breathe in, breathe out, to feel that increasingly foreign concept of belonging. 

Address: 青年路29号华纺易城小区19-02号底商（近润枫水尚）
(Qīngnián lù 29 hào huá fǎng yì chéng xiǎoqū 19-02 hào dǐ shāng)  
No. 19-02, Huafang Yicheng Community, 29 Qingnian Road (near Runfeng Shuishang)

The Fingerprint Café 

Cafés are said to have reached their initial apex of popularity in the 17th century, from Italy to France and Germany to England. Coffee was to replace alcohol and its culture of drunk geniuses. Hence, cafés became a monument for nebulous scholars and professors, artists and madmen. British-style coffeehouses are rare in Beijing, but Fingerprint Café is one indeed. Its book list reveals criminology novels, Japanese poetry, and other esoteric, elusive manuscripts of the owner.  

Address: 北京市海淀区花园北路35号 (Běijīng shì hǎidiàn qū huāyuán běi lù 35 hào) 
No. 35, Huayuan North Road, Haidian District, Beijing

J Coffee

This is one of those inconspicuous cafés only found in cities – on the second floor, a sapid sanctuary for empty streets blossoming with hunched shadows. Time flies. Its footprint is messy. The coffee shop is silent, introspective. Time thickens and stops. The light is dim, the wood is soft, the chamois is dazzling. Oh, and the book, it should be therapeutic.

Address: 北京市朝阳区东大桥路8号SOHO尚都北塔2楼2201室
(Běijīng shì zhāoyáng qū dōng dàqiáo lù 8 hào SOHO shàng dū běi tǎ 2 lóu 2201 shì)
Room 2201, 2nd Floor, SOHO Shangdu North Tower, No. 8 Dongdaqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing

The Kubric

A true bookworm always finds their favorite friend: a true bookstore. Style, stories, and time are all art in itself, for the US auteur Stanley Kubric once jested, “Directing is writing on film.” As such, Kubric Bookstore stands as an artistic edifice, flaring antique freedom and elegant sadness, flinging beauty and regret. Beneath its mahogany lattice and academic stairs, books build walls, and walls build more books. Coffee suffuses the floor, and Persian rugs warm the lamps. The night is young and throws a pillow fight of stars through the blinds. Meanwhile, readers will read, and coffee drinkers will drink. The two can communicate, but not commingle. 

Address: 香河园路1号北区当代MOMA内 (Xiānghé yuán lù 1 hào běi qū dāngdà)
Inside Contemporary MOMA, North District, No. 1, Xiangheyuan Road

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Images: Baidu, Pinterest, Pexels

We at beijingkids love our libraries. That’s why when Keystone Academy invited us to the grand opening of their new library we rushed to check out this new space of learning and study that everyone had been talking about for the past couple of months.

As we move further and further into modern life, libraries are becoming less about their massive collections of books and more about being a place to contemplate in a serene environment, uninterrupted for hours on end.

The environment and aesthetic of this space designed by Luke Hughes, a Cambridge educated designer from London, gave us exactly that kind of feeling. It struck the perfect balance between being a place where one could exhaustively search through rows of books from their collection or connect online to all of the research possibilities that exist in that digital realm. So, as much as it is a traditional library, the space also reflected a sense of nowness by exhibiting all of the necessary qualities of being a modern hub for learning.

One of Keystone Academy’s most appealing characteristics has been its ability to create a campus identity that is split right down the middle between East and West, and this also is very apparent in the design of the library in everything from the quotes on the walls to the art and prints on display throughout the space, and even the door handles shaped like dragons at the entrance.

For the event, we had the pleasure of receiving a guided tour from the designer where he explained some of these cultural elements at length. This was followed by an explanation of the complete process from getting commissioned by Keystone for the project to multiple journeys out to Gaobeidian looking for some antiques to populate the library. We were very impressed with the thought and attention to detail Hughes used in this project.

The tour was topped off by a very appropriate talk from Simon Winchester, celebrated author of The Man Who Loved China and Krakatoa. All in all, it was a great afternoon of design and literature appreciation.

Photos: Kipp Whittaker

Finding magical places to read, and inspirational story tellers, seems to be a thread through my career at beijingkids. As such, I am happy to report the opening of a new bilingual library! The library opened its doors in October of last year, and has a large following of Chinese parents. It was time my husband, daughter (almost 4), and I went to have a look. Ready Reading Library is a 5 minute walk away from the Central Business District.

When we arrived, we were immediately in awe of the space and wide range of both Chinese and English books the space had to offer. The windows have amazing views and magical reading nooks. I would have loved to spend the day reading novels, drinking coffee, and watching life in Beijing flow through the streets 15 floors beneath me. Ready Reading’s tranquil space caters to kids from zero to nine and makes me wish I was a child again.

Ready Reading sells an array of kids toys and houses one of the biggest collections of Classic World wooden toys I have seen so far in Beijing. There are lockers, a small café area, two classrooms that sometimes host arts and crafts classes, a little arena area for story tellers, and a amazing outside space which I can’t wait to use when the spring arrives.

Mia Wang and Jane Fang, the two mothers that own and created Ready Reading, have a true passion for kids and books. It’s a joy spending time together, browsing their fast collection of kids literature. Ready Reading even delivers and pick up books from your door step for a fuss free reading experience.

Membership RMB 1280 a year includes:

• Unlimited book borrowing throughout the year.
• Borrow a maximum of 10 books at a time.
• Online book ordering, free delivery and pick up.
• 20% discount on new books.
• Entrance ticket discounted at RMB 100 per session.

Single Entrance Ticket RMB 150

• Access to reading library.
• Two cups of free coffee.
• Unlimited stay.
• One child and two adults per ticket.

Pauline van Hasselt has been working for beijingkids since October 2016. Born in Wassenaar, The Netherlands, she moved with her husband and her 3 year-old daughter to Beijing in June of last year. Prior she lived in the Netherlands, Belgium, Paraguay, Texas, and London, studying and working as a chef. Pauline enjoys biking around Beijing, finding markets and new restaurants, reading crime and fantasy books in bed, and most importantly, turning her house into a home for her family.

Did you know we have a family events WeChat group? Join two hundred other internationally-minded families for the latest information on what’s going on in Beijing. Send an email to editor@beijing-kids.com with your WeChat id or add vanessajencks on WeChat. Please note that readers should confirm with each organizer if events are cancelled or scheduled as planned.

Free
Make Spring Festival Decorations at Parkview Green, Jan 30 and 31
All ages. Gather at Parkview Green with your beloved ones to experience a wide array of folk activities; to explore a world of enchantment and a traditional Chinese New Year. Learn to make paper-cutting art and how to compose Spring Festival couplets, make New Year gifts by hand, such as reunion lanterns, fortune knots and floral creations. Free. 1pm-5pm. Parkview Green. (WeChat: Parkview Green, (010) 5690 7000).

Unique
Lunar New Year Overnight, Jan 30
Ages 8+. On this two-day trip to the area you’ll walk the streets of well-preserved Yuxian Ancient City, visiting the pavilions and pagodas, as well as visiting Jimingyi, the remnants of a Ming Dynasty postal relay center. RMB 1,800 (RMB 1,620 for members, RMB 1,200 for under 12\’s). 8.30am-8pm. Beijing Hikers.

Birth of the Monkey King, Jan 30 and 31
Ages 7+. This Chinese-language drama, intended for children and families, lets kids learn about the history of the Monkey King, one of the most famous characters in Chinese literature, from the classic novel Journey to the West. The event combines theatre with drums, music and acrobatics, while interactive elements are sure to keep kids entertained. Tickets from RMB 100 (100/180/280/380). 2.30pm-4.30pm. Beijing Theater. (https://www.douban.com/event/27898172/).

Dance of Destiny, Jan 30 to Feb 2
Ages 8+. Join some of Ireland’s best dancers for a special performance in Beijing. Combining traditional Irish music, tap dance and theatrical elements, the troupe has been performing around the world since 1998, when they made their first tour to New Zealand. RMB 357 to RMB 1015. National Centre For The Performing Arts (NCPA). (https://www.douban.com/event/27925277/).

Sunny Spring Camp, Jan 30 to Feb 3
Ages 6+. Sunny days are here again and it’s the perfect time to spring ahead with learning new skills and games at Adventure Zone’s Sunny Spring Camp! Revitalize your plans with fun sports such gymnastics, martial arts, swimming and sword choreo guided by expert coaches. RMB 3200 (1 week, half day), RMB 6188 (2 weeks, half day), RMB 4500 (1 week, full day), RMB 8888 (2 weeks, full day). 9am-2.30pm. Kerry Adventure Zone. (hbkc@thekerryhotels.com, wechat: kerryhotelbeijing, 8565 2460).

Walled Village to Huanghuacheng Great Wall Hike, Feb 1
Ages 8+. Hike the Huanghuacheng Great Wall in Beijing’s Huairou District, starting off on an unrestored stretch and following it over the hills to a restored section and then up, over, and down a mountain to finish at a countryside restaurant near a scenic reservoir. RMB 400 (RMB 360 for members, RMB 200 for under 12’s). 9am-6pm. Beijing Hikers.

Longqingxia Ice Festival and Tang Dynasty Caves, Feb 1
Ages 8+. The Beijing Hikers will travel to Yanqing County to visit a valley and find an ancient interconnected series of cave dwellings. This trip is suitable for children (no pushchairs, though) – it’s very easy, and the sight of the cave dwellings is sure to spark the imagination. After visiting the caves there will be an early dinner out in the country before heading for the Longqingxia Ice Festival. RMB 500 (RMB 450 for members, RMB 250 for under 12s). 12pm-10pm. Beijing Hikers.

“MY” Jiaozi Party, Feb 1
All ages. Join Café Zarah on February 1st for their annual “MY”-Jiaozi Party and celebrate the New Year. Zarah will be organizing a big reunion dinner with communal cooking tables where they will teach you the art of dumpling making! RMB 88/per person includes all-you-can-eat-dumplings and one drink. Complimentary for kids aged below 6. 6pm-until. Café Zarah.

Spring Festival Taichi Workshop, Feb 5
Embrace the refreshing spring air for 2 hours instruction in Yang Style Taichi, learning the beginners 8 Step Form. Instruction will be from a native-English speaking taichi coach from the UK, and will cover warmups, dynamic stretching, taichi form, applications and qigong cool down exercises. RMB 200. 2pm-4pm. CK Martial Hearts Kung Fu Boutique. (train@ckmartialhearts.com)

China National Theater for Children’s Drama Malan Flower, Feb 6
All ages. The establishment of the Holiday Classic Theater is not only a new exploration in the field of artistic creation, but also a whole new attempt in performing and business philosophy. The large and little theaters add radiance and beauty to each other each other and are bound to create a top art gallery for contemporary Chinese children’s drama. RMB 80/120/200/260/320/400. 7.30am-9.30am. National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA). (for more info call the hotline at 400-610-3721 or 10103721).

Best of Next Week
Our Little Library Opening, Feb 1 through Feb 28
Ages 6months-3years. Our Little Library is OPEN! Besides browsing and borrowing books your babies and toddlers can listen to stories, read out loud, and learn in a fun and interactive way. After books the kids will explore the themes through games and activities Free (for February). 10am-11.30am. Our Little Library.

China National Theatre for Children’s Drama Malan Flower, Feb 6 to 8
All ages. The establishment of the Holiday Classic Theater is not only a new exploration in the field of artistic creation, but also a whole new attempt in performing and business philosophy. The large and little theaters add radiance and beauty to each other each other and are bound to create a top art gallery for contemporary Chinese children’s drama. RMB 80/120/200/260/320/400. 7.30am-9.30am. National Centre For The Performing Arts (NCPA). (call the hotline at 400-610-3721 or 10103721).

Ghost The Musical, Feb 8 through Feb 14
Ages 13+. GHOST is a timeless fantasy about the power of love. Sam, a ghost, tries to communicate with Molly, his love, with the hope of saving and protecting her. RMB 180/380/580/880/980/1000 (580*2)/1500. 7.30pm-9.30pm. Poly Theater. (call the hotline 400-610-3721 or 10103721, email to ponypiao@damai.cn).

Festival of Sport, Feb 11
Ages 8+. Held indoors in the ISB Fusion Dome, this event allows kids of different ages to try out a variety of sports and activities, while parents can talk to the coaches and register their children for one of the 15+ activities provided by the youth amateur sports organization. Free. 10am-3pm. Sports Beijing. (info@sportsbj.com)

Sports Beijing’s Bi-Annual Festival of Sport, Feb 11
Ages 7+. Held indoors in the ISB Fusion Dome, this event allows kids of different ages to try out a variety of sports and activities, while parents can talk to the coaches and register their children for one of the 15+ activities provided by the youth amateur sports organization. Free. 10am-3pm. International School of Beijing (ISB). (info@sportsbj.com, 6430 1370).

China National Theatre for Children’s Drama Time Forest, Feb 11
Ages 7+. Giving full play to the representing, exemplary and guiding role, the National Children’s Art Theatre has trained several generations of artists and backbone in the children’s theater art of China and has won numerous art awards. RMB 180/300/420/500/580/680. 7.30am-9.30am. National Centre For The Performing Arts (NCPA). (call the hotline 400-610-3721 or 10103721 or send email to ponypiao@damai.cn).

Charity Fashion Show, Feb 11
Ages 9+. Students from the International School of Beijing (ISB) are hosting their annual Charity Fashion Show. This event, completely run by the students at ISB, was first organized in 2008 with the intent of promoting philanthropy through creativity and entertainment. This year, the proceeds will be donated to the Starfish Project, the Nightingale Charity Club, and Roundabout. Free. 6pm-9pm. International School of Beijing (ISB).

Aerial Yoga, Fly Yoga Free Trial Class, Feb 11
Adult Women. Aerial Yoga is a fun, accessible and graceful yoga practice with “silk” or hammock—suspended from the ceiling that can support your weight, ease pressure, create space in your joints, decrease compression in your spine, and help you find more mobility. Free. 5pm-6pm. Phoenix Town. (WeChat: 723665585).

Science + Art : Create Your Own Car, Feb 12
Ages 8+. From the electronic basics to its unique design. Build your car from A to Z. During this unique course, you will learn how to design an obstacle avoiding car by yourself, using the famous Arduino* electronics platform and an ultrasonic sensor to detect and avoid an object in front of the car. RMB 600 (RMB 450 for Atelier students). 1.30pm-4.30pm. Atelier. (WeChat: atelier_apas to register)

Valentine’s Breakfast & Bubbles, Feb 14
Adults. Bask in the glow of love, food, and drinks on this Valentine’s day with your significant other at the British Club of Beijing’s Valentine’s Day celebration. RMB 150/person. 10am-12pm. The Westin.

Kids self-help books are my answer to almost every difficult parenting situation I find myself in. Our family took plenty of kids books to Beijing. Looking through them made me realize how many difficult times we had as parents and how much this literature has helped us. I compiled a list of books and where to find them online.

Everybody Poos – Taro Gomi

I never thought this would happen to our daughter. When she saw her poop in a potty for the first time, she got very scared to poop. After research I found out that this is a very common problem and this book helped us so much. I have read it about 300 times. Lucky for parents there is a easy way to buy it in China.

Brush, Brush, Brush!

A classic problem is the twice a day struggle of brushing teeth. This book is actually a song and we know it by heart in our family.

People Who Help Us, Chef – Amanda Askew, Andrew Crowson

My husband magically disappears for long periods of time during the day (work!). This book did a great job of explaining to my daughter were he goes, and what he does there.

Maisy Goes to the Hospital – Lucy Cousins

Never knowing when disaster would hit, I had bought this book for my daughter. It came in quite handy when I had to stay in the hospital overnight after surgery.

First Experiences Going on a Plane – Anna Civardi, Stephen Cartwright

First experiences from Usborne are great books for a whole array of occasions for kids. This book always comes back out when we travel.

When I’m feeling – Tracey Moroney’s

A series of eight books about feelings, a great addition to our library. Extremely helpful for children (and adults!) who struggle with their feelings.

Pauline van Hasselt has been working for beijingkids since October 2016. Born in Wassenaar, The Netherlands, she moved with her husband and her 3 year-old daughter to Beijing in June of this year. Prior she lived in the Netherlands, Belgium, Paraguay, Texas, and London, studying and working as a chef. Pauline enjoys biking around Beijing, finding markets and new restaurants, reading crime and fantasy books in bed, and most importantly, turning her house into a home for her family.