"Presented by" our Little Crab Educational Press mascot, Sandy the Crab's Little Audio Library podcast is comprised of audio-only narrations and vocabulary list readings of the bilingual English and Mandarin with Pinyin children's books and study materials we create, as well as some bonus materials - "Mandarin Pronunciation in a Nutshell" and "10 Special Sounds in Mandarin" tutorials. NEWLY ADDED: Our blog posts in audio form. Learn more about our Mandarin and English resources for teachers, parents, and self-study at littlecrabpress.ca
Blog Pod #5 - "Inclusivity on the Playground" - from The Little Blog by LCEP
What can a children’s book about imaginative playground adventures teach us about language, inclusivity, and unexpected friendships?
In this episode of Sandy the Crab's Blog Pod, Rebecca from Little Crab Educational Press shares the story behind Let’s Pretend! – Ràng Wǒmen Jiǎxiǎng – 让我们假想! What started as an idea inspired by two brothers playing at the park took Rebecca on a much more complicated journey than she expected – especially when she discovered that some very ordinary playground words don’t translate quite so simply between English and Mandarin.
Along the way, a particularly tricky piece of playground vocabulary led to some unexpected research, plenty of consultation with Mandarin speakers, and eventually, an entirely unexpected friendship and creative partnership.
Rebecca explores why getting even the simplest vocabulary right matters when our goal is to help children from different language backgrounds play, communicate, and include one another.
Whether you’re learning Mandarin, teaching a second language, raising a bilingual child, supporting a heritage language learner, homeschooling, or simply interested in the ways language can bring people together, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the unexpected places language learning can lead.
Thank you for joining us. Now, let’s press play on “Inclusivity on the Playground: Finding Friends in Unexpected Ways”.
If you need to switch to reading it instead, read it here (https://littlecrabpress.ca/blogs/the-little-blog/inclusivity-on-the-playground-finding-friends-in-unexpected-ways).
PLUS: Sign up for our newsletter to (https://littlecrabpress.myflodesk.com/doyouwanttoplaywithmefreebie)GET THE FREEBIE (https://littlecrabpress.myflodesk.com/doyouwanttoplaywithmefreebie) mentioned in this episode – a bilingual phrase sheet to help kids welcome newcomers on the playground.
All audio heard in this episode is written, recorded and produced by LCEP. Original theme song by LCEP.
18 Sept 2026
Blog Pod #4 - "How I Get My No-Risk, All-Reward Adrenaline Fix" - from The Little Blog by LCEP
Ever had a tiny conversation in a second language that left you feeling strangely exhilarated?
In this episode of Sandy the Crab's Blog Pod, Rebecca from Little Crab Educational Press explores the unexpected adrenaline rush of speaking an additional language in the real world. After nearly three decades of learning Mandarin Chinese, she still finds that even a simple, everyday conversation can bring an enormous sense of accomplishment. She shares why you don't need to be fluent to enjoy speaking another language, how to find lower-pressure opportunities to practise, and one simple strategy for making real-world conversations a little less intimidating. We're teaching "How I Get My No-Risk-All-Reward Adrenaline Fix".
Whether you're learning Mandarin, teaching a second language, raising a bilingual child, supporting a heritage language learner, homeschooling, or simply trying to become more confident speaking a foreign language, this episode offers an encouraging perspective on language learning: you don't have to wait until you're "fluent" to start experiencing the rewards of using another language.
Thank you for joining us. Now, let's press play on "How I Get My No-Risk-All-Reward Adrenaline Fix".
(Read the full blog post, including the Mandarin conversation that inspired it HERE (https://littlecrabpress.ca/blogs/the-little-blog/how-i-get-my-no-risk-all-reward-adrenaline-fix).)
PLUS: Sign up for our newsletter to get the FREEBIE (https://littlecrabpress.myflodesk.com/simpleconversationpracticetranslationsheetfreebie) mentioned in this blog.
All audio heard in this episode is written, recorded and produced by LCEP. Original theme song by LCEP.
16 Jun 2026
Blog Pod #3 - "5 Ways to Help Your Child Hack Word Translation in Any Language" - from The Little Blog by LCEP
Ever been helping your child with language homework only to discover that dictionaries, apps, and even native speakers don't all agree on the "right" translation?
In this episode of Sandy the Crab's Blog Pod, Rebecca from Little Crab Educational Press shares the surprising story of trying to find the best Mandarin Chinese translation specifically for "mandarin orange"—and how a simple vocabulary question turned into a deep dive into dictionaries, regional language differences, context, and real-world language use. We're teaching "5 Ways to Help Your Child Hack Word Translation in Any Language”.
Whether you're raising a bilingual child, supporting a heritage language learner, homeschooling, teaching Mandarin, learning English as a second language, or simply helping your child study a foreign language, this episode offers practical strategies for navigating confusing or conflicting word definitions with greater confidence.
Thank you for joining us. Now, let's press play on "5 Ways to Help Your Child Hack Word Translation in Any Language”.
PLUS: Discover our free "M & E Dialogue Clarification Cheat Sheet Pack", designed to help learners ask better questions, get clearer answers, and improve communication skills faster available at https://littlecrabpress.myflodesk.com/mandedialogueclarificationcheatsheet (https://littlecrabpress.myflodesk.com/mandedialogueclarificationcheatsheet)
All audio heard in this episode is written, recorded and produced by LCEP. Original theme song by LCEP.
8 Feb 2026
Winter: Competitive Sports - 冬季竞技体育 - Dōngjì Jìngjì Tǐyù: Pronunciation Practice Tracks - English and Mandarin
This track accompanies two books:
Colouring & Activity Book - Winter: Competitive Sports - 冬季竞技体育 - Dōngjì jìngjì tǐyù: with Bilingual Vocabulary Word Games in English and Simplified Chinese Characters
Winter: Competitive Sports - 冬季竞技体育 - Dōngjì Jìngjì Tǐyù: Beginner Bilingual English and Mandarin Chinese (with Pinyin) Simplified Character Handwriting Practice Workbook
The track demonstrates the 18 words in these books using English Natural Pace - English Slow Pace - English Natural Pace (a little faster)
...then repeats the word in Mandarin using Mandarin Slow Pace, Mandarin Natural Pace, Mandarin Slow Pace.
Recorded by Little Crab Educational Press. All Rights Reserved.
littlecrabpress.ca
6 Jul 2024
Blog Pod #2 - "Have We Met?" - from The Little Blog by LCEP
🎙️ Welcome to the second episode of the Little Audio Library's "Blog Pod" series! For this one, we're jumping to the April 2024 post from The Little Blog. The post, entitled Have We Met?, gives you a peek behind the curtain and chance to hear all about the genesis and "making of" Little Crab Educational Press.
But first, what's a "Blog Pod"? It's the part of our Little Audio Library where our written blog posts are transformed into engaging audio content.
Although we didn't initially set out to include podcasting in our repertoire, we realized that as a language study resources company, our audio offerings should expand beyond the free audio accompaniments we provide with our books. This decision not only aligns with our core value of inclusivity (and, as such, working to build content that is more accessible), but it also resonates with our busy lifestyles as working moms. After all, podcasts lend themselves so well to task-stacking!
Looking forward to creating a Part Two to this one someday. This post is going to feel like a time capsule! :-D
Things in the audio we mention would be available in the show notes:
1) Get your Bilingual Boats printable freebie version (https://littlecrabpress.myflodesk.com/tqubrm72ij) <---here.
2) Here is your access to the Little Freebie Library (https://littlecrabpress.myflodesk.com/ku9a360zua).
3) School House Teaching Supplies (https://schoolhouseteachingsupplies.com/), who carries LCEP titles on their shelves, is the Educational Store for Everyone, in Victoria BC, Canada.
8 Jun 2024
WE WERE ON THE RADIO! - Mandarin AND Cantonese episode
Wanna hear something kinda fun and unusual? In April 2024, Rebecca (朱婷 / Zhū Tíng) and Xianjing (张娴静 / Zhāng Xiánjìng) did an interview with Host Joyce Lee from Fairchild Radio 1430 AM in Toronto, am1430.com, and here is their segment. The show, called 一期一會 (English translation is "See you on Sunday"), starts off in Cantonese but since neither Rebecca nor Xianjing speak Cantonese, their answers are in Mandarin. Our introductions start at about the 35 second mark, if you want to skip the intro.
In this interview, Joyce, speaking Cantonese, asks us about our backgrounds and how we came to start writing Mandarin and English bilingual kids books, and we share one of the poems from our book Vegetables! My First Chinese English Nursery Rhymes Collection! - 蔬菜！我的第一本中英文童谣集 (Shūcài! Wǒ de dì yī běn zhōnyīngwén tóngyáo jí ) Available at our website littlecrabpress.ca (littlecrabpress.ca) or on Amazon.
15 Apr 2024
English Narration for: Little Byron - Xiǎo Bái Rèn - 小白任
This is the English version of our flagship storybook Little Byron - Xiǎo Bái Rèn - 小白任 , which can be purchased through our website littlecrabpress.ca, through independent bookstores in Canada, or through Amazon. Just search for the ISBN, which is 979-8818315928.
21 Mar 2024
Blog Pod #1: 6 Awesome Ways to "Stretch" Your Kids' Storybooks
🎙️ Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Little Audio Library's "Blog Pod" series! In this episode, we're thrilled to bring you an audio rendition of our first post from The Little Blog at Little Crab Educational Press.
But first, what's a "Blog Pod"? It's the part of our Little Audio Library where our written blog posts are transformed into engaging audio content.
Although we didn't initially set out to include podcasting in our repertoire, we realized that as a language study resources company, our audio offerings should expand beyond the free audio accompaniments we provide with our books. This decision not only aligns with our core value of inclusivity (and, as such, working to build content that is more accessible), but it also resonates with our busy lifestyles as working moms. After all, podcasts lend themselves so well to task-stacking.
In this episode, we're diving into "6 Awesome Ways to 'Stretch' Your Kids' Storybooks." We'll explore creative techniques to maximize the educational benefits of storytime with your little ones. Whether you're a parent, educator, or simply someone passionate about language learning, this episode offers valuable insights to enrich your family's reading experiences.
Whether you're folding laundry, commuting to work, or simply unwinding at home right now, we hope you find inspiration and practical tips to make the most out of every storybook adventure.
Thank you for joining us. Now, let's dive into "6 Awesome Ways to 'Stretch' Your Kids' Storybooks"!
INSTRUCTIONS FOR GRABBING YOUR LITTLE FREEBIE:
Click here! (https://view.flodesk.com/pages/648155e74769d78b33faf1af )
This is the Mandarin version of our flagship storybook Little Byron - Xiǎo Bái Rèn - 小白任 , which can be purchased through our website littlecrabpress.ca (littlecrabpress.ca), through independent bookstores in Canada, or through Amazon. Just search for the ISBN, which is 979-8818315928.
11 Jan 2024
中文 Recitations for: 蔬菜！我的第一本中英文童谣集 - Vegetables! My First Chinese English Nursery Rhymes Collection!
This track is the Mandarin Chinese - 中文 audio accompaniment for the book Vegetables! My First Chinese English Nursery Rhymes Collection! - 蔬菜！我的第一本中英文童谣集. The paperback book was released for sale on our littlecrabpress.ca website and on Amazon in December of 2023 . English poem recitations are also provided as a separate track.
In this track you will hear the English version of 26 nursery rhymes which focus on one vegetable per letter of the alphabet. (Ex. A = Alfalfa sprouts /苜蓿芽, B = Broccoli / 西兰花.) In cases where there is no English word that fits the theme for a given letter, which is often the case with letters such as Q/X/Y/Z, then Pinyin is used for that letter. For example, in this set of poems, X is for Baby Bok Choi because in Pinyin it is "Xiǎo Bái Cài", (小白菜).
These 26 poems are completely original works, lovingly co-written by certified Mandarin and English teachers Zhang Xianjing and Rebecca Juetten. While the rhyming patterns do not always align in both languages, the poems were written "congruently" as opposed to one after the other, such that neither language is a translation of the other. In other words, the poems were co-written to correspond in meaning line by line as accurately as possible while still maintaining a rhyming structure.
如果您希望听到单词发音更慢或更快，只需降低或提高播放速度即可。
If you wish to hear the words pronounced slower or faster, simply decrease or increase the playback speed.
4 Dec 2023
English Recitations for: Vegetables! My First Chinese English Nursery Rhymes Collection! - 蔬菜！我的第一本中英文童谣集
This track is the English audio accompaniment for the book Vegetables! My First Chinese English Nursery Rhymes Collection! - 蔬菜！我的第一本中英文童谣集. The paperback book was released for sale on our littlecrabpress.ca website and on Amazon in December of 2023 . Mandarin poem recitations will be provided as a separate track.
In this track you will hear the English version of 26 nursery rhymes which focus on one vegetable per letter of the alphabet. (Ex. A = Alfalfa sprouts /苜蓿芽, B = Broccoli / 西兰花.) In cases where there is no English word that fits the theme for a given letter, which is often the case with letters such as Q/X/Y/Z, then Pinyin is used for that letter. For example, in this set of poems, X is for Baby Bok Choi because in Pinyin it is "Xiǎo Bái Cài", (小白菜).
These 26 poems are completely original works, lovingly co-written by certified Mandarin and English teachers Zhang Xianjing and Rebecca Juetten. While the rhyming patterns do not always align in both languages, the poems were written "congruently" as opposed to one after the other, such that neither language is a translation of the other. In other words, the poems were co-written to correspond in meaning line by line as accurately as possible while still maintaining a rhyming structure.
If you wish to hear the words pronounced slower or faster, simply decrease or increase the playback speed.
如果您希望听到单词发音更慢或更快，只需降低或提高播放速度即可。
16 Nov 2023
ABCs of Christmas - Pronunciation Practice Tracks - Mandarin and English
Little Crab Educational Press presents - Simplified Chinese Vocabulary Study System: Holiday Series. Audio for ABCs of CHRISTMAS 圣 诞 节 Shèng Dàn Jié. Copyright 2023, all rights reserved.
First Section:
中文, Mandarin - Starting at 0:21. A slow but still fairly natural pace. There is enough time between each word to repeat it once.
Second Section:
英文, English - Starting at 2:15. A slow but still fairly natural pace. There is enough time between each word to repeat it once. The plural and singular form of relevant nouns are both spoken.
Third Section:
中文和英文在一起, Chinese and English together - Starting at 4:45. A relaxed, natural pace. The Chinese word is said first, then the corresponding English word is said second. There is enough time given between each word to repeat the Chinese pronunciation once, or to challenge yourself and say the word in English before the “answer” is spoken.
22 Aug 2023
2: The 10 Special Sounds in Mandarin - Tutorial
Little Crab Educational Press presents: "The 10 Special Sounds in Mandarin - Tutorial"
We created this brief introductory tutorial (mainly in English) to help English speakers better understand the sounds that are the trickiest for most learners to grasp when developing a correct (or at the very least comprehensible!) Mandarin accent. This track is great for new beginners or as a refresher for more advanced beginners looking to improve their pronunciation.
Copyright 2023, all rights reserved.
12 Aug 2023
1: Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation - in a Nutshell
Little Crab Educational Press presents: "Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation - in a Nutshell"
We created this brief introductory tutorial (in English) to help demystify Mandarin for English speakers by highlighting key similarities and differences between both languages. This track is great for absolute beginners who would benefit from an overview of how Mandarin and English are alike and are different before starting on their language learning journey!
Copyright 2023, all rights reserved.
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