Why Bloom exists
There's a cliff in Chinese graded readers. Beginner series stop around 150 characters. Books written for native Chinese 6-year-olds assume 600+ characters and a Mandarin-speaking home. In between sits a child who can read simple sentences, finds picture books "for babies," and finds everything else impossible. That's the gap parents tell us about most — and it's exactly where children quit.
Bloom is built for that child:
- 150-300 unique characters per book — stepping up from Bud's 80-150, aligned to YCT 3 vocabulary (~300 cumulative words).
- 32-page chapter-style stories — school life, friendship drama, small adventures. Age-appropriate plots that don't feel "educational."
- Vocabulary that builds on Sprout and Bud — every word your child learned in earlier levels reappears, so nothing is wasted.
- Lighter scaffolding as readers grow — support shifts toward independent character reading, with parent-friendly help where it counts.
- Same instant-PDF, print-at-home format — and the same pricing philosophy as Sprout and Bud.
The Little NiHao reading ladder
| Level | Ages | YCT | Characters/book | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌿 Sprout | 4-5 | YCT 1 | 30-80 | Available — $9.99 |
| 🌸 Bud | 5-6 | YCT 2 | 80-150 | Available — $9.99 |
| 🌺 Bloom | 6-7 | YCT 3 | 150-300 | In development |
Not sure which level fits? See YCT 1 vs YCT 2 or the age guides for 4-year-olds, 5-year-olds, and 6-year-olds.