Podcast

Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright is a popular children's book about a snowman who gets cold and tries to warm up in silly ways, like drinking cocoa or sitting in a hot tub, causing him to melt, but children rebuild him each time. Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin, the book features repetitive, rhyming text and playful illustrations, making it a favorite for preschoolers and early elementary students during winter. 

Little Blue Trucks' Christmas is written by Alice Schertle and illustrated by Jill McElmurry. Little learners will explore seasonal vocabulary, simple phrases and cultural fun as they follow Little Blue delivering joy to all his friends in both English and Chinese.

God Gave Us Christmas is written by Lisa Tawn Bergren and illustrated by David Hohn. In this sweet story, little cub and mama polar bear go out on an adventure looking for God and find beautiful sightings of Him and the meaning of Christmas.

What does a snowman like to eat? Snowball soup of course! Tune in for an adorable story of Little Critter, Little Sister and Dog with their new friend.

Snowball Soup is a scholastic book by Mercer Mayer.

In this cozy storytime episode, we follow our young explorers on a fun filled leaf hunt! Join us as we wander crunchy paths, spot colorful treasures, and discover the magic hidden in nature's tiniest details.

In this episode, we cozy up with the heartwarming fall classic Spookley the Square Pumpkin, by Joe Troiano. This sweet story reminds us that being different isn't something to hide, it's something to celebrate! We walk through Spookley's journey from feeling like an outsider to discoverying that his uniqueness is actually his greatest strength!

In today’s episode, I’m sharing the story behind why I started this podcast. I’ll also take you inside my experience at the LeadHer Summit in Dallas, a weekend filled with powerful connections, meaningful inspiration, and transformative moments. Many of you may have seen my posts about it on social media, consider this episode a deeper dive into the key lessons and takeaways that left a lasting impact =)

Count the exciting days leading up to Thanksgiving, and get ready for a festive gathering with family! This episode brings together numbers, family, and holiday festivities in English and Chinese with Ms .Rachel, enjoy!

12 Days of Thanksgiving i a Scholastic book by Jenna Lettice and illustrated by Colleen Madden.

In this episode,we dive into the book Does Giraffe Eat Alone? By Anita Bijsterbosch. It' a heartwarming and thoughtful children's book about family, friendship and togetherness through the eys of animals.

This book is extra special to me since my little boy picked it out when he was a wee toddler, and now he can read it in English and tell to me in Chinese since I have read it bilingually so much over the years to him.

Don't forget to connect with me on Instagram @ rachelxeverafter, and if you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and leave a review, it means the world!

See you in the next story!

Zai Jian!

In this episode, I will be teaching you some of the most useful phrases in Chinese, enjoy!

In this adorable kid's story, you will learn basic words when going to a party. It's a kid friendly story to listen to or watch wherever and whenver!

In this episode, I used my kids' Usborne book All You Need to Know before You Start School to teach you basic phrases you can form with numbers and animals. Now you can confidently talk about common animals you see in phrases!

In this short and sweet episode, I introduce to you the basic colors in Chinese! The video of me holding the book and pointing to the colors is available on Spotify or Youtube.

By popular demand, today's episode is all about going back to the basics. I know many of you have shared that you're just starting your journey in learning Chinese, so I want to make sure everyone feels included. This episode is perfect for beginners learning Mandarin Chinese, as we learn to count from 1-99, with all the correct tones!

In this special episode, I will teach you all about Chinese New Year, the cultures and traditions, phrases to say and know, the Chinese zodiac etc. Enjoy!

What would lack of sleep do for a kid who is flying all the way to China to celebrate Chinese New Year with her grandpa? Find out in Grumpy New Year by Katrina Moore. The book is beautifully illustrated by Xindi Yan, and this podcast episode is audio only.

Maomao's father works far away and comes home only at Chinese New Year. Join me in reading this heartwarming story about Maomao, written by Yu Li-Qiong, who has a BA in literature from Nanjing University (where my husband graduated from!).

In the coming weeks, I will be reading and releasing 2 stories a week to make up for some lost times, and they will all be about Chinese New Year!

Join us for a heartwarming journey with Cynthia Cotten's enchanting children's book, "This is the Stable." In this episode, we bring to life the story of the Nativity, as seen through the eyes of the humble animals in the stable. Experience the wonder and joy of the birth of Christ, with vivid storytelling that captures the magic of Christmas. Perfect for families and children of all ages, this episode is a delightful way to celebrate the true spirit of the holiday season.

As always, you can find me on Instagram @rachelxeverafter, and I would appreciate it if you can like, subscribe and write me a review =)

See you in the next book!

For the next 5 stories, I will introduce you to 5 famous Chinese parables. They are so renowned pretty much every Chinese kid and adult in China knows them, and these stories are used in daily conversations to convey people's intentions.

Today's story is Jing Di Zhi Wa, or The Frog in the Well. We often tell our kids to not be like that frog at the bottom of the well, wonder why? Listen and find out! =)

I was packing for a month in Asia when I recorded this episode. Because of the crazy timing, I didn't have time to do too much detailed explanation after the story. But my kids enjoyed this episode and learned a lot and I hope you do too!

This episode is audio only for now since it wouldn't let me upload the full video (taking over 2 hours) from Shanghai, China. I will replace it with the full video when I get back home =)

This Dr. Seuss book is short and sweet, hope you enjoy!

It's summer! We finished our dance recital, piano recital and kindergarten graduation, so summer has officially started! What about you? Hope your summer is off to a great start!

This book is repetitive in many of the phrases, which can help you learn the English and Mandarin words quickly by listening to these words and phrases over and over again.

Enjoy!

XOXO,

Rachel

In this episode, we dive into the timeless children's classic "Are You My Mother?" by P.D. Eastman. Join us as we follow the journey of a determined little bird who embarks on an adventurous quest to find his mother. From meeting a curious kitten to a clunky steam shovel, this beloved tale of love, perseverance, and family will enchant listeners of all ages.

As always, you can find me on Instagram @rachelxeverafter, and I would appreciate it if you can like, subscribe and write me a review =)

Welcome to another enchanting episode of "Once Upon a Time, Twice with Ms. Rachel Xi"! In this episode, we're diving into the tender and loving world of "I Love You Through and Through" by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak, illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church.

Join us as we read this beautifully illustrated, rhyming story that captures the unconditional love between a parent and their child. Perfect for bedtime or any moment when your little one needs a reminder of how much they are cherished, this episode is filled with warmth, affection, and a touch of whimsy.

So, cuddle up with your little one, grab a cozy blanket, and let’s enjoy this heartwarming tale together.

As always, you can find me on Instagram @rachelxeverafter, and I would appreciate it if you can like, subscribe and write me a review =)

The Alligator and the Dentist is a Japanese children's book by Taro Gomi. The alligator has a toothache but is afraid to go to the dentist. The dentist is afraid of operating on the alligator too, what a conundrum!

As always, you can find me on Instagram @rachelxeverafter, and I would appreciate it if you can like, subscribe and write me a review =)

Good Night Houston by Jennifer and Kyle Solak takes families on a bedtime tour of the many points of interest that make this city so unique. Since I'm from Houston, TX, I thought I'd share my beautiful city with you through this beautiful children's book!

As always, you can find me on Instagram @rachelxeverafter, and I would appreciate it if you can like, subscribe and write me a review =)

"10 Apples Up On Top" is such a classic by Dr. Seuss! Enjoy the whimsical rhymes of Dr. Seuss, and its culturally accurate translation by me, Ms. Rachel, into Mandarin.

As always, you can find me on Instagram @rachelxeverafter, and I would appreciate it if you can like, subscribe and write me a review =)

See you in the next book!

While my plan is to release a new episode every Friday morning, I wanted to share some extra episodes in the beginning to kick off this brand new podcast!

Today's bonus story is Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by the one an only Eric Carle, and it is dedicated to my daughter's friend Scotlynd, who has encouraged me more than she knows by loving the stories so far and asking for more! I have yet to announce that I've started a new podcast, but I appreciate immensely the warmth and support of the friends and families I have shared it with, and a big Xie Xie (thank you) to those of you who have found my podcast organically.

Narrated with love and gratitude by yours truly, Ms. Rachel Xi. Come back every Friday morning for a new episode!

In the third episode, we embark on a prehistoric adventure with "I Love My Dinosaur" by Caroline Jayne Church. This story brings to life the whimsical world of a child's love for their dinosaur friend.

Don’t forget to follow, like, and subscribe to our podcast to stay updated on new episodes and join our growing community of bilingual story lovers

You can find me on Instagram @rachelxeverafter

With "Ten Tiny Toes" by Caroline Jayne Church, my kids learned their body parts in English and Mandarin for the first time, and I want to teach you how to say them in Mandarin too!

Don't forget to follow, like, and subscribe to our podcast to stay connected and never miss an episode.

You can always find me on Instagram @rachelxeverafter

Welcome to the debut episode of "Once Upon a Time, Twice with Ms. Rachel Xi"! In this first episode, I will read the adorable story for little ones at bedtime, "Good Night, I Love You" by Caroline Jayne Church. It's a beloved series that holds a special place in my heart, since they were the first books I ever read to my children when they were babies. This book is a gift from one of my sweet dancers in class Chasey when I taught Biology in high school

I translated the book completely on my own, as I have done for many years with my own children. I believe in immersion when it comes to learning a language, and I'm excited to share this story with you first in English then in Mandarin Chinese, just like I do with my children.

Don't forget to follow, like and subscribe to my podcast and share with any friend who values learning Mandarin or English. It is my hope that my immersive storytelling can help kids and adults alike to learn either language, and gain new knowledge through every short episode.

You can find me on Instagram @rachelxeverafter

Welcome to "Once Upon a Time, Twice with Ms. Rachel Xi," where stories come to life in both English and Mandarin! I'm Rachel, a mom of three, a seasoned teacher, and a first generation Chinese American. I’ve taught subjects ranging from Biology and Physics to leading my own Mandarin program, and I've even dabbled in cheer coaching. Growing up, I often found myself bridging two cultures, translating for my parents whose first language wasn’t English.
Language has always been a cornerstone of my, and I’m here to bring the magic of bilingual storytelling to your family, just like I do with my own kids every night. Here, we dive into enchanting tales in both languages, fostering an early love and understanding for these rich linguistic traditions.
In today’s global society, being bilingual is a priceless skill. Even public figures like Ivanka Trump recognize the importance of Mandarin, ensuring her kids learn the language. After all, Chinese is the most spoken language in the world! So whether you’re at home, in the car, or anywhere in between, join me for a journey through classic and new stories, twice-told in a way that connects, educates, and inspires bilingual minds.
Ready to listen, learn, and imagine? Let’s open the book on our first story. Welcome to "Once Upon a Time, Twice!"