My preschool daughter is at the perfect age to completely appreciate and enjoy the
Ni Hao, Kai-lan animated series. We've watched quite a few episodes on Nick Jr. since the show first aired last year. The series features a five-year-old Chinese-American girl named Kai-lan and introduces preschoolers to Mandarin language and Chinese culture.
Much like the Dora series, Kai-lan goes on small adventures with her animal friends, learns valuable lessons along the way and encourages viewer interaction. Kai-lan depends upon her grandfather, Yeye, for guidance and support. Kailan's animal friends include: Rintoo, the tiger; Tolee, the koala; Hoho, the monkey; and Lulu, a pink rhino. Besides the bilingual aspect, the show also teaches kindness, compassion, and how to deal with feelings and emotions. One of the standard messages is "Try it! Because you might like it!" My daughter has amazingly picked up a number of phrases including "Ni Hao," the term for hello (also the show's title) and thank you, "xie xie." Kai-lan's large eyes and catchy songs appeal to preschoolers and the background graphics are bright, colorful and slightly abstract like a fun children's video game.

A new Kai-lan DVD released on July 14th called
Ni Hao Kai-Lan: Kai-Lan's Great Trip to China
. The DVD runs 96 minutes and includes three separate episodes: a double-length feature episode
Kai-Lan's Trip to China, and two additional episodes
Rain Or Shine and
The Ant Playground. We had the chance to preview the DVD before it released, much to the delight of my daughter. She has watched it a few times and really, really likes the trip to China segment. Kai-lan's aunt, Gu Nai Nai, invites Kai-lan and her friends to China to learn more about the Chinese culture. During their visit, they meet a baby panda that likes to eat watermelon. (Preschoolers love baby pandas ... at least mine does because the baby panda was a huge hit here.) In the other segments Kai-lan has fun in the rain and helps build a swing for some ants. My only complaints: I'm not sure what to make of Mr. Sun's sun fuzzies. They are just strange. The special features section only includes one feature, a music video "We're Going to China." I do wish that the DVD included a term and pronunciation guide in the special features so that it could be used more effectively as a teaching tool. Overall though, we really enjoyed the DVD.

I must say that I'm really impressed with the Nick Jr. website. It has some excellent corresponding
Kai-lan activities, games and printables. Many of them are specifically related to the Great Trip to China DVD. My daughter enjoyed making her own
Great Trip to China Passport. She's modeling it in the picture to the right.
Related links:Ni Hao, Kai-Lan Nick Jr. websiteScholastic.com Ni Hao, Kai-lan! printable lessons and activities
Fun Panda Link:
The San Diego Zoo's Panda Cam
Win a copy.
Nickelodeon has kindly offered to giveaway a Ni Hao, Kai-lan: Kai-lan's Great Trip to China DVD to (2) Brimful Curiosities readers. 2 WINNERS!
To enter, leave a comment relevant to this post.• For contact purposes, if you are a non-blogger or your email is not accessible in your blog profile, please leave a valid email address within the comment section.
• Contest is open to US only
• Contest ends on Monday, July 27th, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST.
• Winner will be chosen at random
Three ways to gain extra entries (Maximum total entries is 4):
1st extra entry: Follow Me! or subscribe by email or RSS reader
2nd extra entry: Blog about this contest then post your link in the comment section.
3rd extra entry: Follow me on twitter (
iambrimful) and tweet about the contest.
Thanks to Nickelodeon and Bender/Helper impact for the review opportunity.
(DVD Source: review copy provided by Bender/Helper Impact, Inc. View my full disclosure statement for more information about my reviews.)
80 comments:
I can't enter (being from Cdn) but I just had to comment to say Great Review. I've never heard of this series but I'll have to look for it on DVD. My daughter is fascinated with China and although she's in grade school, she would probably like the rudimentary intro to the language.
Thanks
I would love to enter to win this one!
I have a 4yr daughter and she loves Ni Hao kai-Lan! She love Dora too and as a parent I think these two shows are great!
thanks for the opportunity to win!
dcf_beth(at)verizon(dot)net
my daughter loves this show. amsbolda@hotmail.com
I subscribe. amsbolda@hotmail.com
This looks fun and educational.
hawkes(at)citlink.net
I subscribe
hawkes(at)citlink.net
I think its so important for kids to learn about the culture of China. Please enter me!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
I subscribe to your blog.
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
I would love for my daughter to see this!
andreaneville AT comcast DOT net
This is such a cute show with great characters kids can relate too!
I subscribe.
This DVD looks like a lot of fun! What a great way to instill an interest in travel and other cultures. :-)
Thanks for the GREAT giveaway!
ladyufshalott at yahoo.com
I'm a subscriber! RSS :-)
ladyufshalott at yahoo.com
My son watches Ni Hao kai-Lan daily and loves it. I would be so excited to win
Christie
dctm at bellsouth dot net
awesome giveaway. my daughter loves this show and actually repeats everything they tell her to say.
cindys4682@hotmail.com
AGH, AGH, AGH!!! Baby Liu would kill for a copy of the new Ni Hao Kai Lan DVD. Well, she's not that ferocious, but I am. I WANNA WIN. I WANNA WIN.
Tweet comin' up!
I'm so impressed with this show. Having a rough and tumble little boy, I never thought this would catch his attention, but it did right from the beginning. And he has learned so many new things about China and even knows quite a few words.
mommastaci33(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'm a subscriber. Thanks!
mommastaci33(at)yahoo(dot)com
My brother is in China right now and I love hearing about everything he's experiencing. Thanks for the great review - I hadn't heard of this dvd before. And thanks for the chance! alicedemskehansen at gmail.com
I follow! alicedemskehansen at gmail.com
My nephew loves this show! Great giveaway:)
Email subscriber
bjhopper(at)me(dot)com
Twitter follower & tweet
http://twitter.com/bridget3420/status/2701693901
As a mother and teacher I love how educational Ni-Hao Kai-Lan is for my kids. Thanks for the opportunity.
the_angel_forever at yahoo dot com
Subscribe to your RSS in Reader.
the_angel_forever at yahoo dot com
Follow you on Twitter and Tweet Tweet: http://twitter.com/TheAngelForever/status/2706026895
the_angel_forever at yahoo dot com
This is a great show
sylviawhit@gmail.com
I subscribe by email
sylviawhit@gmail.com
Blogged about giveaway
http://freebies4meandu.blogspot.com/2009/07/718-giveaway-list-2.html
bjhopper(at)me(dot)com
my daughter loves this and it would be a great surprise for her
erica.stotler @ gmail dot com
just followed you on twitter and tweeted
http://twitter.com/riotkat
As a worldwide traveler herself, I bet my daughter would love watching this!
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
And I'm a subscriber/follower...
this looks great - i like dvds that make it fun to learn about different cultures
subscriber
http://twitter.com/valerie2350/status/2714890312
http://sweeps4bloggers.blogspot.com/2009/07/brimfulcuriosities-ni-hao-giveaway.html
My 4 year old and 1 year old both love the show and it amazes me just how much of the language they pick up on. If I say "Ni Hao" to my one year old, he'll respond by saying "hi" back!
nscandurro(at)cox(dot)net
I subscribe
nscandurro(at)cox(dot)net
I have never heard of this, but I think my kids would love it.
denise_22315(at)yahoo(dot)com
My son and daughter would love this!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Amy B.
adennispac@yahoo.com
I'm a follower!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Amy B.
adennispac@yahoo.com
Tosha loves this program. After viewing it a number of times while eating at a Chinese restaurant, she started a conversation with Ni Hao. Shocked the staff no end.
Rss through Google
my younger son ha recently started to enjoy this show. he would love this dvd!
My adorable 2 year old niece "The Princess" hoves Ni Hao.. she adores Diego also.. and Dora, and Max and Ruby...
Thanks for the chance to give her a great gift
itsjustmerene2003 at yahoo dot com
We are BIG Ni Hao fans here so my daughters would love this. I even find them speaking a few words in Chinese that they have learned from the show.
MY kids enjoy watching this show and would enjoy the DVD. Thanks!
My son really enjoys Ni Hao, Kai-lan. I'm sure this would be a great DVD to have in our house. Thanks.
I would love to win this for my daughter. She was adopted from China at age 4.5 and is now just turned 6. She LOVES this show and asks to watch it every day. She likes learning the Chinese words because she really doesn't remember most of them. Thanks for the opportunity!
dspeese at bellsouth dot net
Does it count that I want to learn right along with my son!! This looks so cool. fun.mom.cheratgmaildotcom
My children love to watch Nihao, Kailan and are taking Mandarin in elementary school. They would love this DVD! Thanks for the chance to win!
lmarston AT yahoo DOT com
I subscribed via email.
lmarston AT yahoo DOT com
My son loves Kai-lan. He is a huge fan. I would be watching this all day.
brewerchickey78(at)yahoo.com
MFJ:
My daughter loves Kai-lan, she is 3. I'm always amazed when she counts along with Kai-lan.
watson(at)zerostreet(dot)net
My daughter looks like Kai Lan and she loves her too!
treflea4 at gmail dot com
Email suscriber.
treflea4 at gmail dot com
I would love to win this. We just went to China in October and it was the most fantastic trip ever. The DVD looks so cute!
My grandchildren spent some time in Japan. I think this would be an educational DVD for them. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway.
dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com
Would LOVE this for my twin girls. THey love Kai-Lan, and I love that she actually teaches them things while they are watching TV, and its not just a waste!
annelaurent@new.rr.com
I would love to win this for my nieces. They are Dora fans and I think they would be thrilled with this too.
I love that I can find an asian role model for my 3 yr old on tv and that the program teaches her to express emotions and the importance of empathy. It would be great to have this dvd for her bc she likes to repeat the Chinese words and I get so excited when she does. I speak Cantonese a bit, so I also learn mandarin along with her. Having a relatively cheap Asian doll available in regular stores[just found out they're available now and more are coming out in the fall] was the highlight of my night.
Searching for this doll led me to your blog. I'm so glad I did bc now I've discovered your wonderful site. Thanks! God Bless!
kayee123 [at] verizon [dot]net
Just a note that I've posted about this on Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/07/ni-hao-kai-lan-kai-lans-great-trip-to.html
My son likes Kai Lan. Please enter me.
iluvchrisnlevi@aol.com
We have never seen this show--we don't have cable! BUt, we love to watch DVDs and hope to be able to watch this one!
My daughter would so enjoy this. This is one of her favorite shows.
cheerket03@yahoo.com
My 4 year old is fascinated by China thanks to this show!
follower
tweeted - http://twitter.com/phxbne/status/2880179995
My daughter,Maya, loves this show. I even watch myself.....not only do I like it, but I also need to know the words Maya learns. Otherwise, she'll make up words and say they're in "chinese".
thanks for a great giveaway!
mayacarpenter at verizon dot net
I subscribe by email
mayacarpenter at verizon dot net
i follow you on twitter and tweeted here
http://twitter.com/janetmom2maya/status/2880983758
mayacarpenter at verizon dot net
I blogged at www.giveawaysonblogs.blogspot.com/2009/07/monday0727.html
mayacarpenter at verizon dot net
I really enjoy the show with my daughter - there is always some character trait that seems to be the focus of the show. I like that....along with the problem solving!
Great giveaway....I'd love to win.
I just followed you and tweeted about the giveaway tonight...last night of the giveaway!
I'm @AFrugalFriend
Thanks!
my son three and daughter two both are huge fans of the show we love watching thanks so much for the chance to win eaglesforjack@gmail.com
i follow your blog thanks eaglesforjack@gmail.com
I just wanted to say that my dd love Kai-lan too. We watch her everyday.
We like NiHaoKaiLan. :)
gahome2mom/at/gmail/dot/com
follower
gahome2mom/at/gmail/dot/com
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