Dear Friend,

Our shelves are overflowing with wonderful new products from China -- apparel, arts & crafts, jewelry, books, ornaments, toys, and more -- just in time for the holidays! So shop now and relax later to make sure that you get exactly what you want for everyone on your gift giving list. Don't know what to get that hard to shop for friend? Check out ChinaSprout's updated theme pages for Gifts Under $50 and Gifts Under $100. As a special thank you for shopping at ChinaSprout over the holidays, we are offering a two-for-one deal on our popular Chinese Character Candle. And, finally, we are pleased to announced that our 2006 catalogue will be available in just a few short weeks. Make sure to orders yours now if you're not already on our list!

ChinaSprout's Holiday Day Gift Ideas!

Make your home merry and bright this holiday season with beautiful NEW ornaments from ChinaSprout. We have recently added more festive hand-painted glass and cloisonné ornaments direct from China. You can also browse through our diverse selection of holiday greeting cards and fantastic new calendars for 2006. Plus, ChinaSprout can help you find the perfect gift for everyone on your list when you visit our updated theme pages for Stocking Stuffers, Gifts Under $50 and Gifts Under $100.

FREE Holiday Gift

To show our appreciation to you for shopping at ChinaSprout this holiday season, we are offering a "buy one, get one free" promotion. From now until November 28th, when you purchase one Chinese Character Candle, you will receive a second one for Free. These candles make lovely presents for teachers, neighbors, co-workers, or Secret Santas and are also great for use in gift baskets.

2006 From China With Love Calendar

The 2006 From China With Love calendar is available for Pre-Order now. Featuring adorable photos of girls and boys adopted from China, the proceeds from this calendar go to support Chinese children who remain in orphanages and Chinese Cultural Heritage learning opportunities for FCC kids. Enjoy a discount when you order two copies and an even greater price break when you order a box of 25.

2006 Catalog

We are pleased to announce that our 2006 catalog will be available within two weeks, for your shopping convenience. If you have purchased products from us or have requested a catalog in the past, you are already on our mailing list and will automatically receive a catalog when it ships. If you have moved, please let us know your new mailing address so that we can ensure delivery to you. If you would like to receive the ChinaSprout catalog, please make sure to request copies and we will be happy to add you to our mailing list.

Double Fish Silk Jackets

Love Jade Earrings

Puzzle - Lucky Phoenix

Mei Mei - Little Sister

Apparel

ChinaSprout has wonderful new apparel items to keep you toasty warm and looking good. Baby will be wrapped in comfort when wearing our cozy cap and shoes or pretty pajamas. Little girls will look party perfect in ChinaSprout's stylish brocade skirt outfit, a long dress/pants set or corduroy flower Mandarin jacket. And, for mom, we have a stunning duster jacket made from radiantly colored silk.

Accessories

Indulge someone you love to a thoughtful treat from ChinaSprout. Our newest jewelry selections include sterling silver and jade rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and pendants, all which evoke special significance. For the young at heart, we have fun, whimsical accessories including shoe-shaped jewelry boxes and greeting child key chains.

Fun Stuff for Kids

Keep little hands and minds busy with fun puzzles from ChinaSprout. Fantastic figures like NeZha, dragons, terracotta warriors, and phoenix birds will capture their imagination. If you're looking for stocking stuffers or small gifts for your children's friends, make sure to check out our peddler drum, Great Wall or Hutong playing cards, or vibrant Peking Opera puzzle cube.

Arts & Crafts

Liven up your home for the holidays with lovely new products that exemplify the beauty of handcrafted Chinese artistry. Choose from a double happiness porcelain jar or striking wooden box, embroidered ornaments and magnets, or colorful Tianjin folk paintings. If birthday parties or weddings are in your future, check out our fun wrapping papers and double happiness boxes.

Books to Learn Chinese

ChinaSprout has learning texts and tools for Chinese language learners of all ages and skill levels. Whether you are a five year old beginner or 50 year old expert, you are sure to find many helpful books, CDs, DVDs, dictionaries, and more. Many of these latest additions accompany some of ChinaSprout's most established language series.

Books about China & Literature

We have a wide array of new books about Chinese culture and adoption. In "A Love Like No Other" and "Mei Mei", the themes of Chinese adoption and family are explored. We also have added wonderful books of classic Chinese literature and fun explorations of Chinese culture, including temple fairs and mah-jongg. And, if you're a dog lover, make sure to check out our Year of the Dog calendar!

The China Related TV list is compiled weekly by Kirby Bartlett-Sloan. Kirby, an adoptive parent of three Chinese girls, has one of the most comprehensive TV listings of programs on China and from China that are in the English language.

Little Einsteins - Dragon Kite

In China, while searching for kites that are needed in a parade, the kids go into a pagoda, cruise the Yangtze River, visit the famous Himalayan peaks and climb the Great Wall. Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg's "Peer Gynt Suite" is featured, along with art by Zhang Lu, Qiu Ying, Zosan and Cai Jia. Friday November 18, 2005 12:30pm-1:00pm on Disney Channel - Children's Show / Educational

Figure Skating - Cup of China

mens' and ladies' finals in Beijing Sunday November 20, 2005 12:00pm-3:00pm on ESPN2 - Sports - Figure Skating

Shadow Magic (2000)

An Englishman (Jared Harris) attempts to introduce moving pictures to China at the dawn of the 20th century, and enlists the aid of a young Peking photographer (Yu Xia) to help with his mission. Ling: Yufei Xing. Master Ren: Peiqi Liu. Lord Tan: Yusheng Li. Old Liu: Jingming Wang. Directed by Ann Hu.
Sunday November 20, 2005 12:15pm-2:15pm on IFC - Independent Film Channel - Movie / Drama

Click here for more listings

Learning Chinese: Next Big Thing?

CBS News - CHICAGO, Nov. 12, 2005 - The fourth-graders at Chicago's McCormick Elementary School don't know Mandarin is supposed to be hard to learn. For most, who speak Spanish at home, it's becoming their third language. They've been hearing and using Chinese words since kindergarten, and it's now second nature to give a hearty ni hao when strangers enter the classroom.

Read the full article here

Down on the Farm, by the Golf Course and Subdivisions

NYTimes - BEIJING, Nov. 7 - For the past month or so, a hunched man with watery eyes and teeth named Xi Qiuyuan has raked piles of corn into a long yellow quilt to dry in the sun. Then he has watched it. Mr. Xi is a night watchman, and what he watches is the corn.

Read the full article here

When the New Toddler Is a Rival

NYTimes - Nov 13, 2005 - Ed Young's forthcoming "My Mei Mei" is the most visually lyrical, though that aspect may mean most to adult readers, who will probably love it. The narrator, Antonia, explains: "When I was half, I joined Mommy and Baba in China. We flew home together." There's a lot going on there: international adoption, cultural displacement, the author's shrewd and charming use of a very young child's diction.

Read the full article here and PRE-ORDER the book here.

NOTE: Select NY Times articles require registration which provides free and instant access to breaking news, reviews, online classifieds and more on NYTimes.com.

"A speck of time is worth more than an ounce of gold" - 100 Pearls of Chinese Wisdom

Our work lives can become all-consuming. It is easy to forget those things that are most important to us -- family, friends, and taking time out to participate in activities that bring us joy and rejuvenate us. Time doing things we love is worth its weight in gold. May you find great wealth this year and always!

Your Friends,

The ChinaSprout Team

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