2026 Contest Winners
2026 Contest Winners Congratulations to all winners and participants of the 2026 Picture Book Reading Contest! We are proud of every student who took part in this year’s contest and grateful to the parents, teachers, and schools for their support and encouragement throughout the process. We warmly invite all students, families, teachers, and supporters to join our online award ceremony as we celebrate the achievements of this year’s participants and recognize the outstanding performances of the contest winners. Online Award Ceremony Video: https://youtu.be/YdLha3894q0 Available at 11:00AM PT on April 12, 2026 Here is the full list of winners, along with their respective teachers, schools, and individual video links: Chinese Immersion Program Group (K–1 Grade) First Place Award: Azordegan, Florence 美娜, 1st Grade of Marvin Elementary School, Teacher: Jiao Yu, Watch Video Second Place Award: Evelyn Mounzer, 1st Grade of Yew Chung International School of Silicon Valley, Teacher: Anqi Wang, Watch Video Jaden Jiao, 1st Grade of K.L. Carver Elementary School, Teacher: Judy Shao, Watch Video Carter Lin, 1st Grade of German International School of Portland, Teacher: Lynn Chane, Watch Video Third Place Award: Fernandez, Martina 范小婷, 1st Grade of Marvin Elementary School, Teacher: Jiao Yu, Watch Video Barnes, Sarah 黄智芯, 1st Grade of Marvin Elementary School, Teacher: Jiao Yu, Watch Video Schauer, Marcus 萧迅杰, 1st Grade of Marvin Elementary School, Teacher: Jiao Yu, Watch Video Ella Wojciechowski, 1st Grade of Stough Magnet Elementary School, Teacher: Qiqi Lin, Watch Video Joseph Mei, 1st Grade of German International School of Portland, Teacher: Lynn Chane, Watch Video Chinese Immersion Program Group (2nd Grade) First Place Award: Aiden Kenna, 2nd Grade of Stratford School SF14, Teacher: Xinyan Tao, Watch Video Second Place Award: Michael Poplawski, 2nd Grade of South Academy of International Languages, Teacher: Haibin Li, Watch Video Kyle Yuan Ye, 2nd Grade of Yu Ming Charter School, Teacher: Zhikai Yu, Watch Video Alek Khavinson, 2nd Grade of Stough Magnet Elementary School, Teacher: Muhua Liu, Watch Video Third Place Award: Amarachukwu Amadi, 2nd Grade of William Land Elementary School, Teacher: Liqin Liu, Watch Video Emily Fujisawa, 2nd Grade of Fletcher Mandarin and Gate Academy, Teacher: Min Tang, Watch Video Alice Ayala 小贝, 2nd Grade of Global Village Academy Aurora, Teacher: Yang Chen, Watch Video Logan Chan, 2nd Grade of Fletcher Mandarin and Gate Academy, Teacher: Xu Shen Le, Watch Video Skyler Hall, 2nd Grade of Stough Magnet Elementary School, Teacher: Xiaoming Liu, Watch Video Chinese Immersion Program Group (3rd Grade) First Place Award: Han Harris, 3rd Grade of South Academy of International Languages, Teacher: Yu Miao, Watch Video Second Place Award: Zoe Maria Kleto, 3rd Grade of South Academy of International Languages, Teacher: Yu Miao, Watch Video Kavan Mehta, 3rd Grade of South Academy of International Languages, Teacher: Yu Miao, Watch Video Third Place Award: Alden Oliver Nyoo, 3rd Grade of Plymouth Elementary School, Teacher: Shannon Hsu, Watch Video Queenmarie Hutagalung 美欣, 3rd Grade of Global Village Academy Aurora, Teacher: Yang Chen, Watch Video Sebastian Yee, 3rd Grade of Fletcher Mandarin and Gate Academy, Teacher: Ming Tang, Watch Video Chinese Immersion Program Group (4–5 Grade) First Place Award: Liam Spencer, 5th Grade of Fiddler's Canyon Elementary School, Teacher: Yi Yang, Watch Video Second Place Award: Anna Sloane Vargas, 4th Grade of South Academy of International Languages, Teacher: Lixin Cronin, Watch Video Elliott Harrison Zhao, 4th Grade of South Academy of International Languages, Teacher: Cronin Yu, Watch Video Allison King, 5th Grade of East Link Academy, Teacher: Jinyu Wei, Watch Video Third Place Award: Kaiser Logan, 4th Grade of South Academy of International Languages, Teacher: Zhou Yang, Watch Video Breann Fieldhouse, 4th Grade of Eugene Field Elementary School, Teacher: Anqi Deng, Watch Video Juniper Crane, 4th Grade of Fiddler's Canyon Elementary School, Teacher: Yuting Du, Watch Video Olivia Kai Russey, 5th Grade of Kensington Elementary, Teacher: Xuezhen Sun, Watch Video Chinese Immersion Program Group (6–8 Grade) First Place Award: Cassandra Hsu, 6th Grade of South Pasadena Middle School, Teacher: Mo Yang, Watch Video Second Place Award: Briony Yang, 7th Grade of Miwok Middle School, Teacher: Feifei Xie, Watch Video Third Place Award: Colette Yang, 6th Grade of William Land Elementary School, Teacher: Feifei Xie, Watch Video Chinese Heritage Group (K–1 Grade) First Place Award: Alivia Lin, 1st Grade of German International School of Portland, Teacher: Lynn Chane, Watch Video Second Place Award: Richard Yuhao He, 1st Grade of Yew Chung International School of Silicon Valley, Teacher: Anqi Wang, Watch Video Isaac Ng, 1st Grade of Stratford School Santa Clara Pomeroy, Teacher: Xuehong Wang, Watch Video Third Place Award: Rylee Leung, 1st Grade of Stratford Sunnyvale De Anza Park, Teacher: Yazhao Peng, Watch Video Miya Griggorik, 1st Grade of German International School of Portland, Teacher: Lynn Chane, Watch Video Chinese Heritage Group (2–3 Grade) First Place Award: Lydia Liang, 2nd Grade of Glenwood Elementary School, Teacher: Rui Nie, Watch Video Second Place Award: Ike Lin, 3rd Grade of Plymouth Elementary School, Teacher: Carol Sieh, Watch Video Nova Yoo, 2nd Grade of Yu Ming Charter School, Teacher: Zhikai Yu, Watch Video Third Place Award: Maya Ng, Kindergarten of Yew Chung International School of Silicon Valley, Teacher: Milly Cao, Watch Video Eason Sinuo Tseung, 2nd Grade of Yu Ming Charter School, Teacher: Zhikai Yu, Watch Video 孟青青, 2nd Grade of Stratford School Santa Clara Pomeroy, Teacher: Ziyu Li, Watch Video Allen Yang, 2nd Grade of Stratford School Milpitas Corning, Teacher: Yifei Ma, Watch Video Chinese Heritage Group (4–5 Grade) First Place Award: Yaman Xie, 5th Grade of New Lexington Elementary School, Teacher: Xiao Liu, Watch Video Second Place Award: Melinda Chen, 4th Grade of Nohl Canyon Elementary, Teacher: Hsinyi Huang, Watch Video Eileen Huo, 4th Grade of East Link Academy, Teacher: Jiaying Qian, Watch Video Third Place Award: Kaiwen Zhang, 4th Grade of East Link Academy, Teacher: Jiaying Qian, Watch Video Jingwen Kuang, 5th Grade of New Lexington Elementary School, Teacher: Xiao Liu, Watch Video Haoyang Zheng, 5th Grade of New Lexington Elementary School, Teacher: Xiao Liu, Watch Video Chinese Heritage Group (6–8 Grade) First Place Award: Jason Jin, 6th Grade of MBCA Chinese School, Teacher: Yuchen Yan, Watch Video Second Place Award: Vivian Jin, 8th Grade of MBCA Chinese School, Teacher: Yuchen Yan, Watch Video Third Place Award: Eileen Shen, 7th Grade of South Pasadena Middle School, Teacher: Mo Yang, Watch Video World Language Program Group (4–5 Grade) First Place Award: Philip Uitvlugt, 4th Grade of Dr. Martin Luther King Leadership and Language Magnet Academy, Teacher: Haifeng Xu, Watch Video World Language Program Group (6–8 Grade) First Place Award: Aiden Fieldhouse, 7th Grade of Sierra Madre Middle School, Teacher: Jun Yu, Watch Video Second Place Award: Wyatt Rubinstein, 7th Grade of Viewpoint School, Teacher: Jane Zhang, Watch Video Sky Brennan Chen Timmons, 8th Grade of Viewpoint School, Teacher: Jane Zhang, Watch Video Third Place Award: Margaret Kano, 8th Grade of Weston Middle School, Teacher: Shuo Shen, Watch Video Samuel Miller, 8th Grade of Viewpoint School, Teacher: Jane Zhang, Watch Video Cade Walser, 8th Grade of Viewpoint School, Teacher: Jane Zhang, Watch Video After-School / Weekend School / Online Learning Group (K–1 Grade) First Place Award: Shayan Hashemi (郑夏洋), 1st Grade of Stratford School Los Gatos, Teacher: Yan Yu, Watch Video Second Place Award: Shivani Datta, Kindergarten of MBCA Chinese School, Teacher: Xiao Yu, Watch Video Third Place Award: Aveline Rankin-DeBlois, Kindergarten of Little Mandarin Institute, Teacher: Yi Che, Watch Video After-School / Weekend School / Online Learning Group (2–3 Grade) First Place Award: Fotis Ilonidis, 3rd Grade of Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary School, Teacher: Xiao 小 Zhou 周, Watch Video Second Place Award: Allison Wu, 2nd Grade of Stratford Sunnyvale De Anza Park, Teacher: Yazhao Peng, Watch Video Third Place Award: Kate Nguyen, 3rd Grade of Fletcher Mandarin and Gate Academy, Teacher: Min Tang, Watch Video After-School / Weekend School / Online Learning Group (4–5 Grade) First Place Award: Harvey Zhao, 5th Grade of Manhattan Mandarin, Teacher: Xiaorui Zhao, Watch Video Second Place Award: Sabrina Schorr, 5th Grade of Manhattan Mandarin, Teacher: Elaine Liu, Watch Video Third Place Award: Colin Cao, 4th Grade of Stratford Sunnyvale De Anza Park, Teacher: Yazhao Peng, Watch Video After-School / Weekend School / Online Learning Group (6–8 Grade) First Place Award: Sam Fine方平山, 8th Grade of Miwok Middle School, Teacher: Esther Fine, Watch Video Second Place Award: Zoe Cong, 6th Grade of Manhattan Mandarin, Teacher: Elaine Liu, Watch Video Third Place Award: Mason Harris 林星, 6th Grade of Weddington Christian academy, Teacher: Luling Yan, Watch Video Honorable Mention Awards We are pleased to recognize the following students with Honorable Mention Awards for their hard work and participation in the 2026 Picture Book Reading Contest. We congratulate them on their achievement and thank them for their enthusiasm and dedication. Aaron Ching, 8th Grade, Viewpoint School, Teacher: Jane Zhang Abigail Teeson, 2nd Grade, Stough Magnet Elementary School, Teacher: Casey Liu Agnes Cheung, 2nd Grade, Yu Ming Charter School, Teacher: Angel Nip Alex Williams, 1st Grade, Stough Magnet Elementary School, Teacher: Qiqi Lin Alyssa He, 2nd Grade, Stratford Sunnyvale Washington Park, Teacher: Candice Liu Amber Lee, 7th Grade, Weston Middle School, Teacher: Shuo Shen Andi Xie 谢庭玉, 2nd Grade, Yew Chung International School of Silicon Valley, Teacher: Sabrina Zhang Angela Chen, 4th Grade, Yu Ming Charter School, Teacher: Longping Shi Anna Sih-Min Sun, K, Yew Chung International School of Silicon Valley, Teacher: Emily Yang Ariella Landzberg, K, Starting Point Mandarin Immersion, Teacher: Yu Cao Audrienne Joie Chao, 2nd Grade, Yu Ming Charter School, Teacher: Zhikai Yu Avery Ji, K, Roynon Elementary, Teacher: Wenting Zhang Baisi Wang, 6th Grade, Manhattan Mandarin, Teacher: Elaine Liu Benjamin Lau, 3rd Grade, HudsonWay Immersion School, Teacher: Miranda Chen Caleb Cheng 郑迦勒, 2nd Grade, Guy Emanuele Elementary School, Teacher: Cong (Claire) Wu Caroline Schwerin, 4th Grade, East Link Academy, Teacher: Mengran Cao Christian Valencia 小果, 2nd Grade, Global Village Academy Aurora, Teacher: Yang Chen Colin Pan, 8th Grade, Viewpoint School, Teacher: Jane Zhang Constance Cao 曹文清, 4th Grade, Marvin Elementary School, Teacher: Jinjing Chen Delia Grace Young, 1st Grade, Stough Magnet Elementary School, Teacher: Qiqi Lin Ella Xie 谢祎鸣, K, Yew Chung International School of Silicon Valley, Teacher: Milly Cao Emilia Berton, 3rd Grade, South Academy of International Languages, Teacher: Yu Miao Emily Mize, 4th Grade, Stough Magnet Elementary School, Teacher: Fang Yan Eve Polack, 7th Grade, Silver Lake Intermediate School, Teacher: Zhifang Wan Ezra Chiao, 1st Grade, German International School of Portland, Teacher: Lynn Chane Gabriela Ruiz, 3rd Grade, South Academy of International Languages, Teacher: Yu Miao Gabrielle Miles, 3rd Grade, South Academy of International Languages, Teacher: Yu Miao Harrison Rentz, 3rd Grade, East Link Academy, Teacher: Zhengxi Lin Hudson Chiaramonte, 4th Grade, Fiddler's Canyon Elementary School, Teacher: Yuting Du Hugo Ma, 2nd Grade, Yu Ming Charter School, Teacher: Zhikai Yu Ian Nguyen, 2nd Grade, Fletcher Mandarin and Gate Academy, Teacher: Min Tang Indy Cole, 2nd Grade, South Academy of International Languages, Teacher: Haibin Li Ivana Shukla, K, Marvin Elementary School, Teacher: Fengyu Liu Jacob Barnes, 5th Grade, Marvin Elementary School, Teacher: Jing Li James Widmar III, 1st Grade, Stough Magnet Elementary School, Teacher: Qiqi Lin Jin, Benedic, 1st Grade, Marvin Elementary School, Teacher: Jiao Yu Jinyu Zheng, K, Stratford Palo Alto, Teacher: Nan Wu Julianna Groot, 1st Grade, Stough Magnet Elementary School, Teacher: Juntong Zhou Juniper Ehlert, 1st Grade, German International School of Portland, Teacher: Lynn Chane Kashmir Vo, 7th Grade, Viewpoint School, Teacher: Jane Zhang Katherine Qianlin Huang, 1st Grade, Yu Ming Charter School, Teacher: Jing Xie Katherine Wanyee Lin, 2nd Grade, Yu Ming Charter School, Teacher: Zhikai Yu Kinslee Platt, 2nd Grade, Stough Magnet Elementary School, Teacher: Xiaoming Liu Lai Ji, 2nd Grade, Stough Magnet Elementary School, Teacher: Xiaoming Liu Lena Jun, 3rd Grade, Stough Magnet Elementary School, Teacher: Jenny Zhao Leonardo Lanjun Zhang, 2nd Grade, Lila Bringhurst Elementary School, Teacher: Tingting Xu Logan Dean, 3rd Grade, South Academy of International Languages, Teacher: Zehong Luo Lyden Hong, 5th Grade, Little Mandarin Institute, Teacher: Yi Che Madison Lex, 7th Grade, Silver Lake Intermediate School, Teacher: Zhifang Wan Marisa Fry, 3rd Grade, Stough Magnet Elementary School, Teacher: Jenny Zhao Mathis Lew, 1st Grade, German International School of Portland, Teacher: Lynn Chane Matteo Abreu, 5th Grade, Fletcher Mandarin and Gate Academy, Teacher: Min Tang Mingshi Wang, 4th Grade, Stratford Sunnyvale De Anza Park, Teacher: Yazhao Peng Nathan Faber, 7th Grade, Viewpoint School, Teacher: Jane Zhang Nik Lin, 1st Grade, Plymouth Elementary School, Teacher: Carol Sieh Rachel Olivia Binson, 3rd Grade, South Academy of International Languages, Teacher: Zehong Luo Rafael Rogers, 4th Grade, East Link Academy, Teacher: Jiaying Qian Rafiq Nesta Begrich-Daulatzai, 2nd Grade, Yu Ming Charter School, Teacher: Zhikai Yu Sophia Chong, 5th Grade, Marvin Elementary School, Teacher: Jing Li Sunhua Yang, 5th Grade, New Lexington Elementary School, Teacher: Xiao Liu Theodore Grand, 5th Grade, South Academy of International Languages, Teacher: Yanhong Ye Thomas Harris, 3rd Grade, East Link Academy, Teacher: Zhengxi Lin Tracey Cyrus, 2nd Grade, South Academy of International Languages, Teacher: Haibin Li Veronica Elaine Bond, 6th Grade, Viewpoint School, Teacher: Jane Zhang Vincent Chen, 5th Grade, Marvin Elementary School, Teacher: Jing Li Vivienne Li, 2nd Grade, Stough Magnet Elementary School, Teacher: Muhua Liu Yilin Li, 1st Grade, Stratford Sunnyvale Washington Park, Teacher: Candice Liu Yuvan Nallaswamy, 7th Grade, Marvin Ridge Middle School, Teacher: Zhikuan Wei Pioneering Leadership in Language Learning Award This award recognizes educators whose dedication, vision, and sustained support have made a meaningful contribution to Chinese language learning and the promotion of Chinese book reading. We are honored to recognize the following teachers for their outstanding commitment to language education. The names of these outstanding teachers are listed below: Jane Zhang, Viewpoint School Jinjing Chen, Marvin Elementary School Yang Chen, Global Village Academy Aurora Zhikai Yu, Yu Ming Charter School Xiaoming Liu, Stough Elementary School Peijung Chou, Marvin Elementary School Carolyn Xiaohong Zheng, Bloomington Elementary School Qiqi Lin, Stough Magnet Elementary School Chen NI (Jenny) Hung, German International School of Portland Juntong Zhou 周俊彤, Stough Mandarin Immersion Magnet Elementary School Xiao Liu, New Lexington School Jiaying Qian, East Link Academy Anqi Wang, Yew Chung International School of Silicon Valley Fei Mu, Manhattan Mandarin Ltd. Special Recognition: Excellence Award for After-School / Weekend Schools This special award recognizes the important role that after-school programs, weekend schools, and other community-based Chinese learning institutions play in supporting Chinese language education beyond the regular school system. Through their dedication and long-term commitment, these schools and teachers provide valuable learning opportunities for students and make meaningful contributions to Chinese language teaching in our communities. The following schools are recognized this year for their outstanding service and commitment: Little Mandarin Institute Manhattan Mandarin Ltd. MBCA Chinese School Thank you to all students, parents, teachers, and schools for being part of the 2026 Picture Book Reading Contest. We look forward to continuing to celebrate and support Chinese language learning together in the years ahead. |