My Name Is Ai Lin: Activities That Celebrate Identity
This empowering children’s story follows Ai Lin, a young girl who proudly shares the meaning of her Chinese name with classmates who struggle to pronounce it. It’s heartfelt, brave, vibrantly illustrated, and a wonderful way to introduce conversations about cultural identity, Asian American heritage, and the beauty of names.
As someone who creates hands-on Mandarin and identity-themed learning printables for kids, I felt immediately inspired when Maria reached out to collaborate. Her passion—both through her writing and through her Bicultural Mama platform—aligns closely with my own mission at Lingo Buddies. The moment I read Ai Lin’s story, I knew I wanted to design activities that help children feel proud of their names, their families, and the stories they carry.
Below, I’m sharing a collection of free and book-inspired printable activities that pair perfectly with My Name Is Ai Lin—ideal for classrooms, libraries, homeschool, bilingual families, author visits, and culture-themed lessons.
Why My Name Is Ai Lin Matters
This story gently highlights meaningful themes such as:
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the importance of cultural pride
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the power and meaning behind names
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celebrating Asian American identity
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confidence in sharing your heritage
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learning kindness and understanding in the classroom
Ai Lin’s courage encourages little learners to embrace who they are and to speak proudly about where they come from—an affirming message for all children.
My Name Is Ai Lin Printable Activities
FREE My Name Is Ai Lin Coloring Page & Flashcards
Created exclusively for this book collaboration, this set includes:
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A photo-frame style coloring page featuring key vocabulary words from My Name Is Ai Lin. Each frame includes an illustrated word from the story, giving kids a fun way to learn new vocabulary while they color.
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A set of 6 vocabulary flashcards showcasing important words that appear in the book—perfect for building literacy, reviewing story themes, and supporting classroom discussions.
This free printable set helps children connect more deeply with Ai Lin’s world and reinforces the language used throughout the story.
My Name Is Coloring Page
A simple, joyful activity to help children decorate and take pride in their own names.
About Me Portrait Wall
Kids illustrate their favorite things to create their own “portrait wall” that celebrates their individuality.
Who Lives In My House
A cut-and-paste craft where kids draw the people who love them. Perfect for family-themed units or identity lessons.
❤️ Sight Character Maze: 愛 (Love)
A playful maze that teaches children to recognize the Chinese character for love—the “Ai” in Ai Lin.
My Lovely Classmates
Kids draw their classmates and practice writing names, connecting beautifully with the book’s themes of friendship and understanding.
Hug Coloring Page
A warm, parent-and-child coloring sheet celebrating love and connection.
About Me Coloring Page
Children can draw or write their favorite food, book, music, and more—perfect for back-to-school or all-about-me lessons.
Why I Created These Printables
Stories like My Name Is Ai Lin feel especially close to my heart. As a mom raising a bilingual child, I know how important it is for kids to see themselves reflected in the books they read. These activities were designed to help children be proud of their names, celebrate their families, and connect with language through meaningful, hands-on play.
Working with Maria was an honor, and I hope these worksheets bring joy, confidence, and creativity to your little learners.
More Storybook Activities That Celebrate Heritage: Icy Fruits
If you enjoy culturally inspired activities, you may also love my printable set created for Icy Fruits by Charlotte Cheng—another beautifully illustrated story that celebrates family traditions and cultural heritage.
Where to Get the Book
You can find My Name Is Ai Lin wherever children’s books are sold and on Amazon. It’s a wonderful addition to:
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diverse classroom libraries
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Asian American heritage collections
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bilingual Mandarin learning environments
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home reading time
Share your storybook activities with our community of parents and teachers! Send your photos to careteam@lingobuddies.fun or add #lingobbudies to your social media posts!
The vocabulary coloring page and flashcards from My Name Is Ai Lin are my gift to you — free for everyone, no email needed.
Keep the learning going ✨
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