It All Started with a Book-Nibbling Baby Girl…#
My daughter and I began our journey of reading together when she was still a baby who couldn’t speak. Back then, her favorite thing to do was chew on books (laughs), but through that daily companionship, I gradually came to realize:
Everything we hope our children will learn—values, knowledge, language skills—can actually be nurtured through three simple actions: Choose the right books, read with them, and repeat patiently.
There was a period when she would ask me to read Eric Carle’s classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? over ten times a day, every day, for an entire month.
That book, her favorite at the time, made me truly witness the magic of storytelling for the first time.
Our Belief in Learning: A Blend of Stories, Knowledge, Experience, and Language#
Our reading journey expanded from picture books to encyclopedias, including:
- 📚 Trilingual books (Chinese, English, Spanish)
- 🔍 Thematic encyclopedias
- ✂️ Hands-on experiments and crafts
- 🦖 Real-world exploration (visiting science centers, museums, zoos, etc.)
Through this daily routine, I discovered:
💡 What helps children internalize knowledge is not one-way teaching, but rather emotional connection through stories, followed by hands-on experience that turns what they learn into something of their own.
The Birth of Mina & Toby’s PediaMaze#
One day, while playing our favorite “story chain” game, I had an idea:
“What if we combined imaginative stories with encyclopedia knowledge, and added Chinese, English, and Spanish? Wouldn’t it be even more fun?”
We also want every child to have the right to know, and to be accompanied by stories as they explore the world.
🎧 That’s how our podcast, Mina & Toby’s PediaMaze, was born!
About the Characters & Our Creative Process#
- 👧 Mina is inspired by my daughter. She is my creative muse.
- 🧸 Toby is her lifelong teddy bear companion.
- 🎨 All character sketches were originally drawn by her, then transformed by an illustrator into our podcast’s design and cover art.
This is a mother-daughter co-creation, filled with love, imagination, and treasured memories.
Each Episode Is an Audio Adventure into Knowledge#
Mina & Toby’s PediaMaze is a children’s podcast designed mainly for kids aged 8–12, but suitable for ages 6–14. It blends:
- ✅ Original adventure stories
- ✅ Encyclopedia-style explanations
- ✅ Trilingual learning (Chinese–English–Spanish)
- ✅ Cross-disciplinary topics (dinosaurs, space, ancient civilizations, science, etc.)
We know not every episode will instantly match every child’s interests, but with a few more listens, they’ll eventually find — ✨ Their very own “Door of Curiosity.” ✨
This podcast isn’t just a learning tool. It’s a sound map for children to explore the world and discover their passions.
Not Just for Listening—You Can Make Things Too!#
Beyond storytelling, we regularly share our own crafting experiences and recommend hands-on activities to help bring knowledge into real life:
- 📘 Recommended reading lists
- ✂️ Parent-child crafts and science experiments
- 📩 Free downloadable “Knowledge Mission Packs” (like Ancient Egypt Knowledge Kit)
We believe when children can laugh through stories, play through experiments, and express freely in different languages, their love of learning will go even farther.
A Love Letter to My Daughter — and to Every Child Exploring the World#
Even if one day I’m no longer here, I hope my daughter will continue to love life, bravely learn, and embrace the world—through the passions she discovered: stories, languages, knowledge, and curiosity.
This is the heartfelt beginning I also want to share with your family.
Join Us in the PediaMaze!#
Once a week, join Mina and Toby as they travel across time and space, exploring the universe through your ears and imagination.
You just might find your own spark of passion—hidden somewhere in this labyrinth, waiting to be discovered.
