• Start Here
  • Books
    • Classics
      • 20th Century Classics
    • Early Chapter Books
    • Easy Readers
    • Folktales
    • Holiday Books
    • Middle Grade (8-12 years)
    • Nonfiction
    • Picture Books
    • Read Aloud Chapter Books
  • Games
    • Traditional Games
  • Kids Activities
    • Arts and Crafts
    • Literacy & Writing
    • Math
    • Playful Activities
    • Science
    • Toddler
  • Parenting

What Do We Do All Day

Books and Activities for Kids

You are here: Home / Books / 13 Bilingual Children’s Books: English-Spanish

13 Bilingual Children’s Books: English-Spanish

February 13, 2020

137shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

There are so many great English-Spanish bilingual children’s books being published today! It wasn’t so easy to find good choices when my kids were little. This list of bilingual picture books includes books that have English and Spanish text side by side as well as books that are written in English as the primary language but with Spanish words deftly woven into the text.

List of Bilingual children's books

We all know about the research that shows the earlier kids are exposed to a second language the better! What I love about these dual language books is that even people with no Spanish experience can read them, and parents with a rudimentary understanding of Spanish will have no trouble at all, especially since Spanish is written so phonetically!

It is never to early or too late to expose your kids to a second (or third!) language. Books with both English and Spanish text will help them get started on the road to fluency. Or, at the very least, increase their cross-cultural awareness.

Really, there is no good reason not to read bilingual books to your kids!

This book list is divided into sections by age: babies and toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-aged children.

Note: this post contains affiliate links that may earn commission.

Spanish-English Books Ages 0-3

Global Babies bilingual book for toddlers

Global Babies/Bebes del mundo

from The Global Fund for Children

Amazon | Indiebound

Babies LOVE to stare at other baby faces! Now they (and you!) can look at adorable faces from around the world while hearing simple, sweet and loving text in Spanish and English. This is a wonderful first bilingual book for babies.


Besos for Baby

Besos for Baby

by Jen Arena

Amazon | Indiebound

A sweet little board with repetitive and rhyming text. Primarily in English with a few Spanish words. You will want to plant many besos on your baby as you read!


Pio Peep Spanish nursery rhymes

¡Pío Peep!: Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes 

by ed., by Alma Flor Alma, F. Isabel Campoy and Alice Shurtle

Amazon | Indiebound

This bilingual collection of nursery rhymes is not to be missed. Each traditional rhyme is presented in both Spanish and English. If you are not fluent, but had a little bit of high school Spanish, try reading aloud the Spanish version, your babe will love the sound of the word flow and rhythm and hearing another language is great for the brain!


Arrorro mi nino spanish lullaby

Arrorró, Mi Niño: Latino Lullabies and Gentle Games

by Lulu Delacre

Amazon | Indiebound

This is a good bilingual resource, even for parents with no Spanish language experience. Short songs and interactive games (think: Pat-a-cake, and “To Market, to Market”) will encourage caregivers to spend special one on one time with their children.


How are you como estas

How Are You? / ¿Cómo estás?

by Angela Dominguez

Amazon | Indiebound

Playful illustrations of two giraffes accompany dual language text in which the new friends inquire about to each other’s feelings and get to know each other. One of the most fun bilingual books for todders!


Ages 3-5

Maria Had a Little Llama in spanish and english

Maria Had a Little Llama/María Tenía una Llamita

by Angela Dominguez

Amazon | Indiebound

Kids love to hear new takes on familiar stories and rhymes. This classic nursery rhyme has a Peruvian twist and is a great bilingual picture book for preschoolers!


Gracias book

Gracias\Thanks

by Pat Mora

Amazon | Indiebound

In this joyful book, a biracial boy narrates all the things he is thankful for, from the expected to the surprising. The illustrations include a range of multicultural children, so kids of all colors will see themselves represented.


What Can You Do With a paleta bilingual picture book

What Can You Do with a Paleta / ¿Qué Puedes Hacer con una Paleta?

by Carmen Tafolla

Amazon | Indiebound

A paleta is a traditional Mexican popsicle treat. This lively book about kids running to get a summer treat will spark your preschooler’s imagination and maybe he or she will even offer to share a paleta with you!


Ages 5-8

Lizard and the sun latino bilingual folktale picture book

The Lizard and the Sun/La Lagartija y el Sol

By Alma Flor Alda

Amazon | Indiebound

Ever wonder why lizards like to laze about in the sun (hint: it’s not because of their cold blood)? It all started when the sun disappeared and the lizard went in search of it. With a little help from an Aztec emperor, a woodpecker and a great feast, he is able to bring the sun back from its slumber. With lots of detail, the illustrations bring the Aztec culture to life.


Celia book cover

My Name is Celia/Me llamo Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz/la vida de Celia Cruz

by Monica Brown

Amazon | Indiebound

This lively, vibrant bilingual biography tells the story of Cuban-born Celia Cruz, an important salsa singer and performer. The narrative traces Celia’s journey, starting with her love of music and through her experience as a refugee escaping the communist regime of Cuba. She brought her musical art to Miami and New York, fighting racial stereotypes and never giving up. The text evokes the rhythm of salsa music and is great fun to read.


Iguanas in the snow bilingual poetry

Iguanas in the Snow: And Other Winter Poems / Iguanas en la Nieve: Y Otros Poemas de Invierno

by Francisco X. Alarcón 

Amazon | Indiebound

This bilingual collection of poems is part of a four book series spanning the seasonal year. Each short poem in free verse is in both Spanish and English, presenting snapshots of a diverse group of children enjoying wintery life to the fullest. Be sure to read the poetry collections for every season!


Marisol McDonald bilingual picture book for children

Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match / Marisol McDonald no combina

by Monica Brown

Amazon | Indiebound

Red-headed half-Scottish half-Peruvian Marisol bounces off the page with great enthusiasm and loves her mismatched life. When her friend, Ollie, challenges her to “match”, Marisol finds she is unhappy with life as a conformist. This is a great story that emphasizes the importance of embracing and accepting one’s uniqueness.


Dear Primo

Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin

by Duncan Tonatiuh

Amazon | Indiebound

Two cousins—Charlie, who is American, and Carlitos, who is Mexican—write letters to each other describing their lives in their home countries, thus inviting readers to compare and contrast the different experiences. Tonatiuh’s illustrations are heavily influenced by Mixtec tradition (Mixtec was a major civilization of Mesoamerica). Primarily written in English, with some Spanish words, plus a glossary.

More books to love:

  • Latinx children’s books for all ages #ownvoices
  • Multicultural books for babies and toddlers
  • Picture books about diversity
Want Your Kids to Love Being Unplugged?
Subscribe to our newsletter and as a thank you, receive 10 waiting games kids can play anytime anywhere.
Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
137shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

by: Erica posted in: Books 1 Comment

« Spring Coloring Pages
Children’s Books about Divorce and Separation »

Comments

  1. Alexis says

    November 16, 2020 at 7:25 pm

    Thanks for this. I would love to know if they are actually all bilingual books. I have seen a lot of blogs saying there are bilingual books but it is only in the one language and not both together. That being said you would love the bilingual books by @lingobabies

    Reply

Feed My Comment Addiction Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

STOP THE WHINING!

SAY, "YES I WANT TO UNPLUG MY KIDS." JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER LIST AND GET 10 WAITING GAMES YOUR KIDS CAN PLAY ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.

Join over 12,000 parents who subscribe to the most useful newsletter on the planet. 

    We won't send you spam (yuck). Unsubscribe at any time.

    Search

    What Have We Done Lately?

    Spring Poems for Kids and Families

    Home Science Experiments for Kids

    Children’s Books that Address Incarceration and Detention

    How to Play Sevens: A Dice Game

    Middle Grade Books for Women’s History Month

    Lau Kata Kati: A Traditional Strategy Game from India

    Valentine Bookmarks Coloring Page


    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
    Copyright 2007-2020 What Do We Do All Day? All rights reserved.

    EXPLORE MORE:

    Awesome Newsletter
    Favorite Resources for Parents
    100s of Book Lists
    Gigantic List of Indoor Activities
    Best Games on the Planet
    Stay At Home Parent Resources


    Privacy, disclosure and copyright policy

    Copyright © 2021 · Foodie Pro Theme Description: This is the Foodie Pro child theme created for the Genesis Framework. Author: Shay Bocks Author URI: http://shaybocks.com/ Version: 2.0.5 Tags: black, orange, white, one-column, two-columns, three-columns, fixed-width, custom-menu, full-width-template, sticky-post, theme-options, threaded-comments, translation-ready Template: genesis Template Version: 2.0.1 License: GPL-2.0+ License URI: http://www.opensource.org/licenses/gpl-license.php by Shay Bocks

    Want Your Kids to Love Being Unplugged?
    Subscribe to our newsletter and as a thank you, receive 10 waiting games kids can play anytime anywhere.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Want More Free Activity Ideas?
    Join our email list and as a thank you gift I'll send you a list of 10 waiting games that will make your kids smarter.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Want your kids to love being unplugged?
    Join our newsletter and as a thank you, I'll send you a list of 10 waiting games.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you keep using this website we will assume you are OK with that. Read our privacy policy for more.OKRead more