This past year I've been traveling the world and teaching English and one of the biggest lessons I've learned is the value of bilingual communities. Scientists believe that if you want your children to be fluent in a language, they should start learning before the age of ten. What better way to introduce your children to new languages when they're young than through books?
This list of 27 bilingual English-Spanish children's books is a great place to start!
1. Pin Pon
This board book teaches your children about manners and hygiene in the classic nursery rhyme format. Spanish and English are written on opposite pages. This book comes from the Emmy-nominated preschool series, Canticos.
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2. First 100 Words in English and Spanish
Start your bilingual children off strong with this collection of one hundred basic words in both Spanish and English. This adorable board book will be a favorite for both you and your child.
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3. Te Amo, Bebe/ Love You, Baby
Teach your babe a little more about love with this indestructible book. This bilingual board book has phrases about love in both Spanish and English and the sweetest illustrations.
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4. Besos for Baby: A Little Book of Kisses
This adorable board book is perfect for your nightly read-alouds. Teach your kids about love and family with this bilingual picture book. You won't be able to resist sharing besos with your own baby!
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5. Where Is My Little Crocodile?/ ¿Dónde Está Mi Pequeño Cocodrilo?
This adorable story is great for your young readers. Charlie the Crocodile is missing and your children must help find him! Each line in this book alternates English to Spanish and is full of new sight words for your littles. This book is also available in more languages such as German, French, and Italian.
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6. Amor de Colores
This book will introduce your children to the colors of the rainbow and a few extra ones by pairing the word love with a color and a situation. Use this bilingual book to teach your babies or as a discussion starter about love with your older children.
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7. Hello Friend/ Hola Amigo
This book is focused on a fun song from 123 Andres. Pair this book with the song and teach your children about the beauty of friendship. This book includes colorful illustrations in Spanish and English on opposite pages.
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8. Calle Felicidad/ Happiness Street
If you've ever spent a summer by the sea or summer with grandma, this story will resonate with you. This story dives into creativity and painting and encourages readers to channel their creativity and find fun ways to express it. This same book is also available in many other languages such as Russian, Italian, Arabic, and Korean, so if you're looking for opportunities to introduce other languages to your children, this book is a great place to start.
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9. Baloo El Perro Tragon/ The Glutton Dog
This bilingual story is about a dog who wants to eat anything and everything in his path and the little girl who helps him. This clever story focuses on the love between children and their animals and is great for both English children and Spanish children.
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10. I Can Do Hard Things/ Yo Puedo Hacer Cosas Difíciles
We want our children to learn mindful affirmations, but how special is it for them to learn these affirmations in both English and Spanish! This book is full of affirmations for your children to quote to themselves when they're facing difficulties or insecurities.
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11. Book Fiesta! Celebrate Children's Day/Book Day; Celebremos El Dia de los Ninos/El dia de los Libros
Every year on April 30th, we celebrate Children's Day and Book Day. This award-winning picture book focuses on reading in all cultures and can introduce your child to a love for reading! The author also shares ways to celebrate this special day and turn it into a bilingual fiesta!
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12. Dia de los Muertos
Teach your children about the Day of the Dead holiday with this dual-language book. This book shares the history of the holiday with a Spanish glossary and beautiful illustrations.
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13. 'Twas Nochebuena
Learn more about Latino Christmas Eve traditions. This book is set in the same rhyming pattern as "The Night Before Christmas" and has Spanish words sprinkled throughout the poem.
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14. Clatter Bash
If your children are a little bit older, Clatter Bash is another great option to teach about the Day of the Dead. This story tells of a family entering a graveyard to honor the dead and the skeletons rising to party and celebrate with them.
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15. My Abuelita
My Abuelita is a beautiful depiction of a Latino grandmother and the love she shares. Your children will love these endearing illustrations and the Spanish words sprinkled in the story.
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16. How to Fold a Taco
This delightful book will quickly become your child's favorite book. The book reviews concepts such as left, right, up, and down while teaching how to fold a taco. Your child will learn from characters such as wrestlers, dinosaurs, and dragons. You'll also receive a kid-friendly taco recipe to test out after reading.
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17. Tito Puente, Mambo King
Tito Puente is known as the "Mambo King" or the "King of Latin Music". In this biographical bilingual picture book, your children will learn more about the man behind the music. Use this opportunity to introduce them to more Latin music!
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18. The Life of - La Vida de Selena
Learn more about the "Queen of Tejano Music" with this short book from Lil' Libros. In this bilingual picture book, your children will learn about Selena and her history, her likes, and her family.
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19. Lala, a Different Kind of Lizard/ Una Lagartija Diferente
Lala is facing insecurities over the things she feels makes her different from everyone else. Lala and her friend must learn to embrace their differences and be more accepting of themselves and others. This book is an excellent introduction to the concepts of diversity and tolerance.
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20. Kai the Missionary Sea Turtle/ La Tortuga Marina Misionera
This bilingual children's book teaches readers about missions and missionaries. Readers will learn colors, geography, and animal and instrument names. The book also includes a bilingual map and brilliant illustrations.
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21. The Adventures of Mr.Macaw/ Las Aventuras del Sr. Macaw
Introduce your children to Hispanic culture with the adventures of Mr. Macaw - a magical kite that turns into a bird. This book is a seven-time award winner and will pull your children in with its enchanting illustrations and story while still teaching them both Spanish and English.
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22. One Whole Me
This sweet story is perfect for bilingual families. This book follows a young boy in a Columbian-American family and shows the differences in language, food, music, and more. This book has a five-star rating on Amazon!
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23. Itzel and the Ocelot
With detailed illustrations, this story brings to life the traditional Central American Indigenous tale of a powerful snake. Follow Itzel as she sets out to awaken a snake that can summon rains. This story includes words from the Indigenous language, Nawat, as well as a Spanish and Nawat glossary.
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24. Anita and Grandma's Dulce de Leche
This dual-language picture book showcases a tradition passed down from Anita's grandma and highlights the value of keeping these traditions. This book has Spanish and English on opposite sides of the page and is written for ages seven through twelve.
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25. The Unicorn Rescue Society: The Madre de Aguas of Cuba
The Unicorn Rescue Society takes middle-grade readers around the world on a search for mystical creatures. In this fifth book, travel to Cuba and search for a water serpent. These beloved chapter books are perfect for your older readers to practice and review what they've already learned as they read the Spanish dialogue shared throughout the book.
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26. Be Bold! Be Brave! 11 Latinas Who Made U.S. History
This book teaches dual-language children about Latinas who made an impact on America and the world. Learn about women like Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina to go to space, or Rita Moreno, the first Latina to win an Oscar.
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27. Fearless Trailblazers: 11 Latinos Who Made U.S. History
After introducing your children to the brave Latinas, share the brave Latinos with them! These are eleven men who made a difference in America such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Cesar Chavez, and Carlos Santana.
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