Recommended Reads: Children's Bilingual Materials

As Marta explores the jungle, she knows she's bigger than a bug, smaller than an elephant, and faster than a turtle. But then she meets the snake, who thinks Marta is very tasty! But Marta is ingeniosa, a very clever girl, and she outsmarts the snake with hilarious results.

Follow two children as they celebrate their ancestors on this vibrant holiday. They offer marigolds, sugar skulls, and special bread, and make delicious foods. By spreading marigold petals, they guide the dead home to join the festivities. Finally, after singing and dancing, it's time for bed.

Every skeleton in the Land of the Dead is excited to celebrate el Dia de los Muertos with the Living. But not Angelito. His big sister has told him all about their horrifying bulgy eyes and squishy skin. So when Angelito is separated from his family in the Land of the Living, he's petrified--until he makes a new friend who is just as terrified of THEM as Angelito is.

Marisol McDonald has flaming red hair and nut-brown skin. Polka dots and stripes are her favorite combination. She prefers peanut butter and jelly burritos in her lunch box. To Marisol, these seemingly mismatched things make perfect sense together. Other people wrinkle their nose in confusion at Marisol can't she just choose one or the other? Try as she might, in a world where everyone tries to put this biracial, Peruvian-Scottish-American girl into a box, Marisol McDonald doesn t match. And that s just fine with her.

Told in both English and Spanish, this story introduces young readers to the concept of opposites as it follows young Quinito, whose daily life is just full of opposites.

Hello! Hola! Some people speak Spanish. Some people speak English. Although we may not speak the same language, some things, like friendship, are universal! Follow two young giraffes as they meet, celebrate, and become friends.

The rain forest is lush with delicious things to eat, but it's also full of terribly picky eaters! Mangoes are too sweet for the baby iguana, bananas are just too yellow for monito (little monkey), and little quetzal can't take even one more squishy avocado. Then fed-up Mamá Macaw has an idea that brings all the kids together to share a meal, and everyone finds exciting new foods to try. And what could be more fun than sharing a feast with friends?

The Princess and the Pea gets a fresh twist in this charming bilingual retelling. El principe knows this girl is the one for him, but, as usual, his mother doesn't agree. The queen has a secret test in mind to see if this girl is really a princesa. But the prince might just have a sneaky plan, too...

When a little girl moves her hand, she changes the world as she discovers it. As she moves her known world, she discovers her own power and creates everything anew.

When a little girl's far-away grandmother comes to stay, love and patience transcend language in a tender story written by acclaimed author Meg Medina.

No opponent is too big a challenge for the cunning skills of Las Hermanitas, Lucha Queens! Their Poopy Bomb Blowout will knock em' down! Their Tag-Team Teething will gnaw opponents down to a pulp! Their Pampered Plunder Diversion will fell even the most determined competitor! But what happens when Nino comes after them with a move of his own?

Caldecott Honor artist and five-time Pura Belpré Award winner Yuyi Morales tells her own immigration story in this picture-book tribute to the transformative power of hope and reading.

The first time Abuela holds Nina, her heart overflows with tenderness. Abuela can't help thinking how much she'd like to give Nina a very special treat, so she saves a little bit of her money every week -- a few pesos here, a few pesos there. When the world turns upside down, Abuela's dream of a surprise for Nina seems impossible. Luckily, time spent together -- and the love Abuela and Nina have for each other -- could turn out to be the very best gift of all.

In this lively picture book, children discover a world of shapes all around them: rectangles are ice-cream carts and stonemetates, triangles are slices of watermelon andquesadillas. Many of the featured objects are Latino in origin, and all are universal in appeal. With rich, boisterous illustrations, a fun-to-read rhyming text, and an informative glossary, this playful concept book will reinforce the shapes found in every child's day!

Green is a chile pepper, spicy and hot. Green is cilantro inside our pot. In this lively picture book, children discover a world of colors all around them: red is spices and swirling skirts, yellow is masa, tortillas, and sweet corn cake. Many of the featured objects are Latino in origin, and all are universal in appeal. With rich, boisterous illustrations, a fun-to-read rhyming text, and an informative glossary, this playful concept book will reinforce the colors found in every child's day!

One is a rainbow. One is a cake. One is a piñata that's ready to break! In this lively picture book, children discover a fiesta of numbers in the world around them.

Songs + fun and games = little language learners! What better way to capture children's attention and open their minds to a new language than with catchy tunes, giggle-inducing games, and beloved fairy tales? Award-winning author Ana Lomba presents Hop, Skip, and Sing Spanish for Kids, an interactive program that will help you teach Spanish to children ages two though seven. Based on the author's proven "Easy Immersion" methodology, this audio package offers 25 songs and games that use repetition and active participation to make language learning a snap while encouraging children to sing, play, and act silly for maximum fun.

Young children are invited to meet Maisy's favorite animals, check out her wardrobe, see what's on her menu, and peek at what she has in her toy box, all through vibrant, toddler-friendly illustrations by Lucy Cousins identified in both Spanish and English.

An engaging introduction to Spanish and English for early learners. Each bright, photographic image is labeled in Spanish--simply lift the flap to reveal the word in English.

Juana loves many things: drawing, eating Brussels sprouts, living in Bogota, Colombia, and especially her dog, Lucas, the best amigo ever. She does not love wearing her itchy school uniform, solving math problems, or going to dance class. And she especially does not love learning the English. Why is it so important to learn a language that makes so little sense? But when Juana's abuelos tell her about a special trip they are planning, one that Juana will need to speak English to go on, Juana begins to wonder whether learning the English might be a good use of her time after all.

Introducing Stella Diaz, a sweet new young middle-grade character who will win your heart! When a new boy named Stanley arrives in Stella's class, she really wants to be his friend, but sometimes Stella accidentally speaks Spanish instead of English and pronounces words wrong, which makes her turn roja.

Funny Bones tells the story of how the amusing calaveras--skeletons performing various everyday or festive activities--came to be.

An inspiring picture book biography of storyteller, puppeteer, and New York City's first Puerto Rican librarian, who championed bilingual literature.

This heartwarming bilingual collection of traditional animal nursery rhymes from Spain, Latin America, and the United States will delight readers young and old. From the call of the rooster to the chirp, chirp of the cricket, these seventeen poems in both English and Spanish have been handpicked by distinguished authors Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy, who have also included five of their own original poems in this anthology.

Books in this series aim to help children build their vocabulary in a target foreign language. This title presents 1000 entries for terms in Spanish and English with corresponding illustrations to show usage. The illustrations invite conversation between children and their parents.

Everyday Words encourages word/object association--great for beginning readers. Also includes a vocabulary builder and spelling guide.

A wonderful picture-word book perfect for getting children started in Spanish. A complete alphabetical list with an easy phonetic guide to Spanish is also included.

Frida Kahlo, one of the world's most famous and unusual artists is revered around the world. Her life was filled with laughter, love, and tragedy, all of which influenced what she painted on her canvases.

In this new cooking poem, Jorge Argueta brings us a fun and easy recipe for a yummy salsa. A young boy and his sister gather the ingredients and grind them up in a molcajete, just like their ancestors used to do, singing and dancing all the while. The children imagine that their ingredients are different
parts of an orchestra. When they are finished, their mother warms tortillas and their father lays out plates, as the whole family, including the cat and dog, dance salsa in mouth-watering anticipation.