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Bilingual Spanish Picture Books

Top 10 Bilingual Spanish Picture Books

Posted on August 21, 2015March 23, 2025 by Pragmatic Mom

Today my guest author is Derek Taylor Kent. You might know him as Derek the Ghost, author of the award-winning MG series Scary School.

His first picture book just came out on August 18 called El Perro Con Sombrero: A Bilingual Doggy Tale and illustrated by the talented artist Jed Henry.

Top 10 Bilingual Spanish Picture Books

Derek says that Pepe is actually based on his own dog, Zander, whose nose for mischief was the inspiration for El Perro. 

Top 10 Bilingual Spanish Picture Books

 

Favorite Bilingual Spanish Picture Books

Today, Derek is sharing his Top 10 Favorite Bilingual Spanish Picture Books.

10. Rooster / Gallo by Jorge Lujan, illustrated by Manual Monroy

A short poem about a rooster who is responsible for making the sunrise each day. Each line is vividly illustrated. This is my pick for a short bilingual book that can be read in under three minutes. [picture book, ages 2 and up]

9. My Name is Gabito / My llamo Gabito by Monica Brown, illustrated by Raul Colon

An award-winning, beautifully told story about the life of legendary Columbian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It focuses on how his childhood imagination led him to become one of the great literary figures. This is my pick for the best biographical bilingual picture book. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

8. Tortillas Para Mamma and other Nursery Rhymes by various authors

I am partial to any book about food, and this one gives delicious insight into another culture by hearing their nursery rhymes about food and cooking. Kids can have fun making up their own melodies and dances. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

7. Gracias / Thanks by Pat Mora, illustrated by John Parra

I call this the bilingual Goodnight Moon. It teaches a wonderful lesson to children about all the little things in life that they should be thankful for and happy about. This will put any child to sleep in a good mood. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

6. Dalia’s Wondrous Hair by Laura Lacamara

This story wins my imagination award. A young girl’s hair grows so tall that it literally becomes a tree of the forest. The surprise ending is one of the most spectacular and satisfying I have read in a picture book. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

5. Counting Ovejas (Sheep) by Sarah Weeks, illustrated by David Diaz*

*Please note that David Diaz has been accused of sexual misconduct.

This one takes my pick for the best bedtime story. It teaches children counting and colors and will definitely make them sleepy. The final heartwarming illustration sets this one apart and will make every child feel safe and loved. [picture book, ages 3 and up]

4. The Runaway Piggy / El Cochinito Fugitivo by James Luna, illustrated by Laura Lacamara

As a comedy writer, I give huge props to a writer who is able to make me laugh via picture book, so this one wins my humor award. A cookie shaped like a pig comes to life and runs away to avoid being eaten. The whole village starts chasing after it and hilarity ensues. [picture book, ages 5 and up]

3. Maria Had a Little Llama / Maria Tenia una Llamita by Angela Dominguez

This book holds a special place in my heart as it was given to me by my editor at Holt/Macmillan as an example of how El Perro Con Sombrero could be made. It takes the story of Mary Had a Little Lamb and gives it a fun twist by making the lamb a llama. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

2. Tomalitos – A Cooking Poem by Jorge Argueta-Domi, illustrated by Domi, translated by Elisa Amado

This one wins my food award! It’s an ingenious idea of taking a sacred, delicious recipe for Tomalitos (similar to tamales) and turns the whole cooking process into a fun story that kids will enjoy enacting in the kitchen. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

1. Pink Fire Trucks / Los Camionies de Bomeros de Color Rosado by Gladys Elizabeth Barbieri

I imagine if Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation were to write a picture book it would be something like this. It’s an empowering tale of a little girl who wants to be a firefighter when she grows up but is told she can’t be her male classmates. When the class visits the local fire station, she ends up proving all of them wrong in spectacular fashion. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

 

How about you? What bilingual picture books are you enjoying? Please share! Thanks!

 

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Top 10 Bilingual Spanish Picture Books

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28 thoughts on “Top 10 Bilingual Spanish Picture Books”

  1. Mona AlvaradoFrazier says:
    August 21, 2015 at 2:42 pm

    The three bilingual picture books by Amada Irma Perez: My Very Own Room, My Diary From Here to There, and Nana’s Big Surprise are some of my favorite children’s books.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      September 11, 2015 at 9:40 pm

      Thanks so much for sharing your great bilingual picks Mona!!

      Reply
  2. Jennifer O. says:
    August 21, 2015 at 6:08 pm

    I love Carmen Lomas Garza’s books Family Pictures/Cuadros de familia and In my Family/En mi familia because they are autobiographical and accurately depict Latino family events. I use them each year to help my bilingual students get ideas for their own writing.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      September 11, 2015 at 9:41 pm

      Hi Jennifer O,
      Thakns so much for sharing! Those are new to me and I’ll try to get a copy!

      Reply
  3. Sandra Kowalczyk says:
    August 21, 2015 at 10:10 pm

    The nonfiction bilingual picture book, The Pinata Maker/El pinatero, by George Ancona, is a favorite of mine. In Ejutla de Crespo, a village in southern Mexico, seventy-seven-year-old Don Ricardo makes piñatas for all the festive occasions. Tio Rico, as the children call him, is clearly valued among children and adults alike in the community. Color photographs and text show how Tio Rico makes both traditional and unusual piñatas for parties and holiday celebrations.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      September 11, 2015 at 9:41 pm

      Hi Sandra,
      Thanks for your great bilingual picks!!

      Reply
  4. iGameMom says:
    August 23, 2015 at 7:29 pm

    love the list, a great way to learn Spanish. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      September 11, 2015 at 9:44 pm

      Thanks so much iGameMom! I’m going to try this with my two girls who are studying Spanish at school.

      Reply
  5. Karen says:
    September 1, 2015 at 6:44 am

    A wonderful list of books. Most I didn’t know about, so thank you!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      September 11, 2015 at 10:26 pm

      Thanks so much Karen! Glad you like the list!

      Reply
  6. Kristen says:
    September 8, 2015 at 9:29 pm

    Is this a giveaway post? It says so at the top, but can’t find how to enter….

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      September 11, 2015 at 10:41 pm

      Hi Kristen,
      I forgot to add the Rafflecopter into the post. I’m so sorry. I just added it back in now.

      Reply
  7. Renee MDBR says:
    September 8, 2015 at 11:10 pm

    This is totally not up my alley! When we say “bilingual” in Canada, it means English and French! That being said, Spanish is so close to French. Pinning! Thanks for sharing in the Kid Lit Blog Hop!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      September 11, 2015 at 10:41 pm

      Thanks so much for sharing Renee! I need to do a bilingual French English list too!

      Reply
  8. Sandra Mil says:
    September 10, 2015 at 10:55 am

    Our favorite bilingual English / Spanish picture book is The Three Billy Goats Gruff / Los Tres Chivitos 🙂 Thanks for sharing yours!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      September 11, 2015 at 10:42 pm

      Thanks for sharing Sandra! I will have to find that one!

      Reply
  9. Reshama says:
    September 10, 2015 at 2:24 pm

    This is a superb list Mia.. I am definitely looking out for these ones at the library as daughter is starting on her Spanish lessons! Thanks for sharing over at KidLitBlogHop!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      September 11, 2015 at 10:42 pm

      Thanks so much Reshama!!

      Reply
  10. Kristen says:
    September 12, 2015 at 12:37 am

    Thanks so much! Great giveaway…entering now!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      October 17, 2015 at 6:30 pm

      Thanks for entering Kristen! Good luck!

      Reply
  11. Stephanie says:
    September 12, 2015 at 5:29 am

    I really enjoy Martina Finds a Shiny Coin by Yadira Gonzalez-Taylor. It’s based on a Puerto Rican fable and although it’s not bilingual, it includes many Spanish words interspersed within the text. It’s a lovely story about a cucarachita (a young cockroach) learning to be herself.

    Thanks for the giveaway opportunity and the great list of bilingual Spanish books!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      October 17, 2015 at 6:30 pm

      Hi Stephanie,
      Thanks so much for your great book recommendation and for entering my giveaway!

      Reply
  12. Sandra Watts says:
    September 19, 2015 at 2:51 pm

    I can not say I have any favorites but this would be a nice start to having one if I won. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      October 17, 2015 at 7:04 pm

      Hi Sandra,
      Thanks so much for entering! Good luck!

      Reply
  13. Vera says:
    September 21, 2015 at 8:45 pm

    I don’t have a favorite bi-lingual book – and I’m not bi-lingual. I would, however, love to win these for the Christian school from which I just retired. They teach Spanish elementary and high school. I have reviewed books for several years and donated most of them to the library at school. They love to see coming. The Spanish teachers would LOVE to have these for the kids.

    Now if they were bi-lingual – French, I’d send them to my daughter who homeschool’s her 4 little girls and is teaching them French. She had 7 years of French herself.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      October 17, 2015 at 7:08 pm

      Hi Vera,
      I agree that a bilingual book is a great way to help learn a language. Thanks for entering!

      Reply
  14. Caroline says:
    April 25, 2016 at 9:57 pm

    Yes! I am a Spanish teacher in Melbourne Australia and resources here are very scarce. I have been looking for great books for MONTHS and came across your article today.

    Thank you!!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      May 10, 2016 at 9:31 am

      Hi Caroline,
      Thanks so much! I have another pile of bilingual Spanish books that are different from these. I’ll post on that soon for you!

      Reply

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