This is my third bilingual Spanish book list. Author Derek Taylor Kent wrote the first one. The second bilingual Spanish picture book list is from illustrator Wendy Martin. Today’s list is my own, the result of a pile of bilingual books that I’ve been saving for six months, and the books I read to create a Mexico picture book list.
Here are 19 Wonderful Bilingual Spanish Picture Books. What bilingual Spanish books do you recommend? Thanks for sharing!
19 Wonderful Bilingual Spanish Picture Books
Spectacular Spots/Magnificas Manchas by Susan Stockdale
A beautifully illustrated nonfiction picture book of spotted creatures written in spare rhyme. Perfect for kids learning Spanish and for kids who like nature books. The back pages have more information about each animal and the role their spots play in their survival. [bilingual Spanish picture book, ages 4 and up]
My Dad is a Clown/ Mi Papá es un Payaso by José Carlos Andrés and Natalia Hernández
Because this book appeals to both kids and adults, this is an especially good picture book to use for anyone trying to learn Spanish. A little boy is called a clown when his classmate is angry with him. That’s okay with him because his father is an actual clown. His other dad is a doctor, and in watching his clown father at rehearsals, the boy finds a way to combine both professions. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Marisol McDonald and the Monster/by Monica Brown, illustrated by Sara Palacios
Marisol McDonald likes being mismatched but she doesn’t like monsters. After hearing a noise under her bed, she’s certain there’s a monster there. She figures out her own solution to her phobia, but it turns out that the noise has a more prosaic explanation. And now, she has two companions under her bed at night. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Mama the Alien/by René Colato Laínez, illustrated by Laura Lacámara
It’s a case of mistaken identity. Sofia finds Mamá’s identification card in her purse and discovers that she’s an alien. Sofia now believes that she’s half-alien and gets to work to figure out what this might mean. What language does an alien speak? Will spaceships land in her yard? Does she have hidden alien body parts? Finally, her parents realize what Sofia thinks and explain their reason for the celebration. Mamá is becoming a citizen! Her old card was a Resident Alien card, which has been renamed Permanent Resident. This a humorous picture book to discuss the process of Naturalization with kids. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Olinguito, from A to Z!/by Lulu Delacre
Join a zoologist in the cloud forest as he searches for the elusive olinguito. The Spanish version showcases alliteration, while the English version tells an alphabet story of the animals in the enchanted forest of Ecuador. Together, both reader and scientist discover a new species of raccoon-like carnivores … the olinguito! [picture book, ages 2 and up]
Dalia’s Wondrous Hair/by Laura Lacamara, translated by Gabriela Baeza Ventura
Dalia’s hair is a story of magical realism; her hair morphs into a column of hair as tall as a Cuban royal palm tree. Dalia decides to include flora and fauna in her hair, turning it into a micro-ecosystem. Instead of washing her creation clean, Dalia requests one more day which her mother grants. A marvelous surprise is revealed, celebrating the natural world of Cuba. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
‘Twas Nochebuena by Roseanne Greenfield Thong, illustrated by Sara Palacios
This Christmas story is mostly in English but with Spanish words sprinkled in. It’s not strictly bilingual like the other books on the list but is a good way to introduce kids to another language. The story is a clever take on The Night Before Christmas but celebrated in a Hispanic tradition with lots of festive food including tamales, montones, champurrado, pozole, mole, and buñuelos. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
El Perro con Sombrero: by
Pepe has a nose for mischief and was inspired by Derek Taylor Kent’s own dog Zander, who luckily never had to live on the streets like Pepe. When a sombrero falls on Pepe, he starts attracting all kinds of attention. Just watch out for El Gato en Zapatos, Pepe! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
The Remembering Days/by Pat Mora, illustrated by Robert Castilla
Set in ancient times in what is now Mexico, Bella and her grandmother, Mamá Alma, weave and work the land. Soon, it’s time to plan a remembering day to honor loved ones who have passed away. As the seasons change from summer to fall, Mamá Alma dies. When a year has passed, Bella plans the first remembering day and invites her village. With orange petals for Mamá Alma to find the way, a table heaped with her favorite foods, and stories and songs to remember her, remembering days becomes the precursor to The Day of the Dead. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
My Name is Gabito/by Monica Brown, illustrated by Raul Colon
The life of Gabriel Garcia Marquez from his childhood in Colombia to today. [picture book biography, ages 4 and up]
What Can You Do With a Rebozo?/by
This sequel to What Can You Do With a Paleta? shows the myriad of uses for the rebozo, a multi-purpose shawl. It can become a fort to play in, a warm blanket, or a way to carry a baby. [picture book, ages 2 and up]
Furqan’s First Flat Top/by Robert Liu-Trujillo
A haircut is not just a haircut. This is Furqan’s first haircut! This story is also about the love between father and son, and Furqan takes the plunge into a new hairstyle that is also a source of cultural pride. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Maya’s Blanket/by Monica Brown, illustrated by David Diaz*
*David Diaz has been accused of sexual misconduct.
When Maya’s very special blanket gets frayed around the edges, her grandmother helps her turn it into something new. From a blanket to a dress. From a dress to a skirt. From a skirt to a shawl. From a shawl to a scarf. From a scarf to a ribbon. Finally, from a ribbon to a bookmark. When the bookmark gets lost, Maya has a great idea of how to keep her blanket safe forever. Celebrating ingenuity and love, Maya’s Blanket is also a story about growing up and letting go. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Finding the Music/En pos de la música by Jennifer Torres, illustrated by Renato Alarcão
Reyna grows closer to her deceased grandfather when she accidentally damages his guitar hanging at her family’s restaurant. The kind deeds that he did when he was alive come back around to illuminate to Reyna what kind of person he was as she tries to get the guitar repaired.
The idea of karma can be abstract and this bilingual picture book beautifully illustrates the ripple effect of being a good person. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Broken Butterfly Wings / Alas de mariposa rotas by Raquel M. Ortiz, illustrated by Carrie Salazar
Gabriela has been waiting and waiting for a pair of butterfly wings to arrive in the mail but when she puts them on, she discovers that she is not able to fly. Disappointed, she tries to make modifications to the wings so she can fly. When Papa finds her in the garage, he asks her why she wants to fly. Gabriela wants to return to El Yunque, the rainforest in Puerto Rico. Papa helps her find another way to travel there. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Sofi Paints Her Dreams/Sofi pinta sus by Raquel M. Ortiz, illustrated by Roberta Collier-Morales
Sofi has a bad day at school. Her spelling test didn’t go as expected and she could not mix the color purple in art class. Her older sister comforts her and soon Sofi finds herself on a magical journey to Haiti where she makes new friends and learns that her songs and dreams help her reach her goals. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Sofi and the Magic, Musical Mural/Sofi y el magico mural musical by Raquel M. Ortiz, illustrated by Maria Dominguez
Sofi is on her way to the bodega to buy milk for her mother but she stops along the way to look at a vibrant mural. Suddenly, she is transported to Puerto Rico where it’s Carnivale time! She also visits El Yunque, the rainforest before returning home, where she still needs to buy milk. Is the mural magical or is art just a powerful means of expression? [picture book, ages 4 and up]
When Julia Danced Bomba/ Quando Julia bailaba bomba by Raquel M. Ortiz, illustrated by Flor de Vita
Julia struggles to learn the bomba dance and when her class performs, she is not sure she can do it. Julia focuses on the music and finds the rhythms of the dance. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
Vicki and a Summer of Change!/ ¡Vicki y un verano de cambio! by Racquel M. Ortiz and Iris Morales, illustrated by Sabrina Cintron, Eliana Falcon, and Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez
The Young Lords in East Harlem decide to improve their neighborhood when the city sanitation trucks stop coming to remove the trash. Vicki looks up to her older sister who is part of this movement. Although she is young, Vicki learns that no one is ever too young to make a difference. This story is based on events that happened in 1969. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
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Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award longlist
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Such a great way to teach a foreign language to children. You shared some of my favorites, but there are other still to be read. Thanks!
Hi Patricia,
I need to force my kids to read these bilingual books; they are learning Spanish but it’s going very slowly and I think it would help. They are not going to do try this on their own though!
This post came right on time. I’m ordering some birthday gifts for a preschooler and now I have another list to search for just the right book.
Children need to be bilingual as an added language opens up many opportunities and gets them comfortable and excited about learning about other people, cultures, and places.
Thanks!
Hi Mona,
Yay! I’m glad it helped! You sounds like such a great present giver to take the time to find the perfect book!
I am so happy to see more and more bilingual books published each year.
Hi MaryAnne,
Me too! Now, I just need to incorporate them into my kids’ reading.
I see some of my favorite authors on here and some new ones that I have to add to my wishlist, awesome list!
Hi Sarah,
Yay! Thanks so much!
I love the collection! I just read Maya’s Blanket in my class and they loved it. I really want to make connections between books now. After reading this one, I read LOTERIA and Mango, Abuela y yo.The three of them are perfect to teach the “making connections” comprehension skill.
Hi Carolina,
I love that you are making connections with these books! I love learning that way and I’m sure your students do too.