Introduce your child to a second language through picture books. Bilingual books are a great stepping stone to adding another language to your child’s repertoire. Spanish-English books not only support language development, but they also introduce your child to new cultures and help build strong literacy skills in both languages.
If you’re looking for the best bilingual books for kids, this 2025 guide has everything you need. You are sure to find a book you and your child love!
What to Look for in a Bilingual Spanish-English Book
Before diving into our list of bilingual books, let’s make sure we know what makes a good bilingual book.
–Age appropriate language: Make sure the book you choose matches your child’s reading level. Also check that the concepts being presented are easily understandable by your child.
–Engaging Illustrations: A book with bright pictures and interesting illustrations is going to help your child understand what’s happening, even if they are unfamiliar with the words.
–Balanced Translation: Some books use side by side translations of the words, while others incorporate words in both languages throughout the story. Read both to discover which works best for your child.
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Best Bilingual Spanish-English Picture Books for Kids
Picnic Adventure
by Amanda Greenfield
This is a sweet story about friendship, adventure, and making discoveries in Spanish and English. The story follows Lola and her mom as they go on a picnic at the park. They find her friend once they get there and together they go exploring. This book incorporates Spanish words into a mostly English story and is a great introduction to simple Spanish vocabulary for kids.
Green Is a Chile Pepper
by Roseanne Greenfield Thong
This colorful rhyming book introduces kids to Hispanic culture in a fun and inviting way. By incorporating Spanish words into a mostly English text, readers can learn about another culture while also learning new words.
Abuela
by Arthur Dorros
This heartwarming story shares a young girls journey with her grandmother as they wander throughout the city together. With Spanish phrases sprinkled in, and context clues for figuring out what they mean, this is a gentle introduction to learning Spanish.
La Princesa and the Pea
by Susan Middleton Elya
This charming retelling of a well known classic tale incorporates Spanish words into the story. Keeping the story engaging, and easy to follow, this version of the tale introduces children to new words and culture while they read.
Counting with Frida
by Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein
A simple, yet engaging counting book for young kids. As the child reads the book, they are introduced to numbers and items in Spanish. This book is inspired by the artist Frida Kahlo. Perfect for little ones just starting their language journey.
Little Roja Riding Hood
by Susan Middleton Elya
This book retells the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood with a bilingual twist. The rhythmic text and fun storytelling make it a great choice for young readers.
Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match
by Monica Brown
Marisol McDonald is Peruvian-Scottish-American and she can’t be put in a box. In a world where she doesn’t match everyone else, she finds the joy in her uniqueness. Celebrate biracial and bilingual identities in this story based on the author’s own experiences.
Round is a Tortilla
by Roseanne Greenfield Thong
A great introduction to shapes, this book blends English and Spanish in rhymes to teach kids about new concepts. Beautifully illustrated, this book keeps its reader engaged.
Book Fiesta!
by Pat Mora
A lively book celebrating El Día de los Niños (Children’s Day). This book is written in English with the Spanish translation side by side so children get to hear both languages together.
Mango, Abuela, and Me
by Meg Medina
Mia’s abuela moves in with her family in the city. The grandmother and granddaughter don’t speak the same language and begin to find ways to communicate and learn from one another. This is a touching story of building a deeper connection through language and love.
Little Chickies
by Susie Jaramillo
Based on the Spanish nursey rhyme, this book is great for young kids learning Spanish. Read the sweet story of a nurturing mother taking care of her little chicks.
My Colors, My World
by Maya Christina Gonzalez
Follow Maya as she discovers all the colors in her world. Written in Spanish and English, this book is perfect for introducing kids to colors. It encourages kids to look for the beauty in their surroundings and helps them be able to describe what they see in two languages.
Say Hola to Spanish
by Susan Middleton Elya
This book is full of fun rhymes to help kids learn Spanish. This is a basic introduction to common Spanish words kids will encounter.
La Oruga Muy Hambrienta
by Eric Carle
This beloved children’s book is translated into Spanish! Perfect for every child who loves The Very Hungry Caterpillar and wants to learn Spanish too.
Señorita Mariposa
by Ben Gundersheimer
Learn about the journey monarch butterflies take each year from Canada to Mexico through fun illustrations and bilingual text. This is a great way to teach kids Spanish during a science unit!
Tips for Using Bilingual Books Effectively
- Read the book aloud to reinforce comprehension and encourage proper pronunciation.
- Point out illustrations and ask your child questions about the story as you read.
- Encourage your child to repeat words and phrases.
- Pair the stories with related activities like making food to match the story.
Final Thoughts
Bilingual Spanish-English books are a wonderful way to introduce your child to a new language. Whether you are raising your child bilingually, or just looking to help them learn a few words, these books are perfect for doing just that. Each of these stories makes learning Spanish fun and engaging.
What are your favorite bilingual Spanish-English books for kids? Share them in the comments!
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Marta
Great post and tons of awesome books! Thank you for sharing. I’m starting introducing bilingual (Italian) books to my oldest son, and these are great tips!
Savannah
I am so excited to teach my daughter spanish but I’m waiting until she’s a little older and has more of a grip on english haha. But I want to take advantage of the period from 0-8 years when they are such sponges! Little Roja Riding Hood looks so cute, I’ll have to revisit this in a year or two!
Penny
Emily, this is such an awesome resource! Grabbing a couple for my granddaughter!🤩
Jenni from An Exciting Day Blog
We just got a bilingual book in the mail from Imagination Library & it was so fun for both me and my daughter. Will be using this list to buy more!