Spanish Children's Bilingual Books
Adventures of Connie and Diego / Las aventuras de Connie y Diego
Tired of being teased because they were born with different colors all over their bodies, Connie and Diego leave the Land of Plenty. They journey through a forest and meet a big brown bear. 'You can't live with us,' growls the bear. Then they reach the ocean and beg the mother whale to take them into her family. 'Impossible,' she says. A swooping eagle loves their beautiful colors and invites them to fly home with her. But alas, they cannot fly. Finally, the tired children stumble through a scary jungle where a wise tiger helps them understand that their home is with human beings.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
Angel's Kite/La Estrella De Angel
No one knows what happened to the bell in the church tower. Did the priest sell the bell to a foreign collector? Did revolutionaries melt it down and turn the metal into cannons? Or was it just magic? Whatever the reason, the town hasn't been the same. To heal the pain of this loss, Angel, the young kite maker, creates a beautiful kite showing the whole town-including the missing church bell. After an exciting chase and a lonely night on a cold mountaintop with his three loyal dogs, Angel succeeds in bringing back the bell to his beloved town.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
Angels Ride Bikes and Other Fall Poems / Los ángeles andan en bicicleta y otros poemas de otoño
In Angels Ride Bikes, Francisco Alarcón invites us to experience fall in Los Angeles - the City of the Angels - where dreams can come true. In the poet's whimsical imagination, mariachis play like angels, angels ride bikes, and the earth dances the cha-cha-cha. Alarcón celebrates the simple joys and trials of everyday life: a visit to the outdoor market, the arrival of the ice cream vendor, the first day of school. He honors his family and pays tribute to his mother, who taught him that with hard work and education he could realize his dreams. Maya Christina Gonzalez's spirited images perfectly complement each poem, bringing to life the people and places in Alarcón's childhood. This is the third seasonal bilingual poetry collection by Alarcón and Gonzalez.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
Atariba and Niguayona / Atariba y Niguayona
Niguayona is worried about his playmate, Atariba, who is sick. He wonders how he can help, when a golden-green macaw tells him that the red fruit of the tall caimoni tree can cure her. Niguayona sets out alone on a journey for the magical fruit and returns just in time to save his dear friend.
- Ages 6+
- 24 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
The Bossy Gallito/El Gallo de Bodas
A Cuban folktale, relayed here in both Spanish and English, features a rooster on his way to a wedding.
- Ages 4-7
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- $5.99 (A)
- Buy at Powell's
Brother Anansi and the Cattle Ranch/El Hermano Anansi y el Rancho de Ganado
When Tiger wins the lottery, Anansi convinces him to become his partner and buy a cattle ranch. Small but clever, Anansi outwits the bigger Tiger and ends up with all the cattle. Anansi is a well-known trickster figure found throughout West African and Caribbean folklore. This story combines contemporary elements such as a lottery with the traditional themes of the trickster.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
Calling the Doves / El canto de las palomas
Calling the Doves is poet Juan Felipe Herrera's story of his migrant farmworker childhood. In delightful and lyrical language, he recreates the joy of eating breakfast under the open sky, listening to Mexican songs in the little trailer house his father built, and celebrating with other families at a fiesta in the mountains. He remembers his mother singing songs and reciting poetry, and his father telling stories and calling the doves. For Juan Felipe, the farmworker road was also the beginning of his personal road to becoming a writer.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
Carlos and the Cornfield/Carlos y la milpa de maiz
Before Carlos plants seed corn, Papa warns him, 'Remember, `Cosechas lo que siembras'--You reap what you sow.' But Carlos is so excited about earning money for a shiny, red pocketknife that he rushes and plants too many seeds in the middle rows, leaving the last two rows unplanted. When the field starts to sprout, Carlos sees his mistake. He begs the kindly store owner to take back the now used knife and buys seed corn to plant the last two rows. All is discovered at harvest time--for instead of yellow corn seed, Carlos had bought and planted blue--and Mama serves Carlos' favorite blue corn cakes for breakfast. Inspired by Latin American folk artists and muralists, Arnold's full-page oil paintings reflect the golden warmth of the southwestern setting.
- Ages 5-8
- Spanish/English
- $7.95. (A)
- Buy at Powell's
Chave's Memories/Los Recuerdos de Chave
A charming bilingual picture book for children that revisits an enchanting childhood and depicts the beauty of life on the U.S.-Mexico border as a gateway to two cultures. This bilingual bridge opens children's eyes to the joys of living between two contrasting lifestyles, two sets of traditions and customs. A captivating story and colorful illustrations showcase the alluring delights to be discovered in a journey across the border. Ages 4-8, $10.50 (A)
- Ages 4-8
- Spanish/English
- $10.50 (A)
- Buy at Powell's
Family Pictures / Cuadros de familia
The day-to-day experiences of a young girl in a traditional Mexican American community form the basis of this lovingly told, beautifully illustrated book. Family Pictures is the story of Carmen Lomas Garza's girlhood in Kingsville, Texas: celebrating birthdays, making tamales, finding a hammerhead shark on the beach, picking cactus, going to a fair in Mexico, and confiding to her sister her dreams of becoming an artist. The Spanish-English text and vivid illustrations reflect the author's strong sense of family and community and demonstrate how her mother's love and hard work helped Carmen achieve her dream. For the hundreds of thousands of Mexican American children, here at last is a book that reflects their lives and cultural traditions.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
Friends from the Other Side / Amigos del otro lado
'Did you come from the other side? You know, from Mexico?' So begins the friendship between Prietita and Joaquín, the young boy who, with his mother, has crossed the Rio Grande to Texas in search of a new life. Prietita, a brave young Mexican American girl, defends Joaquín from the neighborhood kids who taunt him with shouts of mojado or 'wetback.' But what can she do to protect Joaquín and his mother from the Border Patrol as the van cruises slowly up the street toward their hiding place?
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems / Del ombligo de la luna y otros poemas de verano
With a poet's magical vision, renowned poet Francisco X. Alarcón takes us back to his childhood when he traveled with his family to Mexico to visit his grandmother and other relatives. We travel with him in the family station wagon, across the misty mountain range to the little town of Atoyac. There, in the beloved town of his ancestors, we hear his grandmother's stories, sample Auntie Reginalda's tasty breakfasts, learn about the keys to the universe, and take playful dips in the warm sea.
The lighthearted illustrations of Maya Christina Gonzalez perfectly capture the spirit of summer in Alarcón's Mexico where 'colors are more colorful, tastes are tastier, and even time seems to slow down.'
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
A Gift from Papa Diego/Un regalo de Papa Diego
Little Diego is lonely for his beloved grandfather PapaDiego, whose home is far away across the border in Mexico. After reading the old Superman comics that his father used to learn English as a boy, Little Diego asks for a Superman suit for his birthday so that he can fly across the border to visit PapaDiego. Crushed when he realizes that wearing the Superman suit cannot help him fly, the young boy's disappointment turns to happiness when he discovers that PapaDiego has come to visit. As his grandfather reminds his little namesake: 'A border is nothing for people who love.' Too long for story time and, perhaps, too young for most of the chapter-book crowd, this could still be the right book at the right time for certain kids. Full of child appeal, Garcia's painted clay, claymation-style illustrations are unusual and entertaining. Sensitively told and true to the experience of many Mexican Americans, this bilingual picture book bridges the borders that separate all families who must live far apart from their loved ones.
- Ages 5-9
- Spanish/English
- $8.76 (A)
- Buy at Powell's
Hairs/Pelitos
This jewel-like vignette from Sandra Cisneros's best-selling The House on Mango Street shows, through simple, intimate portraits, the diversity among us. 'This exuberant bilingual picture book, with eye-catching artwork, is an affectionate picture of familial love and a cozy bedtime book'.
- Ages 4-8
- Spanish/English
- $6.99 (A)
- Buy at Powell's
Half Chicken/Mediopollito
Do you know why a weather vane has a little rooster on the top, spinning around to tell us which way the wind is blowing? Here is the answer in this old story about Half-Chicken, who has one eye, one leg, and one wing. His adventures take him far and wide until he's carried straight to the top, in this lively retelling--in Spanish and English--of a traditional folktale.
- Ages 4-8
- Spanish/English
- $6.99 (A)
- Buy at Powell's
The Harvest Birds/Los pajaros de las cosecha
Juan Zanate used to sit under his favorite tree-with his only friends, the harvest birds-dreaming and planning his life. Juan had big dreams of becoming a farmer like his father and grandfather. But when his father died and the land was divided, there was only enough for his two older brothers. In this charming story from the heart of the Indian tradition in Mexico, Juan learns to determine his own destiny-with help from his loyal friends, the harvest birds.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
Iguanas in the Snow and Other Winter Poems/Iguanas en la nieve y otros poemas de invierno
In their finale collection of seasonal poetry, poet Francisco X. Alarcón and artist Maya Christina Gonzalez invite us to celebrate winter -- by the seashore, in the magic city of San Francisco, and in the ancient redwood forests of the Sierras. We see a city where people are bridges to each other and children sing poetry in two languages; A family frolic in the snow reminds the poet of the iguanas playing by his grandmother's house in Mexico. We are dazzled by the promise of the seedling redwoods -- like all children -- destined to be the ancestors of tomorrow. Artist Maya Christina Gonzalez has once again created a spirited family of children and adults who swing their way through colorful pages. Collages of old maps of Mexico and California provide intriguing backgrounds, and fun-loving iguanas peek out at us from the most surprising places.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
In My Family/En Mi Familia
In her eagerly awaited second book for children, Carmen Lomas Garza takes us once again to her hometown in Kingsville, Texas, near the border with Mexico. Through her vibrant paintings and personal stories, Carmen brings to life more loving memories of growing up in a traditional Mexican American community: eating empanadas, witnessing the blessing on her cousin's wedding day, and dancing to the conjunto band at the neighborhood restaurant. If you loved her first book, Family Pictures, you'll love sharing more of the stories and images that remain so vividly in Carmen's memory, and that have influenced so much of her art. In My Family is the author's second book of family pictures, a continuing tribute to the loving family and community that shaped her childhood-and her life.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
The Invisible Hunters / Los cazadores invisibles
Late one Saturday afternoon, three brothers leave their village to hunt wari, the wild pig their people depend on for food. While hunting they discover a magical vine that can make them invisible-but they will only enjoy this power if they promise never to sell the meat they hunt, and never to hunt with guns, only with sticks. All is well until European traders arrive to buy the precious wari meat-and the brothers forget the promises they made so long ago. This is a Miskito version of the classic folk theme of how the very thing that gives you power can turn against you if not respected and used properly. The Invisible Hunters is about caring for our environment and our community, and about not losing sight of what is important.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
It Doesn't Have to Be This Way: A Barrio Story / No tiene que ser así: una historia del barrio
Monchi likes to write poems, hang out with his cousin Dreamer, and tell stories to his uncle, Tío Rogelio. Then one day, a member of the local gang tells him it's time to join up. Monchi is scared but excited. He writes his name on the school wall, steals a bike, and buys a knife. But when a tragic event changes everything, Monchi must make an important decision. This is a compelling and powerful tale of a young boy's encounter with the world of gangs-a world author Luis J. Rodríguez knows firsthand. Through his true-to-life story and the dynamic illustrations of artist Daniel Galvez, we see how Monchi is both attracted to the community of gang life and repelled by its violence. There is no easy answer to his dilemma, but the love and respect of his uncle Rogelio help him find his way out.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems / Jitomates risueños y otros poemas de primavera
From the imagination of poet Francisco X. Alarcón comes Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems, a playful and moving collection of twenty poems in English and Spanish. Tomatoes laugh, chiles explode, and tortillas applaud the sun! With joy and tenderness, delight and sadness, Alarcón's poems honor the wonders of life and nature: welcoming the morning sun, remembering his grandmother's songs, paying tribute to children working in the fields, and sharing his dream of a world filled with gardens. Artist Maya Christina Gonzalez invites us to experience the poems with her lively cast of characters-including a spirited grandmother, four vivacious children, and playful pets who tease and delight. Follow them from page to page as they bring each poem to colorful life.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
The Legend of Food Mountain / La montaña del alimento
In the beginning of our world, Quetzalcoatl created the people of earth from the bones of the ancestors. But there was no food for them to eat, and they were hungry. A giant red ant helps them to discover Food Mountain, and the brightly colored corn contained inside. The gods, wanting to keep Food Mountain for themselves, try to drag Food Mountain to the Western Heavens. In their attempts, Food Mountain bursts open, and the rain dwarves descend to steal its precious corn, sweet grasses, and beans. From that time on, humans have depended upon the rain-the rain dwarves-to bring the food crops they depend on.
- Ages 6+
- 24 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
The Lizard and the Sun/La lagartija y el Sol
When the sun disappears from ancient Mexico, a little lizard refuses to give up her quest to bring back light and warmth to everyone. Full color. Ages 4-8. $6.99 (A).
- Ages 4-8
- Full Color
- $6.99 (A)
- Buy at Powell's
Magic Dogs of the Volcanoes / Los perros mágicos de los volcanes
Cadejos are the mythical dog-like creatures that figure prominently in the folklore of El Salvador. They mysteriously appear at night and lovingly protect the villagers who live on the slopes of the volcanoes from danger. Don Tonio, the powerful landowner, is suspicious of the benevolent cadejos-he believes they bewitch his villagers and make them lazy. A regiment of lead soldiers is brought in from afar to hunt the cadejos and wipe them out … but the ancient volcanoes come up with a plan to save the cadejos and pave the way for peace once more. This is a lovingly told story of war and pacifism, distrust and mutual support that will make children and adults rejoice.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
Magic Windows / Ventanas mágicas
Through the magic windows of her cut-paper art, Carmen shows us her family, her life as an artist, and the legends of her Aztec past. We look into Carmen's studio and see her paint a Mexican jarabe tapatío dancer; we glimpse the hummingbirds that cross the Mexican-American border to taste the sweet nectar of the cactus flowers; and we watch Carmen teach her nieces and nephews how to make their own magic windows. Magic Windows is a continuing tribute to family and community as well as a way for Carmen to connect future generations to their ancestors by teaching and sharing with them this traditional folk art. A step-by-step companion book, Making Magic Windows, is also available.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
A Movie in My Pillow / Una película en mi almohada
Young Jorgito has come to live in the Mission District of San Francisco, but he hasn't forgotten the unique beauty of El Salvador. In his first collection of poems for children, poet Jorge Argueta evokes the wonder of his childhood in rural El Salvador, a touching relationship with a caring father, and his confusion and delight in his new urban home. We glimpse the richness of Jorgito's inner world and dreams - the movie in his pillow. This groundbreaking book is the first to address immigration during the Salvadoran civil war from a child's perspective. Elizabeth Gómez, a renowned Mexican painter, provides vivid, fantastical images that complement each poem.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
Mr. Sugar Comes to Town / La visita del Sr. Azúcar
Grandma Lupe's tamales are the favorite food of all the children in town until Mr. Sugar comes riding in on his magical truck full of sweets. Suddenly the children won't eat anything but double-chocolate sundaes, raspberry cream pie, and fudge bars. Before long they're so roly-poly they can't see their feet, and their teeth are full of black holes! It falls to Grandma Lupe to unmask Mr. Sugar and to show the children why something that feels good may not be good for them. Adapted from a puppet play by the Migrant Farmworkers Outreach Program in California's Central Valley, this fanciful tale treats the themes of substance abuse and nutrition in an amusing, whimsical way.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
My Aunt Otilia's Spirits / Los espíritus de mi tía Otilia
Whenever the author's outrageous Aunt Otilia comes to visit from Puerto Rico, it's hard for him to get much sleep, because every night, Aunt Otilia's noisy 'spirits' come knocking on the wall and shaking the bed. One night, little 'Demonio,' as his aunt calls him, stays awake to see what all the fuss is about. To his complete astonishment, he watches as Aunt Otilia's bones lift right out of her body, float through the air, and fly through the window-although it's closed!
- Ages 6+
- 24 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
My First Book of Proverbs / Mi primer libro de dichos
In this playful collection of popular Mexican dichos, or proverbs, artists Ralfka Gonzalez and Ana Ruiz bring to life their most favorite sayings-recorded in their travels throughout Mexico and the United States. Filled with wisdom and optimism, these dichos are a joyous celebration of life and culture; reminding us to 'pig out while you have the chance;' that 'after the rain comes the sun;' and to 'sing every day and chase the mean blues away.' Ralfka and Ana's exuberant illustrations vividly capture the mood and essence of each dicho. With stunning color and folk art flavor, their paintings draw us into a whimsical world where bumblebees play bongo drums and roosters sing all day.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
My Very Own Room / Mi propio cuartito
'Aha! This was it! This could be my room. I imagined it with my own bed, table, and lamp-a place where I could read the books I loved, write in my diary, and dream.' Five little brothers, two parents, and a house full of visiting relatives make a young Mexican American girl feel crowded. She loves her family, but how can she get a little space of her own? Her loving and understanding family works together to turn a small storage space into her very own room. This delightful memoir of a childhood in El Monte, California, pours from the pen of first-time author and bilingual teacher Amada Irma Pérez with exuberance and skill. Renowned painter Maya Christina Gonzalez brings the captivating scenes to life with bold colors and whimsical details.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
Prietita and the Ghost Woman / Prietita y la Llorona
Ever since she can remember, Prietita has heard frightening stories about la Llorona-the legendary ghost woman who steals children at night. One day, when Prietita goes in search of the missing herb that can help cure her mother, she becomes lost in the woods. Suddenly she hears a distant crying sound and sees flashes of white in the trees. Could it be the ghost woman from her grandmother's stories? In her second book for children, Gloria Anzaldúa reinterprets one of the most famous Mexican legends-the story of la Llorona, the ghost woman. Surrounded by the live oak and prickly pear of the Texas woods, Prietita discovers that la Llorona is not what people expect but rather a compassionate woman who helps her on her path. In this magical and enchanting story, Prietita's search for the healing rue plant turns into a powerful journey of self-discovery.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
Uncle Nacho's Hat/El Sombrero Del Tio Nacho
When Ambrosia gives her Uncle Nacho a new hat, he tries to get rid of his old one, but to no avail. No matter what he does, the pesky hat keeps coming back to him. This classic folktale from the Puppet Workshop of Nicaraguan National Television, vividly illustrated by Mira Reisberg and presented in a bilingual edition, is a parable about the difficulties of making changes and shaking off old habits. The book includes an account of the origins of the story.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
The Upside Down Boy / El niño de cabeza
Juanito is bewildered by his new school, and he misses the warmth of country life. Everything he does feels upside down. He eats lunch when it's recess; he goes out to play when it's time for lunch; and his tongue feels like a rock when he tries to speak English. But a sensitive teacher and loving family help him to find his voice and make a place for himself in this new world through poetry, art, and music. Juan Felipe Herrera's playful language and the colorful, magical art of Elizabeth Gómez capture the universal experience of children entering a new school feeling like strangers in a world that seems upside down-at first.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
Where Fireflies Dance / Ahí donde bailan las luciérnagas
In her first book for children, award-winning author Lucha Corpi remembers her childhood growing up in Jáltipan, where the moon hung low and the fireflies flickered in the night air. In vivid and poetic detail, she recalls exploring with her brother the old haunted house of the legendary revolutionary Juan Sebastián, discovering the music that came from the jukebox at the local cantina, and getting caught by their mother for their mischievous adventures. Most of all, she remembers the ballads her father sang and the stories her grandmother told. In her stories, her grandmother passes on an important message about growing up-each person, like the revolutionary Juan Sebastián, has a destiny to follow.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
The Woman Who Outshone the Sun/La mujer que brillaba aun mas que el sol
When Lucia Zenteno walks into a mountain village in central Mexico, some villagers whisper that her long black hair blocks out the sun, and they are afraid. Others say her brilliant hair outshines the sun. Frightened, they banish Lucia from the village and watch in amazement as their precious river follows her, for it loves her and will not leave her. Never had the villagers imagined that their beautiful river would leave them, no matter what they did-and so the whole village sets out to find Lucia and beg for her forgiveness.
- Ages 6+
- 32 pages
- Spanish/English
- Buy at Powell's
More Spanish Children's Bilingual Books
- Barnes and Noble: Spanish Language Materials » Bilingual
Available for purchase. - Redleaf Press Bilingual Children's Books
Available for purchase. - Weber County Library: Recommended Bilingual English/Spanish Books
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