Celebrate Reading in Two Languages

Leo, a small blue cat, speaks only Spanish. He responds to simple directions (such as "Ven. Come. Ven aquí. Come here.") in Spanish with the English equivalent found by lifting the flap. This playful book concludes with a guide to Spanish pronunciation.

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The Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah, celebrates the rededication of the Jewish temple after a group of ancient heroes defended their right to worship as they wished. This handsome little counting book honors the most joyful of Jewish holidays, and teaches readers how to count from one to eight in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish.

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Rabbit celebrates turning one year old with a cake, a candle and family. Bright, bold illustrations focus on birthday basics for a one year old, leaving space for a photo and other notes to remember the event. (Comparable books for 2, 3 and 4 year olds are also available from the publisher.)

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In this celebration of dads, heartwarming illustrations of baby animals and their fathers remind us of the many reasons why dads are so special.

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On a walk, a young child sees a variety of animals from a black cat to a brown horse and more – which the reader discovers are following the child! Gleeful, jewel-toned illustrations on sturdy, open pages are ideal for sharing with the youngest child who will catch on to the repetition in Spanish, English or both.

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It is time to visit Grandma! First a taxi, then an airplane, one more bus — and there she is! This book for young readers uses very simple bilingual text to follow the journey from home to Grandma’s front yard, telling the story with colorful illustrations. Children will enjoy poring over the detailed artwork, and readers will feel a glow when everyone is finally juntos — together.

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The Snowy Day is the simple tale of a boy waking up to discover that snow has fallen during the night. The little boy celebrates the snowdraped city with a day of humble adventures.

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Find out what the animals in the zoo do once it's closed for the night in this lively, rhyming alphabet book. Jaunty illustrations add humor and meaning to words presented in two languages.

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Celebrate the native foods of the Americas — peanuts, blueberries, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, and more — through haiku poetry and stunning artwork. A perfect selection for April, celebrating El día de los niños/El día de los libros (a reading celebration created by Pat Mora) and National Poetry Month!

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As Daniela walks in the woods with her grandfather, they play a game in which they express how much they love each other. Children may wish to continue the game on their own with their family members after finishing the story! Colorful illustrations bring Daniela and her grandpa — as well as the surrounding forest, wildlife, and nearby wetlands — to life. Bilingual text.

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Benny is a white dog with black ears and a red collar who can't find his favorite bone. In fact, Benny can't smell anything! But after a visit to the doctor and a bit of loving care from his mom, Benny recovers from what readers will recognize as a nose-stuffing cold. Lighthearted illustrations capture Benny's expression as his "sniff machine" recovers.

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Don Pedro and his family make skeletons for el Día de los Muertos celebration in Mexico City. When the papier-mache Calaveras go to market on fiesta day, each skeleton acts out a letter of the alphabet. Richly toned illustrations in an appealing folk art style introduce the alphabet – from A (for ANGEL) to Z (for ZAPATERO). This handsome book concludes with an alphabet glossary and a brief explanation of the Spanish alphabet.

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Using the alphabet as a pattern, paintings and brief poems explore rural life in Mexico presented first in Spanish and followed by English. From A to Z, brilliant illustrations and fluid poems evoke the plants, and more and the emotional impact on the lives of farm workers.

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A child narrates her visit to the ocean, inviting readers to explore it with her. She experiences the sea with all of her senses through realistic illustrations and lyrical language in this gently rhyming tale.

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Ever resourceful Roxanne determines the best way to get to the beach when her car won't start. Only one way, however, will allow her to take all of her treasures including, of course, the baby! Humor and myriad concepts abound in this engaging and attractive tale told in two languages.

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When Kitten sees her first full moon, she thinks there's a little bowl of milk in the sky. But try as she might, she just can't seem to reach it. Disappointed, she returns home, only to find a bowl of milk waiting for her. "Lucky Kitten!" Expressive illustrations in shades of black, white, and gray are carefully placed to show movement and motion during Kitten's nighttime adventure.

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A Hispanic family's preparation for dinner is presented in easy words in both Spanish and English. Warm illustrations depict an affectionate family enjoying their daily routine. This is the first book in Pat Mora's My Family/Mi Familia series, a four-book collection of easy-read bilingual books.

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Five-year-old Luna is afraid she'll find monsters at her new school until a kind teacher and her new classmates show her that she has nothing to fear.

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Join a Latino celebration of Christmas from A to Z, enjoying the sights and symbols of the holiday. Spanish words and additional explanations conclude this energetic book with animated illustrations.

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Young Quinito takes us on a tour of his neighborhood, where his relatives and friends are doing important jobs and helping each other. Children and grown-ups will appreciate the community spirit pervading the text, as well as the colorful pictures of Quinito's neighborhood. Ideal for young children learning new English and Spanish vocabulary.

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Author Ina Cumpiano and illustrator José Ramírez, creators of Quinito's Neighborhood, have teamed up once again to bring young readers an engaging story about young Quinito, his family, and his daily activities. The bilingual story shows how opposites (early/late, sunny/rainy, messy/neat) play an important part of Quinito's life through charming text and vibrant illustrations. Ideal for young children learning new English and Spanish vocabulary.

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Since he forgets to distribute the lists for the neighborhood picnic, Oscar must launch into action. He shops, sets the table and whips up the food – in a most unusual way – for the best picnic ever! Colorful illustrations add imaginative detail and visual interest as well as a subtle nudge for exercise.

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Monica enjoys spending time at her grandparents' bakery not only because of sweet treats but because they have a special relationship. The story, told in both Spanish and English, is imbued with details about Mexican traditions.

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Tess can't wait for the school bus to arrive! "Is this bus for us, Gus?" she continues to ask, as a taxi, ice cream truck, and fire engine pass by. The repetition of questions and answers throughout the story will make this a great read-aloud for young students and English language learners. Colorful watercolor illustrations complement the text. Bilingual edition available.

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Birds and bats fly, but do rhinos? No! They eat grass and take baths but rhinos don't fly! And so different animals hop, slither, swim and crawl through the colorful pages of this playful book. Bold illustrations and bright backgrounds support the concepts and the humor in both English and Spanish.

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Celebrate city life, school, and family while sharing loss, earthquakes and even "Sea Angels/Ángeles del mar" in vivid illustrations and short poems presented in both Spanish and English. Though some poems are distinctly southern Californian, all resonate with universally recognizable emotions.

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Inspired by a visit to the Iguazú National Park in South America, Francisco X. Alarcón celebrates its animals, skies, waterfalls, and more in these short and vibrant bilingual poems. Each page holds pulsating paintings that swirl and move, further vivifying each poem.

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Meet Abuela and Isabela, who tell each other stories while Abuela braids and unbraids Isabela's hair every day. When Isabela discovers Abuela can't read, she finds a wonderful way to help her grandmother. Lovely illustrations bring Isabela and Abuela to life in this heartwarming book about the importance of passing down traditions across generations.

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"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." (Excerpt from book cover)

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Spanish words are incorporated naturally into this bright collection of poems that depict a day's activities in the Southwest. Vivid illustrations complement the verse to evoke the author's Mexican American background.

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Vivid images combine with lively language to present a sunny season with its foods, fun and family in short poems in both English and Spanish.

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Each day of the week best friends Lupe and Mariza make up games and stories as they play, sometimes to the chagrin of their irritable neighbor. One day the friends have a tiff; could this be the end of their friendship? Even Mrs. Ramirez is relieved when the girls make up in their distinctive,imaginative way. Jaunty illustrations further enliven this story told in two languages.

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This bilingual book will help children appreciate the life and music of the famous Hispanic singer, Celia Cruz. This engaging book introduces the reader to the a famous salsa singer who is world-renowned for her ecstatic energy and tropical sounds.

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Nana has come to visit, but she is still so sad after the death of her beloved Tata. What can be done to make her feel better? Since Nana is an expert in raising chicks, perhaps a chicken coop filled with chicks will help! Amada Irma Pérez's story is based on her memories of the unforgettable time when her grandmother came to stay with her family after her grandfather's death. Maya Christina Gonzalez's vibrant illustrations combine acrylic paintings, photos, fabrics, beads, and paper into textured collages. Bilingual text.

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Dreams are for the day and the night. Children dream for themselves as well as their community and their world. Short poems, richly imagined and vibrantly illustrated appear in English and Spanish and are firmly rooted in a child's experience.

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Three short stories present three adventures shared by Rafi and Rosi, young tree frogs who live in Puerto Rico. Rosi knows that her older brother is magic; not only can he find things in the sand, he can also make the sea shine! But it is Rosi's magic that finds Rafi's lost pet hermit crab. Cheery, colorful illustrations enhance the humor of this engaging duo.

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Read this book aloud to young readers to teach them about the United States flag, its history, and meaning. The short verse, historical tidbits, and realistic illustrations result in a brief, moving, and patriotic look at this American symbol.

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Two boys and their dogs look for the balls they have each lost in the park. Not only do they find them, they each find a friend. The text, in Spanish and English, appears in different colors along with crisply lined illustrations, allowing readers to follow Richard and Ricardo on their hunt. When the boys find their balls and discover their shared interests, they (and the colors) come together on a single page. Reiser's Margaret and Margarita, Margarita y Margaret (Greenwillow, 1993) explores a similar theme as girls and their mothers meet and discover friendship despite speaking different languages.

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Many years ago, a wonderful thing happened in New York City — a librarian named Pura Belpré welcomed her fellow Puerto Ricans to the public library for the first time. Many had never entered the library before, and they hadn't realized that Pura was making an effort to include her Spanish-speaking neighbors in the library's activities by hosting bilingual story time and purchasing books in Spanish for the collection.

This is her story, told through the eyes of two young children who are introduced to the library and its treasures by Pura just before Christmas. Lulu Delacre's lovely illustrations evoke New York City at the time of the Great Depression, as well as the close-knit and vibrant Puerto Rican community that was thriving in El Barrio. Bilingual Spanish-English text.

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Charlie is a poor but admirable boy who finds one of five tickets that provide entry into Willie Wonka's fabulous factory. Ultimately, it is Charlie's ethical behavior that wins, saves his family and begins yet another adventure. Comic illustrations add movement and punctuate the humor in this modern fantasy classic.

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An affectionate, sometimes bashful pig named Wilbur befriends a spider named Charlotte, who lives in the rafters above his pen. In this story of friendship, hardship, and the passing of time, E.B. White reminds us to open our eyes to the wonder and miracle found in the simplest of things.

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As she did in My Name Is Celia / Me llamo Celia, Monica Brown tells the story of young Gabriel García Márquez's life in this bilingual picture book. Brown also provides children with a simple introduction to magical realism by showing how young Gabriel’s surroundings and imagination merged in fantastic ways, fostering his creativity and building the foundation for the legendary characters and stories he would later create. Beautiful illustrations complement the lyrical text.

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Everyday activities, from sun-up to sun-down – sol a sol – are presented in a series of short poems presented in Spanish and English. Richly hued paintings sweep across the pages adding movement and verve to the simple fluid language.

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"Stories have delighted both children and adults for as long as there have been families and communities on Earth." So begins the informative introduction to the dozen takes which are presented here to charm another generation, ideal for reading independently or sharing aloud.

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Naomi and her younger brother Owen have lived with their grandmother in a small trailer for many years, ever since they were abandoned by their mother. When Mom Terri Lynn suddenly returns, does she really have the kids’ best interests at heart? This is a wonderful, realistic portrayal of working-class families.

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A collection of poems from an array of seasoned poets and young Latino authors describing their experiences in the United States. These poems depict the reality and hardships some young Latinos have experienced in their search for identity, as well as the joy of family gatherings surrounded by food, customs, and culture.

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Familiar tales as well as less known legends and myths from Latin American countries including Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Costa Rico and more are presented here in both Spanish and English, dotted with illustrations. Source notes are included, making this collection useful for storytellers and for reading aloud.

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Art combines with poetry and short prose pieces all by creators from Mexico for a culturally specific but emotionally universal literary experience. Stories are everywhere; you simply need to find them. Perhaps as one poet suggests in "The Lemon Tree": "the tree/is older than you are/and you might find stories/in its branches."

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Yolanda Garcia (from How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents) also known as Yo, writes about what she knows, and what she knows is her family as they know about her. Yo's native Dominican Republic, her life in New York and the people who live there are poignantly presented from multiple points of view, each with wit, imagination and candor.

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