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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 Dominica, 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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