Bilingual Children's Books

Animals/Les Animaux
written and illustrated by Clare BeatonBarronsJuveniles, 1997
Preschool-Grade 2

This title is one in a series of bilingual concept books that is available in both English/French and English/Spanish versions. The concepts include colors, clothes, family, and opposites.

Beisbol En Abril Y Otras Historias
by Gary Soto
Fondo de Cultura Economica, USA, 1998
Grades 3-6

To write the growing-up stories in this collection Gary Soto drew on his own experiences as a boy and teen in California’s Central Valley. He addresses universal themes such as remaining honest, falling in love, and appreciating family. This is a Spanish language version of Soto’s Baseball in April and Other Stories, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults.

Chinese Mother Goose Rhymes
by Robert Wyndham, illustrated by Ed Young
Paper Star Books, 1998
Preschool-Grade 1

There are more than 40 traditional Chinese rhymes, riddles, lullabies, and games in this book. The English text is read vertically and goes along with Chinese characters placed in the margins.

Cool Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Growing Up Latino in the United States
edited by Lori M. Carlson, introduction by Oscar Hijuelos
Ballantine Books, 1995
Grades 8-12

Poems by young Latino American authors have been collected in this book. Each poem appears in English and Spanish. The poets express their feelings and experiences related to growing up in the United States.

Diez Deditos: Ten Little Fingers and Other Play Rhymes and Action Songs from Latin America
selected, arranged, and translated by Jose-Luis Orozco, illustrated by Elisa Kleven
Dutton, 1997
Infants through preschoolers

Many of the traditional rhymes and songs in this book are ones the author learned as a child and while traveling throughout Latin America and Spain. A few are original creations. Each entry includes an introduction explaining its source and illustrated hand and body movements. Colorful illustrations help bring the Spanish and English words alive.

The Emerald Lizard: Fifteen Latin American Tales to Tell in English and Spanish
by Pleasant DeSpain, translated by Mario Lamo-Jimenex, illustrated by Don Bell
August House, 1999
Grades 7-12

The 15 tales in this volume each represent a different culture from the Caribbean and Central and South America. Black and white illustrations accompany each tale. The text appears in English and Spanish.

Gathering the Sun:An ABC in Spanish and English
by Alma Flor Ada, illustrated by Simon Silva
Harper Collins, 1997.
Preschool-Grade 2.

This unusual and inspirational alphabet book is dedicated to the memory of Cesar Chavez. For each letter of the alphabet, there is a poem (in Spanish and English) celebrating the lives of those who work in the fields. Bright and engaging gauche paintings illustrate the poems. Although targeted to younger children, this book would appeal to older students too.

A Gift from Papa Diego (Un Regalo de Papa Diego)
by Benjamin Alire Saenz, illustrated by Geronimo GarciaCinco
Puntos Press,1998
K-Grade 6

In this bilingual picture book (English and Spanish), Little Diego feels sad because he has few opportunities to see his beloved grandfather who lives across the border in Mexico. He asks for a Superman outfit for his birthday so he can fly off to see his Papa Diego.

Grandma Fina and Her Wonderful Umbrellas/La Abuelita Fina y sus Sombrillas MaraVillosas
by Benjamin Alire Saenz, illustrated by Geronimo GarciaCinco
Puntos Press,1999
Preschool

In this picture book, with text in English and Spanish, Grandma Fina gets a special birthday gifts from her observant and creative friends and family. The repetitive words

My Colors, Mis Colores
written and illustrated by Rebecca EmberlyLittle
Brown & Company, 2000
Infants through preschoolers

This simple concept book is the latest in a series of English/Spanish books by the same author/illustrator. Other titles include: My Numbers/Mis Numberos, My Shapes/Mis Formas, and My Opposites/Mis Opuestos.

Table, Chair, Bear: A Book in Many Languages
written and illustrated by Jane Feder
Houghton Mifflin, 1997
Preschool

This vocabulary book features bright pictures of familiar objects, the English word for each item, and translations of the word in 12 languages: Korean, French, Arabic, Vietnamese, Japanese, Portuguese, Lao, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Cambodian, and Navaho. The final two-page spread brings all the objects together in a picture of a child’s room.