When you start your bilingual Spanish journey you may not know where or how to start. Most of these book have provided amazing support in our Spanish language journey with my 6 year old daughter and I am happy to share my thoughts with you. As with everything, every child is different and what may work for my child may not work for yours. The key is to not give up, keep trying different things and seeing what works for your child.
Best Books to Teach your Child Spanish
1. Carson Dellosa Complete Book of Starter Spanish Workbook for Kids—PreK-Grade 1 Colors, Shapes, Alphabet, Numbers, Seasons, Weather, Sight Words Practice
Filled with activities and practice, this book helped us so much when we were under quarantine. It's great for preschoolers-K to get them started on writing and practicing basics like colors, numbers, shapes, and the fundamentals.
WORKBOOK FEATURES:
• Ages 3-7, PreK – Grade 1
• 416 pages, 10.8 inches x 8.3 inches
• Topics covered: the alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes, sight words, and more
• Includes Spanish songs and rhymes
• Answer key and glossary included
FOCUSED PRACTICE: The Complete Book of Starter Spanish Workbook for Kids helps students from preschool through first grade build Spanish fluency and understand Spanish culture through fun activities, engaging topics, and hands-on learning.
CORRELATED TO CURRENT STATE STANDARDS: The activities in this illustrated workbook are designed to help students understand both Spanish language and culture, including developing an understanding of everyday life within the target culture as well as speaking, singing, writing, and reading basic words and phrases in Spanish.
HOW IT WORKS: This workbook helps young kids learn Spanish through easy-to-follow instructions for lessons on the alphabet, shapes, colors, basic sight words, and more! Students also learn Spanish songs and rhymes that are important to the culture and fun for kids to sing along to.
WORKING TOGETHER: Designed to enhance current homeschool, classroom, and virtual Spanish curriculum settings, parents and teachers can support student learning using the Spanish-English glossary and answer key to check for accuracy.
WHY CARSON DELLOSA: For more than 40 years, Carson Dellosa has provided solutions for parents who want to help their children get ahead and for teachers who want their students to meet and exceed set learning goals. Carson Dellosa partners with you in supporting your child’s educational journey every step of the way.
Book Info:
Page Number: 416 Pages
Type of Books: Paperback
Language: English
Reading age: 3 to 6 years old
2. First 100 Words Bilingual: Primeras 100 palabras - Spanish-English Bilingual
I continue to use books like this and flashcards to increase my daughter's vocabulary. This is a great book that will grow with your child and features actual pictures instead of illustrations.
First 100 Words Bilingual es un must-have para el aprendizaje de los lectores más pequeños, y es una herramienta ideal para ensenar nuevas palabras en dos idiomas: inglés y español.
Entre las páginas, hay más de 100 fotografías sobresalientes de alimentos, animales, juguetes, y más que los niños reconocerán en sus propias vidas. Cada imagen va acompañada por su descripción en inglés y español, escrita con letras grandes y marcadas. Este libro es una gran ayuda para implementar un vocabulario bilingüe y ensenar palabras visuales en ambos idiomas.
Book Info:
Page Number: 14 Pages
Type of Books: Hardbook, Boardbook
Language: Spanish
Reading age: 1 to 3 years old
3. Spanish-English Picture Dictionary
Similar to the previous book, this book is a bit more extensive. I tend to use this books to supplement so it's not like I'm sitting with my daughter and reading 10 pages. I simply focus on a page or two and change it up when I feel my daughter has understood the vocabulary. This is another one that is goo for any age.
It's never too soon to start teaching boys and girls a second language, and this book presents pages filled with cheerful color pictures that help teach Spanish words to English-speaking children in early grades. It presents more than 350 illustrations of familiar objects, with nine pictures on each page. Every picture is labeled with its English word, followed by its Spanish equivalent. The translated word is followed in turn by a phonetic spelling in smaller type. Words are grouped according to themes, such as Sports, The Classroom, Fruit, Vegetables, Party Time, Weather, and many others. For example, the nine illustrations on the Sports page show pictures with bilingual labels for football, table tennis, skiing, fishing, gymnastics, athletics, cycling, swimming, and basketball. Here's a fun way for younger English-speaking children to build a basic vocabulary in Spanish.
Book Info:
Page Number: 48 Pages
Type of Books: Paperback
Language: English
Reading age: 7 to 9 years old
4. Nacho: Libro Inicial de Lectura
I cannot tell you enough how much I love this book. It's a bit dated but it works! This is how I taught my daughter to read and we continue to use it. Not inly does it have pictures, it builds upon what a child learns the page before. If you get one book from this list get this one! The key is to practice or read with them 10-15 minutes a day. This works.
For all of you trying to immerse your child in Spanish, these books are used for exactly that, interactive teaching. Many adults in Latin America learned how to read and write with this product, that is why it is known to work!
Book Info:
Page Number: 95 Pages
Type of Books: Perfect Paperback
Language: Spanish
5. My First Bilingual Little Readers: Level A: 25 Reproducible Mini-Books in English and Spanish That Give Kids a Great Start in Reading
I love that this book is bilingual and a little easier for kids that are learning to read and they can start in English and see and read in Spanish. Perfect for those that need a little extra guiding.
Give beginning readers and second language learners the support they need with these adorable reproducible mini-books in both English and Spanish. Have children color the black & white pages to create their own mini-books. Written to correlate with Guided Reading Level A, the simple, predictable stories feature high-frequency words, rhyming, repetition, and helpful illustrations on topics kids love, such as birthdays, pets, and friendship.
Book Info:
Page Number: 64 Pages
Type of Books: Paperback
Language: English and Spanish
Reading age: 5 to 6 years old
6. Carson Dellosa Complete Book of Spanish Workbook for Kids
A continuation of The Complete Starter Spanish PK-1 this book goes deeper than the first with fun activities for kids and is geared for the older child.
WORKBOOK FEATURES:
• Ages 6-9, Grades 1-3
• 416 pages, 10.8 inches x 8.3 inches
• Topics covered: the alphabet, numbers, colors, parts of speech, culture, community, and more
• Handwriting practice and final review
• Includes a glossary, bibliography, and answer key
FOCUSED PRACTICE: The Complete Book of Spanish Workbook for Kids helps students from first through third grade to build Spanish fluency and understand Spanish culture through fun activities, engaging topics, and hands-on writing practice.
CORRELATED TO CURRENT STATE STANDARDS:The activities in this illustrated workbook are designed to help students understand both Spanish language and culture, including developing an understanding of everyday life within the target culture as well as speaking, writing, and reading basic words and phrases in Spanish.
HOW IT WORKS: This workbook helps kids learn Spanish through easy-to-follow instructions for lessons on the alphabet, parts of speech, days, months, expressions, culture and community, and more! Students take a final review at the end of the lessons, as well as handwriting practice to ensure they have mastered what they learned from each section.
WORKING TOGETHER: Designed to enhance current homeschool, classroom, and virtual Spanish curriculum, parents and teachers can support student learning using the Spanish-English glossary and answer key to check for accuracy.
WHY CARSON DELLOSA: For more than 40 years, Carson Dellosa has provided solutions for parents who want to help their children get ahead and for teachers who want their students to meet and exceed set learning goals. Carson Dellosa partners with you in supporting your child’s educational journey every step of the way
Book Info:
Page Number: 416 Pages
Type of Books: Paperback, Spiral-bound
Language: English and Spanish
Reading age: 6 to 8 years old
7. Cali's Books Spanish Nursery Rhymes Sound Book for Babies,Toddlers 1-3, 2-4 Girl and Boy
For babies I love sound books so that baby can start hearing the Spanish sounds and if mama is a bit unsure this can be of support.
- CALI’S BOOKS SPANISH NURSERY RHYMES makes the perfect learning toys for toddlers 1-3, 2-4, and babies. This bilingual sound book entertains and teaches at the same time with famous Spanish Nursery Rhymes with lyrics written in Spanish and English. The songs included in this edition are: : Pin Pon, A mi Burro, Tengo una Vaca Lechera, Que Llueva, Que Llueva, Un Elefante se Balanceaba, Duérmete Niño.
- ⭐ CALI'S BOOKS SUPPORT CHILD DEVELOPMENT THROUGH PLAY. Our nursery rhymes books are great educational toys suitable for babies and toddlers. They have an easy-to-push ergonomic button on each page that children love to press. They are a great way to work on fine motor skills, develop hand-eye coordination, and work on cause and effect. The best interactive toys for 2 year old, learning books for toddlers 1-3, books for 1 year old and Spanish books for babies
- ⭐ HIGH-QUALITY SPANISH BILINGUAL NURSERY RHYMES BOOK: We've Got You Covered! Our interactive spanish sound books for babies and toddlers meet and exceed U.S. testing standards and the toughest of audience. They are sturdy and safe. If you are not 100% satisfied, we are here to make it right for you!
- ⭐ OUR INTERACTIVE SPANISH LEARNING BOOKS FOR TODDLERS come with batteries included and can be easily replaced. They last up to 300 button pushes. They also come with a convenient on-off switch at the back, perfect for quiet reading time and battery life-saving.
- 🎁📚GIVE THE GIFT OF LOVE FOR BOOKS AND LANGUAGE LEARNING: Singing in several languages is enriching for children and adults alike! The best book any parent, grandparent, aunt, friend, and caregiver can give to their little loved ones on any occasion. They also make a great baby shower and birthday gift.
Book Info:
Page Number: 416 Pages
Type of Books: Paperback, Spiral-bound
Language: English and Spanish
Reading age: 6 to 8 years old
8. Loteria: First Words / Primeras Palabras (English and Spanish Edition)
I'm a big fan of the Lil Libros books. While we didn't use them a whole lot when my daughter was a baby because they weren't available yet, we sure love the additions to help your little one and toddler. I specifically love this one as Loteria is a fun family game we like to play and this is a great introduction to icons so familiar.
A Lil' LIbros Bilingual Picture Book
Introduce your little one to one of the oldest games of chance, Loteria, as you teach them their first English and Spanish words! Learn el gallo (the rooster), la luna (the moon), el corazón (the heart), and more.
Unable to find bilingual first concept books she could enjoy reading to her baby, Patty Rodriguez came up with the idea behind Lil' Libros. Patty and her work have been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, CNN Latino, Latina Magazine, Cosmopolitan, People En Espanol, Cosmo Latina, and American Latino TV, to name a few. She is currently Sr. Producer for On Air With Ryan Seacrest|iHeartMedia, jewelry designer for MALA by Patty Rodriguez, and creator of Manolos And Tacos.
Book Info:
Language : English, Spanish
Board book : 22 pages
Reading age : Baby - 4 years
Final Thoughts on Best Books to Teach Your Child Spanish
We hope to continue to add more books to this list. If you're looking for more books to encourage Spanish reading I recommend these posts:
Children's Books that Celebrate Hispanic Heritage By Country
12 Bilingual Books in Spanish Perfect for Christmas
Kids Books About Reading and Learning in English and Spanish
Additional Resources:
Looking to foster a strong connection to your Latino roots and empower your child through bilingualism? Explore Janny's comprehensive bilingual parenting course, Confident Bilingual Parenting: How to Raise a Bilingual Spanish Child Your Way. Gain valuable insights, practical strategies, and access to a private community, ensuring you have all the tools you need to nurture your child's language development and cultural awareness from an early age. It includes the Bilingual Resources Directory full of toys, books, media recommendations, and yes discounts.
You can also delve into Janny's easy-to-read and visual book, Nobody Told Me This About Raising a Bilingual Child, which not only serves as a practical guide but also makes a thoughtful gift. Janny shares everything nobody shared with her about bilingual parenting in this top-rated book.
For more insights and inspiration, consider tuning in to The Latina Mom Legacy Podcast, where Janny empowers parents raising bilingual kids through engaging case studies, expert interviews, and my personal words of wisdom. Perhaps you would enjoy this episode, 444 Bilingual Parenting 101 - So you Want To raise a Bilingual Child.
No matter which path you choose, rest assured that we're here to support your bilingual parenting journey in every way.
Thanks for stopping by :)
Janny Perez
November 06, 2023
Hi Cheryl,
To be honest, I recommend Nacho or Coquito. They are formatted similarly and are the staple for Spanish-speaking Latinos in the US or across Latin America. It will help your grandchildren AND you learn to read as well as form vocabulary. It start with the simple syllable formations like "ma (mah), me (may), mi (me), mo (moe), mu (moo) with pictures that incorporate such syllables like mamá (mom) ama (love) and does the same for each letter. I recommend using google translate if you’re unsure of the translation and writing the translation underneath in Spanish for your reference. I used this book from when my daughter was 4 and taught her to read and better understand Spanish. The key is to only do 1 page at a time until all of you feel comfortable with pronunciation and vocabulary before moving on to the next, so you may spend 1-3 weeks on 1 page. That’s ok! It took us 3 years to get through the book :). Good luck!