Somos un arco iris, We Are A Rainbow by Nancy Maria Grande Tabor celebrates diversity. A child moves from an adobe home to a wooden home and mentions everything that is different. It has a nice context, pointing out that even though he seems different, everyone else is also different to him. It focuses on what should bring people together. Frankly, I know a few adults who need this lesson, it’s so essential for children.
Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
I find that after reading this book I keep repeating the lines to the kids for the rest of the day. “My ears are to beeg for my head, my head ees to beeg for my body,” is what Skippyjon chants (and I do over and over) as he decides he’s not a Siamese cat, but indeed a Chihuahua. This book is so fun to read aloud and listen to, that we’ve read it twice in a row. There is plenty of Spanish in this story too, a wonderful bonus. Skippyjon is a silly story that will make you fall in love with him and his imagination. Check out the short movie from another Skippyjon title on the website below. It’s definitely wild.
http://www.skippyjonjones.com/
Cars, Trucks, and Planes, Carros, camiones y aviones by Gladys Rosa-Mendoza. Illustrations by Jeremy Tugeau.
This is a board book that my toddler really enjoys. It only has a few pages, but covers a lot of different types of transportation. Each page has one sentence, so it’s really short. The illustrations are really unique, very interesting and beautiful which is pretty cool for a book about transportation.
A Very Smart Cat, Una Gata Muy Inteligente. Written by Mario Picayo. Illustrated by Yolanda Fundora.
This book is about a cat that lives on the dining room table, and as the back cover explains, is based on a true story! My preschooler really chuckles about this one because this isn’t your ordinary cat! There is about one sentence per page so it’s a real quick read. Another great story to read bilingually.
Under the Lemon Moon by Edith Hope Fine. Illustrated by René King Moreno.
We grabbed this one blindly at the library, and what a nice surprise it was. First of all, it includes Spanish vocabulary, which we try to do as much as possible, and in the beginning of the book it has definitions and a sound key. Secondly, the story has such a nice ending, a girl finds a way to help someone who needs it, and who actually steals from her in the beginning. Finally, the illustrations are very Diego Rivera-inspired, very beautiful. My preschooler enjoyed the story and asked to read it again that same day. It was thought-provoking. My preschooler asked about the thief, wondered about having a hen for a pet, and we talked about the resolution for a little while. Enjoy this story.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle.
Eric Carle has illustrated so many wonderful books and this is no exception. Bold and colorful animals cover the two entire pages, and the rhyming text carries you from animal to animal. What a great introduction to colors and animals. We enjoy reading this short story over and over several times in a row. We also enjoy the similar titles: Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? and the Spanish Oso polar, Oso polar, qué es ese ruido? (Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?) These books are interesting to both my toddler and preschooler, they have a long term appeal. It’s sort of like a preschool nursery rhyme.
This House is Made of Mud – Esta casa está hecha de lodo by Ken Buchanan. Illustrated by Libba Tracy.
A child talks about life in the desert in English and en Español. Beautiful descriptions talk about how the fence of their home is mountains, the random visitor is rain. Colorful pastel illustrations highlight the dreamy text. This book is poetic, short bilingual read for a preschooler.
My First Spanish Words (board book) by Brimax. Illustrated by Mary Lonsdale.
This book has five pages, each with a setting such as farm or grocery store. Each page also has nine pictures with the Spanish word underneath it. You can then ask “Donde está el pan?” and find the bread on the page. A great starter book for Spanish. The picture may be deceiving too, the book is pretty large, at least a foot tall.
Sleep, Sleep, Sleep a Lullaby for Little Ones Around the World by Nancy Van Laan. Pictures by Holly Meade.
I used to read this to my children as newborns while rocking them in a soft voice. It’s rhythmic, loving, and a beautiful introduction to many languages. Each continent is introduced with the indigenous animals and languages mother’s use to lull their babies to sleep. Still a great story for my preschooler as we dive into continents.
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