One morning, the young narrator cannot find his much loved toy, Bongo. He finally finds it but comes up with a smart plan to prevent Bongo from running away again. Lushly hued, expressive illustrations and a narration that incorporates Spanish words and phrases create a memorable family story.
Looking for Bongo
Animals sound different in other languages just like people do! Here, handsome folk art presents similar but distinguishable folk creations of familiar animals and what they sound like in English and in Spanish on opposing pages. Readers are asked “can you repeat the sound?”
Animal Talk: Mexican Folk Art Animal Sounds in English and Spanish
The alphabet is used to introduce animals of the cloud forest and its most recently discovered resident, the elusive olinguito. Handsome illustrations and brief information appear in both Spanish and English as does more complete information at this stunning book’s conclusion.
Olinguito, from A to Z!: Unveiling the Cloud Forest / Olinguito, de la A a la Z!: Descubriendo el bosque numblado
The familiar “Wheels on the Bus” has been augmented (e.g., a fire truck goes “woo-oo”), adapted and presented here in Spanish and English. The accompanying illustrations are cheery, adding humor and verve.
¡Vámonos! Lets Go!
Reyna accidently breaks her abuelo’s vihuela and tries to fix it before her family finds out. Told in both Spanish and English, young readers will recognize the girl’s predicament and revel in the resolution in this realistically illustrated tale.
Finding the Music/En pos de la musica
A boy spends the day enjoying and learning with his grandfather, his tata, who is known in the community to help people feel better with his knowledge of herbal remedies. Realistic illustrations depict the minor mishaps (e.g., a bee sting, a bump on the head) and the apparently botanically accurate plants from which they are derived. The culturally rich text is in both Spanish and English.
My Tata’s Remedies / Los remedies de mi tata
Hudson, a small dog, narrates his travels from Paris by train to Provence with his human mom. Although a tourist, Hudson tries jobs done by local dogs but finds the magic of Provence in his ability to paint portraits of the canines. Impressionistic paintings glimpse the French countryside and its goings-on.
Hudson in Provence
Cheerful, childlike depictions of Maria and her much loved llama set the familiar rhyme, “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, in a Peruvian village. The little white llama follows Maria to school, makes the children laugh, but with a distinctive and unique setting and characters in a familiar cadence.
Maria Had a Little Llama/Maria tenia una llamita
Short poems about animals appear in English and Spanish accompanied by textured illustrations reminiscent of folk art. An author’s note reveals that she is neither a poet nor native Spanish speaking but was launched into both Spanish and poetry when she discovered the work of Pablo Neruda.
Flutter and Hum: Animal Poems / Aleteo y Zumbido: Poemas de Animales
In the cadence of Clement Moore’s holiday poem, a Latino family celebrates Christmas Eve. They make tamales with masa, play games (including a piñata) and more until the children are in bed and everyone is wished Feliz Navidad! A glossary of Spanish words concludes this cheerfully illustrated fiesta.
‘Twas Nochebuena
Children are like trees. They grow tall and strong, free yet rooted. “All trees have roots/All trees belong.” Swirling, color-filled illustrations complement and enhance the poetic language in both English and Spanish of this reassuring, lyrical book.
Call Me Tree/Llamame arbol
Evocative watercolors and short, lyrical poems take readers on a trip, “Around our round world” where “water rolls/water rises/under gold sun, under white moon.” A brief note from the author and the illustrator provides insight into their inspirations.
Water Rolls, Water Rises/El agua rueda, el agua sube
Mixed media illustrations evoke artist Frida Kahlo and lyrical language is used to suggest her life. Rather than a biography, this homage to art and an artist is visually stunning and will likely generate interest in many topics. An afterward about Frida in Spanish and English culminates the presentation.
Viva Frida
Handsome, realistic illustrations accompanied by straightforward information about North American birds encourage children to observe birds closely. Additional information about characteristics and bird identification concludes this attractive and informative book.
About Birds / Sobre los parjaros
Colors introduce foods and more Mexico and other Spanish-speaking counties. Naïve style illustrations accompany bouncy rhymes that incorporate Spanish words; all colors appear in both Spanish and English.
Green Is a Chile Pepper
Marisol is truly a nonconformist. She doesn’t like things that match, doesn’t want just one theme for her birthday, and the only gift Marisol really wants is a visit from her abuelita. The surprise at her “Clash Bash” party is a virtual visit from her grandmother. Joyful illustrations accompany this second fun-filled, bilingual Marisol story.
Marisol McDonald and the Clash Bash/Marisol McDonald y la fiesta sin igual
Rosa lives with her family and Blanca lives by herself in homes near their much-loved mother. They share their abundant gardens with much-loved Mama until Mama has too much! Told in Spanish and English, the story of a close-knit, devoted family has the cadence and appearance of a traditional tale.
Don’t Say a Word, Mama/No Digas Nada, Mama
Niño, the Boy, clad in underwear, dons the traditional mask of luchadores to cleverly beat opponents from Mexican lore. Spanish words are included in the bold, colorful design of this appealing book with its surprise ending. End pages provide pronunciation and information on the Spanish language.
Niño Wrestles the World
With simple words and clear pictures, this bilingual picture-book biography introduces young readers to the Mexican American leader who led the labor struggle of poor migrant farm workers. Beginning with Chavez’s early childhood on his parents’ farm in Arizona, the biography tells of the family’s time as migrant workers during the Depression, and then of Chavez’s long years working to organize the United Farm Workers and fight violence and discrimination. Inspired by Gandhi, Chavez always insisted on nonviolence, and the stirring pages show him on a hunger strike and leading labor strikes and boycotts.
Cesar Chavez: A Struggle for Justice / César Chávez: La lucha por la justicia
Mary’s little lamb is well known, but Maria lives in Peru and has a fleecy llama. The well-known cadence in English and Spanish and fresh illustrations present the familiar in a lively new setting.
Maria Had a Little Llama / Maria Tenia una Llama Pequena
A bee sounds like “BUZZ’ in English, but “SURR’ in Swedish and “ZZZ’ in Italian. Many animals sounds from different countries (with a national flag) are presented in lighthearted illustrations and large typeface.
Animals Speak
Tito Puente was born to be a musician. He grew up to become the Mamba King to whose music people danced the mambo, rumba, and cha-cha. Rhythmic language — in English and Spanish — and animated illustrations briefly present Tito’s life and the impact of music throughout.
Tito Puente, Mambo King / Tito Puente, Rey del Mambo
Circles, squares, triangles, ovals and stars are all around! The rhyming text incorporates Spanish words which are defined in illustrations reminiscent of folk art. A glossary of Spanish words concludes this engaging glimpse into Mexican culture.
Round Is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes
Maria looks to her grandmother to explain the rituals and traditions she observes at her first wedding. Their conversation, sprinkled with Spanish words, is carried by the evocative illustrations that depict this Zapotec Indian wedding celebration in Oaxaca, Mexico. A helpful Spanish glossary and an introduction to Zapotec culture and religion are included.