12 Spanish-English Bilingual Books for Babies

As a parent, storytime is one of the highlights of the day. You get to snuggle up with your little one and read favourite books together while also helping your child to develop a love of reading. Science tells us that reading to babies and toddlers can help them develop preliteracy skills—but did you know that by reading bilingual stories, you can also help your child develop stronger cognitive and problem-solving skills?

Bilingual books are an important way for parents to give their bilingual children the chance to hear their family language and to engage in family heritage. Or it can be a way for children to learn a second language. Here are 12 Spanish-English books for toddlers that are worth checking out. 

11 Bilingual Fairy Tales in Spanish and English, by Charles Perrault

Fairy tales are almost universal, which makes them a great place to start reading bilingual books with kids. This bilingual baby book offers up a mix of popular and unknown fairy tales in both Spanish and English for young readers to read and listen to with the MP3 addition. 

Spanish-English Picture Dictionary, by Catherine Bruzzone & Louise Millar

This bilingual board book is perfect for any age with its collection of 350 images of familiar things to help kids learn common words in both Spanish and English. 

Coleccion de oro Jorge el curioso/A Treasury of Curious George, by Margret & H.A. Rey

It can be tough to find bilingual baby books with accurate translations, which is why this edition of Curious George is so great. Readers can enjoy their favourite Curious George moments in both Spanish and English and not worry about the translations being incorrect.

Cali's Books Spanish Nursery Rhymes

Reading is more fun when you sing the words, which is why this bilingual baby book is so great. Kids can press and listen or sing along to nursery songs in both Spanish and English.  The illustrations are bright and cheery and the songs are clear and easy to follow along with.

Counting With -Contando Con Frida, by Patty Rodriguez & Ariana Stein, illustrated by Citlali Reyes

We love this bilingual baby book because it combines language, arts, and math together in a beautiful story for kids. Parents can delight in teaching their toddlers about Frida Kahlo, the famous Mexican painter while also practicing numbers and learning some Spanish. Kids will love the pictures and the fun of learning how to count in two languages.

¡Todos a Comer! A Mexican Food Alphabet Book, by Dr. Ma. Alma González Pérez, edited by Teresa Estrada

Taco Tuesdays are great but that is really just a tiny dot on the vast landscape of amazing Mexican foods. It is no wonder this awesome book won the 2017 International Latino Book Award for Best Latino Focused Children's Picture Book. Kids can learn about Mexican dishes, ingredients, and get a better sense of culture in this Spanish-English book.

Indestructibles: ¡Hola, granja! / Hello, Farm!, by Amy Pixton, illustrated by Maddie Frost

Indestructibles is a brand known for making books that can stand up to toddlers but that’s not all they do. This fun barnyard picture book combines rhymes, animals, and easy-to-read Spanish-English translations side-by-side for kids to learn new works in either language.

Su Propio Color (A Color of His Own), by Leo Lionni

If you are starting out with bilingual baby books, then choosing beloved classics that may already be familiar to your child is a smart first step. This beautifully crafted Spanish-English edition from Leo Lionni is a wonderful addition to any bilingual collection and a lovely way to learn colours in both languages.

The Day of the Dead / El Dia de Los Muertos: A Bilingual Celebration, by Bob Barner

Follow two young children who prepare food, flowers, and sugar skulls for Dia de Los Muertos, The Day of the Dead. By combining language with culture, kids can learn about a special cultural holiday while also learning new words and enjoying a fun story.

Señorita Mariposa, by Ben Gundersheimer, illustrated by Marcos Almada Rivero

Little kids will love this bilingual baby book that follows monarch butterflies as they travel on their annual migration from Canada to Mexico. With lots of bright colours and beautiful rhymes in both Spanish and English, this is sure to become a favourite.

¡Te Amo, Te Abrazo, Leo Contigo!/Love You, Hug You, Read to You!, by Tish Rabe, illustrated by Frank Endersby

This is a fantastic bilingual baby book because it does a few things well: It gives kids an opportunity to read in both Spanish and English; it is a beautiful story full of love; and at the end of each page, it gives parents tips on how to keep the learning experience going long after the book closes.

Goodnight Moon/Buenas Noches, Luna, by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd

What is a children’s book collection without the beloved classic baby book, Goodnight Moon? Enjoy this timeless bedtime story in both Spanish and English with this terrific bilingual version.