Books That Help Kids Learn a
New Language
by Melissa Taylor
We know the many benefits of speaking more than one language, so how can we support kids with learning a new language or reinforcing more than one language at home? One way is with bilingual children’s books.
Pro tip: Reading bilingual children’s books might even help you if you need a refresh on a second language. Which brings me to an important point: you don’t have to be a perfect, fluent speaker yourself to read books in other languages. Do your best, and if you want to improve your pronunciation, check if an audiobook option is available.
With bilingual books, you can either read one language at a time or both languages one after the other. For the latter, it’s enriching to discuss what your child notices is different between the two languages and what new words they’re learning.
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Big Little / Grande pequeño
Available from:A bald little boy shows young readers opposites, things that are big and little, such as lakes and mud puddles, trucks and trikes, trees and dandelions. “Elephants are Big. / Los elefantes son grandes.” Simple and straight forward for early learners in both English and Spanish.
(Ages 0 - 3)Also available from: -
A Nest in Springtime
Available from:Busy geese in the spring make a nest and count their eggs. One month later, the babies hatch! How many are there now? It's a darling story in both Mandarin and English. The text is Mandarin, in characters not pinyin, so you'll need to be a fluent Mandarin speaker yourself to help your child pronounce the Mandarin words in this book.
(Ages 0 - 3)Also available from: -
Baby Signs
Available from:Teach your baby essential sign language words before they can speak. For each sigh language word like “milk,” “water,” “more,” and “all-done,” see the baby illustration, step-by-step pictures, and written directions for making the sign. This is a must-own book for all parents.
(Ages 0 - 3)Also available from: -
My Very First Book of Numbers / Mi primer libro de números
Available from:How many are there? Count the fruits in English and Spanish in this interactive bilingual preschool book.
(Ages 0 - 3)Also available from: -
A Color of His Own / Su propio color
Available from:Read about recognizable animals and their colors in both English and Spanish. “Parrots are green / Los loros son verdes.” One animal and color per page makes this an exceptional choice for learning both animal names and colors in two languages.
(Ages 2 - 5)Also available from: -
Señorita Mariposa
Available from:Told in both English and Spanish, this story — in the form of a song — gives love to a pretty Monarch butterfly's migration. The butterfly flies over mountains and deserts until finally arriving in Mexico, where she joins a million butterfly friends.
(Ages 3 - 5)Also available from: -
The Cat in the Hat in English and French
Available from:Now the classic story of the mischievous Cat in the Hat is in English and French. Large text tells the story in French with smaller English translations underneath.
(Ages 3 - 7)Also available from: -
The Cat in the Hat Beginner Book Dictionary in Spanish
Available from:An illustrated dictionary with basic words, each word has an accompanying picture and is used in a sentence or phrase. The Spanish translation is below the English, with the word indicated in all caps.
(Ages 3 - 7)Also available from: -
My Papi Has a Motorcycle
Available from:The little girl and her papi take a motorcycle ride around their beautiful city, passing their church, the market, murals of history, and the old house of her abuelos. This atmospheric story, peppered with Spanish words and phrases, celebrates a changing, beloved community and a warm father-daughter relationship.
(Ages 4 - 8)Also available from: -
Are You My Mother? / ¿Eres tú mi mamá?
Available from:Remember this classic story about a baby bird searching for his mother? Now it's in English and Spanish! Because it is an early reader that uses simple text with picture clues, this is also a great beginning book choice for second language learners.
(Ages 6 - 9)Also available from: -
First French Dictionary
Full-color photographs teach readers 2,000 everyday words in categories like clothes, home, school, friends, animals, and nature. Each term includes its phonetic pronunciation and translation into English. Very visually appealing, this is an excellent resource for kids learning French.
(Ages 6 - 9) -
10 Minutes a Day French Beginners
Your child can learn French by doing short, 10-minute activities. This workbook builds vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills with fun activities.
(Ages 8 - 12) -
Get Talking Chinese
This excellent language learning book gives readers visually appealing information about Mandarin including pinyin, sounds, characters, and words and phrases in subjects like numbers, weather, and food. Even better, it comes with a CD to help you master your listening and pronunciation.
(Ages 8 - 12) -
Spanish Language Learner
Interactive games for the Spanish language learner, plus a wordbook, dictionary, grammar, and useful phrases all in one beautifully-designed book. Use the included CD to practice vocabulary and pronunciation.
(Ages 10+)
