We are always adding new books to this list.
updated Sept, 2023
Families know that our bilingual music classes for babies are more than just music classes, so we are always being asked what our favorite bilingual books for kids are. Here is a running list of books Mi Casa Es Tu Casa® loves. We'll keep adding titles of bilingual board books for babies and bilingual picture books for toddlers and kids. So check back!
If you're looking for digital reading resources kids can access on the iPad, we love the FabuLingua app for it's interactive approach to storytelling and the multiple ways children can engage with each book. It's clean, beautifully illustrated, easy, and high-quality. It's Mi Casa Es Tu Casa®-approved. To download the app, click here from your cell phone or tablet (it can't be downloaded through a web browser, so laptops won't work!).
If you're looking for great books to celebrate Hispanic Heritage, we've labeled the ones that stand out: Search "Celebrates Hispanic Heritage" to make it easy for you to find.
Why We Love These Bilingual kids' Books:
The Mi Casa Es Tu Casa® library of bilingual books (Spanish & English) is made up of stories that focus on connection, make us laugh, and create a sense of peace and safety. We love books that are interactive in the way they make us ask questions, point things out, and even lift flaps to find hidden surprises.
Many of these books are in rhyme. Why do babies love rhymes so much? As with music, rhymes and repetition immediately tap into an essential function in baby's brain. Babies are wired for the patterns in language and music and know they're hearing something important (and fun!) when it comes to them in rhyme. We go even more in depth about the connection between language development and musical milestones in babies and children here.
5 Tips for Reading with Your Baby or Child:
1. Slow down. Turn off your phone, and snuggle up. Take time to observe the book cover and guess what the book might be about. Always read the name of the author and the illustrator. Let your child turn the page if they want to.
2. Point out pictures of characters or objects, and ask baby to name what they are. Or be silly by pointing to an elephant and calling it a duck! Ask baby to find something on the page and do their own pointing. "Where's the fire truck?" "¿Dónde está el camión de bomberos?"
3. For toddlers and "big" kids, slide your finger along the words on the page as you read--this establishes the left-to-right reading direction, and starts word/letter recognition. Are there things on the page you can count? Count away!
4. Make connections from the book to your own lives: "Look, this little girl has a kitty cat just like we do!" Point out differences too: "That little boy lives in the country, see all of the trees and open space? Do we live in the country? Or the city?"
5. And guess what. If baby wants to read the book over again, if you have time, please do! You may be sick of the book, but there's a reason your baby wants to read the same books over and over, and it's directly related to language development. Follow their lead.
Bilingual Board Books for Babies 0-1 Year Old
Te Amo, Bebé by Stephan Lomp
Loving phrases from parent to baby, whether humans or snuggly animals, are the main refrain in this soothing book. It's not a board book, but it is an Indestructible® (waterproof, rip proof, and safe to chew).
¡Hola, Granja! by Maddie Frost
A colorful, fun way of learning animals in Spanish. Did you know animals "say" different things in Spanish? The rooster doesn't say cock-a-doodle-doo, he says quiquiriqui! If you're in a Mi Casa Es Tu Casa music class, you probably know the sounds farm animals make in Spanish. And you probably know the animal names in sign language too!
Descubriendo Animales: La Selva
by Enjoy Discovering (publisher)
Between this book, and the book about farm animals, you'll have covered a lot of animals! We love this one for how interactive it is, which makes it relevant even when baby enters toddler years.
The animals are hiding, and you have to find them, AND count them. Have fun!
¡Bebé, Vamos a Comer! by Stephen Lomp
Another from the Indestructibles® book series: light-weight and meant for heavy use by babies. This book makes connections between colors, healthy foods, and full tummies!
Colores by Roger Priddy
Simple board book with brightly colored elements from every day life for baby to gaze at and begin making associations.
The "Priddy Books" collection also includes a book of animals and another of numbers.
Su Propio Color by Leo Lionni
A color-changing chameleon forms a plan to try to stay just one color year-round. He wants to be like all the other animals he knows. Learn about colors, nature, and animals through engaging, relatable storytelling.
El Monstruo de Colores
by Anna Llenas Serra
The earlier children begin to recognize emotions, the better they'll be later on at identifying them in themselves. And that is a skill we all need because it's the starting point for processing our feelings in a healthy way.
Watch a Reading in Spanish of El Monstruo de Colores
El Sistema Solar con Ellen
by Patty Rodriguez & Ariana Stein
Celebrates Hispanic Heritage
In 1993 Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman to go to space. This brightly illustrated book uses beautiful rhyme in both English and Spanish to bring children on an adventure through our solar system from planet to planet. An inspiration!
Mi Libro de Caras by Star Bright Books
It's been proven that babies love to look at faces. And they really love to look at faces of other babies. Sadly, COVID-19 has made this particular joy more difficult. This is a special board book full of faces from around the world of babies expressing different emotions.
¿Dónde Está el Bebé? by Cheryl Christian
This bilingual board book leads parent and baby through pages of peek-a-boo. Lift the flap and discover where baby is hiding. In English we say "peek-a-boo!" when we find baby. But in Spanish we simply say, "¡Allà está el bebé!"
Interactive books like this foster a love of reading early on in children.
Besos for Baby by Jen Arena
After reading this book, your baby will be giving besos to everyone in your family, including your pets (and maybe the wind and the sun).
Most of the book is in English, but the refrain is in Spanish. A lovely way of integrating both languages.
Te Amaré por Siempre Caroline Jayne Church
This bilingual book shows baby and mommy from their very first weeks together through all the milestones up to toddlerhood. It's a wonderful opportunity for your baby to reflect on his or her own journey.
And to be reminded that along the way, they will be loved through all the growth and changes.
¿Qué Siento? by Annie Kubler
This sweet book takes baby through all the different textures of the things in the world around them, from big wet bunches of grass to warm soft furry friends and snuggly bedtime cuddles. This is a great book for practicing how things feel physically when we touch something, and that's an easy transition to talking about how we can also feel emotions on the inside.
Te Amo, Sol/Te Amo, Luna by Karen Pandell
Nature, Nature, Nature. The sweet illustrations in this book show children speaking directly to different elements in nature and simply expressing their love. Te amo, arbol. Te amo, pez. Te amo, sol. Te amo, luna. You can go deeper when you read using the illustrations and the things you love in your own life.
¡Me Gusta Cómo Soy! by Karen Beaumont
The little girl in this bilingual board book takes us through all of the things she likes about herself, inside and out, real and imagined. Through playful rhymes in English and Spanish she shows us what self love looks like!
It's never too early promote self kindness, acceptance, and love.
Nochecita by Yuyi Morales
Celebrates Hispanic Heritage
Mother Sky and Little Night are both the backdrop and the main characters in this bilingual board book as mother and baby play hide-and-seek while getting ready for bed. In a rare combination of talents, the dreamy and dusk-color illustrations were lovingly done by the author herself. We love anything by Yuyi Morales.
Watch a Reading in Spanish of Nochecita
Buenas Noches a Todos by Sandra Boynton
This bilingual board book is silly and fun, and rolls off the tongue! It's a rhythmic telling of a group of animals on a boat going through their bedtime routine all together.
¡Buenos Dias, Bebé! by DK Publishing
Routines are so important to babies and parents. This book of bright-eyed babies just starting their days takes you through what a morning routine can look like. Your baby will love seeing photos of real babies doing the same things they do at home.
Primeras 100 Palabras by Bright Baby
This brightly colored book is filled with eye-catching pictures of items from everyday life. Play with your baby while you flip through it, "Dónde está el perro?" And get points for being the hilarious parent that points to the gato and says, "¡Allià está el perro!"
El ABECEDARIO de LucÃa
by Gilberto Mariscal
LucÃa opens this beautifully illustrated book by sliding down an Arcoiris (Rainbow), and closes the book with a visit to the the Zoológico (Zoo). From A to Z, parents can read along in Spanish, or just read the sound of the letter & corresponding word This book will stay relevant for years, from daycare to preschool to kinder.
¡PÃo Peep! by F. Isabel Campoy
Celebrates Hispanic Heritage
Pio Peep is a book of poetry and traditional songs from around Latin America. You'll recognize traditional songs like "Un Elefante," and "AsserÃn, Asserán" from music classes with Mi Casa Es Tu Casa®. The colorful illustrations tell their own, playful stories for children to absorb.
Bilingual Picture Books for Toddlers & Kids 1 - 6
All the Right Things ( Todo Está Bien en MÃ) by Nena Khir
This beautiful bilingual book is special to us because it was written by a Mi Casa Es® Tu Casa mamá. Her philosophy of instilling in children the ritual of listening to themselves, saying positive affirmations out loud, and expressing your feelings, aligns perfectly with our own approach. Families can read this story when they come to the studio for class, and even purchase their own to have at home. Find the bilingual book here.
Quiero a Mi Mamá Porque...
by Lauren-Porter-Gaylord
This beautifully simple book starts off with a human mother and baby, then takes us through pages of animal mothers with their children, doing what all mothers do: protecting, snuggling, playing, feeding, and providing an environment where baby can survive and thrive.
Quiero a Mi Papá Porque...
by Lauren- Porter-Gaylord
Daddies are just as loving and giving as mommies, whether they are humans, penguins, or lions. All parents need to do is follow their instincts to earn the infinite, unconditional love of a child. No amount of ice-cream or toys, can buy this kind of love.
Un Beso en Mi Mano
By Audrey Penn
A beautiful book for mamas to read to little ones having a hard time going to school (especially for the first time). My daughter's preschool used to read the book on the first day of school and do an art project where the kids traced their hands and placed a heart (the kiss) in the middle.
Children feel secure in knowing that even when they are apart from parents, they are still there.
Avila y Los Lentes Mágicos
By Zulme Saldivia
Celebrates Hispanic Heritage
Discover the diverse beauty of Venezuela through Avila's magical glasses. The glasses, a gift from her grandmother, give her the ability to see first hand and up close where her family comes from. Mi Casa Es tu Casa® got to meet the author (& little Avila) in person! Read our signed copy of this vibrant bilingual book when you're in the studio, or order your own here.
El Dia en Que Descubres Quién Eres
By Jacqueline Woodson
Celebrates Hispanic Heritage
This book is for everyone. The story jumps around to the hearts of a little girl's new classmates on the first day of school. Each child has a different worry, a different way that they fear they won't fit in. But eventually connections are made, and bonds are formed. By telling your story, you begin to discover who you are. "el mundo se abre un poco para hacerte un lugar."
Hijito Pollito
By Marta Zafrilla
A sweet story about a little chick whose mother is a cat. Hijito Pollito tells us what his life is like living in "El Barrio Meow," looking quite different from the cats in the neighborhood, at the park, and, at school. It's a reminder that mom is mom, whether you grew in her belly or not. Hijito Pollitos loves himself and embraces his differences.
Hija
By Ariel Andrés Almada
This story, narrated by a father, marvels, page-by-page at all of the stages of childhood he and his daughter are going and will go through together. It's playful, honest, and a great window for parents to make text-to-life connections.
Hijo
by Ariel Andrés Almada
We love the balance of the two books Hijo and Hija. The message is not different just because one child is a boy and one is a girl, both books create sweeping, beautiful worlds of how precious and magical life is, from babyhood to childhood, both are warm, nurturing, and comforting. Here's one you can use to snuggle up with your son.
La Gallina Cocorina
By Mar Pavón
An absent-minded mother hen feels like she does everything wrong (and it seems the entire world thinks so too). But in this role-reversal story, it's her baby chicks that comfort her, "we love you just the way you are." A soothing, hilarious book for the over-extended mama to read with her loving, doting children. Written in rhyme.
What If... (Qué Tal Si)
by Thierry Lenain & Olivier Tallec
This book is in English, but it's one of our favorites, so we produced a reading of the book in Spanish for you.
In this story you'll enjoy the world through a child's eyes and by the end, you may see the world in a completely different way.
What a Reading in Spanish of What If...
¡Vivan Las Uñas de Colores!
By Alicia Acosta
Juan loves painting his nails different colors. It makes him feel happy! His parents and his friends like to join him in painting nails. But when he gets made fun of at school and stops wearing painted nails to school, he loses a part of himself. In school, everyone misses the old Juan. See what they do to get him back.
Con Tango son Tres
By Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
This is the real story of Roy and Silo, two male penguins that live in NYC Central Park Zoo. They have coupled up, and even imitate the penguins in male/female relationships by building a nest and trying to hatch egg-like rocks. Little Tango is what happens when a scientist slips a real egg into the nest they've made. An easily relatable story about why it doesn't matter what gender your parents are, only that they love you. Find the bilingual book here.
Familias Llenas de Amor
By Sophie Beer
The opening to this book says it all: "Whether you have one parent, two moms, two dads, a mom and a dad, or another wonderful caregiver, there's one thing that makes every family a family...and that's love!"
A beautiful reference for normalizing the wide variety of families out there.
Ve, Perro. ¡Ve!
By P.D. Eastman
This is a wonderful book for anyone learning language--it gives written and visual examples of going over and under, stopping and going, speeding up and slowing down. Whether you're riding on a scooter, a bike, in a car, or walking, it's all things "go!" This book is also so helpful to anyone learning Spanish as a new language -- no matter your age!
El Pez Arcoiris Descubre el Mar Profundo
By Marcus Pfister
The series of books about el Pez Arcoiris are beautifully illustrated. All of the books center around topics that little children deal with all the time: sharing, being afraid, accepting others, and wanting to be accepted.
In this book, el Pez Arcoiris has to go into the deep ocean where "strange" creatures live. Despite his friends' warnings about how different those creatures are, el Pez Arcoiris leads with an open heart.
Señorita Mariposa
By Ben Gundersheimer
Follow the incredible journey of the monarch butterfly from Canada to Mexico. Señorita Mariposa, along with thousands of her friends, makes her way over both the countryside and big cities, stopping in any green, flowery space possible. Reminds us how important it is to plant butterfly-friendly plants to help them in their journey.
First Thousand Words in Spanish
Illustrated by Stephen Cartwright
This intricate picture dictionary for children is mesmerizing. Each page is a different scene from life (a kitchen, a farm, a backyard, a garage...). But all of the characters are busy doing things and interacting with each other.
The vocab is written in the border around the scene which makes for fun hide-&-seek opportunities!
Te Quiero Noche y DÃa
This book, written in rhyme, and beautifully illustrated, uses space, environment, and time to describe the deep, profound level of love that exists between parent and child.
We love books that use metaphors and visualization to describe the indescribable.
Watch a Reading in Spanish of Te Quiero Noche y DÃa
Tito Puente: Rey del Mambo
By Monica Brown
Celebrates Hispanic Heritage
This lively bilingual book follows the story of musician Tito Puente from his youth in Spanish Harlem in NYC where he was born with a need to make rhythm all the way to his success as the "King of Mambo."
Me llamo Celia: La vida de Celia Cruz
By Monica Brown
Celebrates Hispanic Heritage
This book, beautifully illustrated by Rafael López, tells the story of the life of Celia Cruz from her point of view. Its lyrical storytelling promises to "make you feel like dancing!" Winner of the Américas Book Award, the story brings home how important Celia Cruz's roots in her family, her language, and her country were to her as she rose into the salsa star that she became.
Sin ti
By Genevieve Coté
Getting into arguments with friends is part of life. This simple story follows Conejo y Cerdito as they work their way through a tense moment. Sometimes we need to take space to realize what we really need.
Rosita y Conchita
By Eric Gonzalez & Erich Haeger
Celebrates Hispanic Heritage
A beautiful story to pull out around November 1st & 2nd for El Dia del Los Muertos. But also wonderful for any time of year as it covers loss, sisterhood, and how to keep remembering loved ones even as life moves on.
El Chocolate de Abuelita
By Mara Price
Celebrates Hispanic Heritage
A bilingual story about the deep connections food, smell, and taste can create within family. A great book for learning about and celebrating Hispanic heritage.
La Liebre y La Tortuga
Adapted by Teresa Mlawer
A favorite story we all know so well with a moral we are all constantly learning and re-learning! Faster isn’t always better.
Enjoy a reading of the book in Spanish below, with the Mi Casa Es Tu Casa® song in Spanish based on the story. Enroll in our Online Spanish Music classes to learn Spanish with your baby.
Watch a Reading in Spanish of La Liebre y La Tortuga
Dos Niños en un Velero
by Ana Maria Russell
Illustrated by Bojana Stojanovic
This book was written by one of our wonderful Mi Casa Es Tu Casa® mothers. As she was working on the book we connected her with our illustrator, Bojana, and together they've produced a beautiful bilingual book about adventure and imagination between two bothers.
Gracias - Thanks
by Pat Mora
Illustrated by John Parra
Celebrates Hispanic Heritage
Winner of Pura Belpré Award
This bilingual book is about how marvelous and meaningful life's details are. It's not just being thankful for a baby sibling. It's being thankful for the way they make you fall over laughing when they spit out their peas. After this read, take a moment with your child to observe details that you love about each other that you might not have mentioned out loud before.