Spanish-Language Children's Books

This bibliography is a selected list of Spanish language children's literature for use in the K-8 classroom. Some of the books are bilingual, while others appear entirely in Spanish.

• Big Books with Teaching Guides
• Juvenile Collection
• Picture Books
• Juvenile Fiction
• Non-Fiction
• Bibliographies

Big Books with Teaching Guides

Baer, E. (1993). Así vamos a la escuela: Un libro acerca de niños en diferentes países del mundo (A.E. Marcuse, Trans.). New York: Scholastic.

Children within the U.S. and around the world travel to school in many different ways! The text is enhanced by rhyming poetry and watercolor illustrations. (Grades PreK-3).

Call Number: [Big Book] P J Bae

Crews, D. (1991). El autob&uiacute;s escolar (G.R. Koch, Trans.). New York: Scholastic.

What are school buses like? Where do they travel? This story explains the daily duties of school buses from morning to evening. (Grades PreK-2).

Call Number: [Big Book] P J Cre

Guarino, D. (1993). ¿Tu mamá es una llama? (A.E. Marcuse, Trans.) New York: Scholastic.

A young llama is very curious, so he asks his animal friends whether their mothers are also llamas. This narrative rhyming poem encourages self-discovery. (Grades PreK-2).

Call Number: [Big Book] P J Gua

Marzollo, J. (1993). Feliz cumpleaños, Martin Luther King (A. Romo, Trans.). New York: Scholastic.

This pictoral biography of the civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr., explains his personal development, his philosophy, his assassination, and his legacy. (Grades K-3).

Call Number: [Big Book] jB Kin 1993

Morris, A. (1993). En marcha. New York: Scholastic.

All over the world, objects and people are transported in many different ways! Through each illustration and description, the reader explores this diversity. (Grades PreK-3).

Call Number: [Big Book] P J Mor

Williams, V.B. (1993). Un sillón para mi mamá. New York: Scholastic.

When a fire consumes their home, a young girl finds hope in the face of tragedy. She helps her family save money in order to purchase a new, comfortable chair. (Grades 1-4).

Call Number: [Big Book] P J Wil

Young, E. (1995). Siete ratones ciegos. New York: Scholastic.

Seven blind mice spend seven days exploring the shapes and patterns of a mystery animal. When the final discovery is made, there is a lesson to learn. (Grades PreK-3).

Call Number: [Big Book] j398.2 You 1995

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Juvenile Collection

Picture Books:

Blanco, A. (1994). Angel's kite=La estrella de Angel (D. Bellm, Trans.). Emeryville, CA: Children's Book Press.

A young boy recreates the image of his town's lost bell on a very special handcrafted kite. When the wind carries the kite away, the bell inexplicably reappears. (Grades 1-4).

Call Number: P J Bla

Blanco, A. (1994). The desert mermaid=La sirena del desierto (B. Paschke, Trans.). Emeryville, CA: Children's Book Press.

Enchanted desert animals help a lone mermaid remember the traditional songs of her people. In so doing, the mermaid finds that she is not really alone. (Grades 1-4).

Call Number: P J Bla

Brimner, L.D. (2000). ¡Gatitos! (J.M. Córdova, Trans.). New York: Children's Press.

When a young girl invites a group of cats to join her for playtime, she must keep pace with their mischevious feline antics! (Grades PreK-1).

Call Number: P J Bri

Col&oactute;n-Vilá, L. (1998). Salsa. Houston, TX: Piñata Books.

A young girl explores her Afro-Caribbean heritage through her family's celebration of salsa music-playing instruments, dancing, and directing the orchestra. (Grades PreK-3).

Call Number: P J Col

Cumpiano, I. (1997). Cu-Cú, cu-cú, cantaba la rana. New York: Macmillan/McGraw-Hill.

A parade of animals playing musical instruments marches into the woods and waits for a singing frog to emerge from the pond to accompany their orchestra. (Grades PreK-3).

Call Number: P J Cum

Dorros, A. (1993). Radio man: A story in English and Spanish=Don Radio: Un cuento en inglés y español (S.M. Dorros, Trans.). New York: Harper Collins.

Diego's radio keeps him grounded as he travels with his Mexican-American family following the harvest for work picking fruits and vegetables. (Grades 1-5).

Call Number: P J Dor

Marx, D.F. (2000). ¿Qué está arriba cuando estás abajo? New York: Children's Press.

A series of questions about opposites draw attention to the ins and outs of a young boy's quiet day at home. The answers come alive in the illustrations. (Grades PreK-1).

Call Number: P J Mar

Masurel, C. (1997). ¡No, Tito, no! (D. Lasconi, Trans.). New York: Ediciones Norte-Sur.

A farmer and his family have just adopted a new puppy named Tito! Tito wants to be a good dog and help on the farm, but he must discover his own way. (Grades PreK-2).

Call Number: P J Mas

Meister, C. (2000). ¡Detenlo a ese gato! New York: Children's Press.

A young girl tries to stop her cat from getting into mischief. Young readers will learn simple antonyms as they follow illustrations of the two at play. (Grades PreK-K).

Call Number: P J Mei

Miller, E.I. (1999). Just like home=Como en mi tierra (T. Mlawer, Trans.). Morton Grove, IL: A. Whitman.

When a young girl moves to the U.S., she compares her new experiences with what things were like at home in her country until she begins to feel at ease. (Grades 1-3).

Call Number: P J Mil

Pearson, M. (2000). ¿Dónde está Max? (J.M. Córdova, Trans.). New York: Children's Press.

The class gerbil is not in his cage! The students join together to look for Max. They look near and far until one child discovers a way to bring Max home (Grades PreK-1).

Call Number: P J Pea

Pérez-Mercado, M.M. (2000). ¡Zas! New York: Children's Press.

When a young girl enlists her father's help to make a cake, nothing can be more messy. Splash! The icing lands everywhere-but on the cake. (Grades PreK-2).

Call Number: P J Per

Petrie, C. (2000). A Jaime Josué le gustan los camiones. Chicago: Children's Press.

Jaime Josué enjoys playing with various kinds of trucks. Beginning readers will learn simple adjectives as they join this young boy for playtime. (Grades PreK-1).

Call Number: P J Pet

Reiser, L. (1998). Tortillas and lullabies=Tortillas y cancioncitas (R. Hart, Trans.). New York: Greenwood Books.

A young Costa Rican girl realizes that love between mothers and daughters is passed on from generation to generation, as is her family's heritage. (Grades PreK-3).

Call Number: P J Rei

Torres, L. (1998). Las abuelas de Liliana. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.

Liliana shares a special closeness with each of her grandmothers. Although their customs are quite different, their happiness and love are much the same. (Grades PreK-2).

Call Number: P J Tor

Torres, L. (1995). El sancocho del sábado. New York: Scholastic.

Hope, faith, and skillful bartering ensure that María Lilí and her grandparents do not go hungry. They enjoy a traditional Saturday dinner-chicken sancocho. (Grades PreK-3).

Call Number: P J Tor

Van West, P.E. (1998). El hombre de los cangrejos (M. Arisa, Trans.). New York: Turtle Books.

A young Jamaican boy catches hermit crabs and sells them to help his family. When he learns that the crabs are being mistreated, he must make a difficult choice. (Grades 1-4).

Call Number: P J Van

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Juvenile Fiction:

Altman, L. (1993). El camino de Amelia (D. Santacruz, Trans.). New York: Lee & Low.

Amelia, a child of migrant farm workers, believed that every road led away from a potential home-until she found a connection to one special place. (Grades 3-5).

Call Number: J Alt

Anzaldúa, G. (1993). Friends from the other Side=Amigos del otro lado. San Francisco: Children's Book Press.

A young girl's compassion triumphs over prejudice when she befriends a boy who has just crossed the border from Mexico into Texas. (Grades 3-5).

Call Number: J Anz

Garcia, M. (1994). The adventures of Connie and Diego=Las aventuras de Connie y Diego (A.F. Ada, Trans.). Emeryville, CA: Children's Book Press.

When a pair of twins with multicolored skin search for a place where no one will ridicule them, they learn an important lesson about humanity and belonging. (Grades 1-4).

Call Number: J Gar

Mistral, G. (1972). Crickets and frogs: A fable by Gabriela Mistral in Spanish and English=Grillos y ranas: Una fábula de Gabriela Mistral en español e inglés (D. Dana, Trans.). New York: Atheneum.

Old Cricket, afraid that his chirp will be lost in a sea of cricket song, regains his identity when a singing competition begins between the crickets and the frogs. (Grades 3-6).

Call Number: J Mis

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Non Fiction:

Ada, A.F., & Campoy, F.I. (Eds.). (2003). ¡Pío peep!: Traditional Spanish nursery rhymes (Adapted by A. Schertle). New York: Harper Collins.

The nursery rhymes included in this anthology were initially composed in Spanish. English adaptations maintain the spirit of the original rhymes. (Grades PreK-1).

Call Number: j398.8 Pio

Alarcón, F.X. Laughing tomatoes and other spring poems=Jitomates risueños y otros poemas de primavera. San Francisco: Children's Book Press/Libros para niños.

This bilingual collection of poems celebrates childhood, the harvest, wildlife, and history. It is unified by its theme as well as its recurring illustrations. (Grades 1-3).

Call Number: j811.54 Ala

Carlson, L.M. (Ed.). (1999). You're on!: Seven plays in English and Spanish. New York: Morrow Junior Books.

This bilingual anthology of children's plays represents a wide variety of works by an equally diverse set of playwrights from the U.S., Spain, and Latin America. (Grades 3-6).

Call Number: j812.008 You

Cruz Martinez, A. (1991). The woman who outshone the sun: The legend of Lucia Zenteno=La mujer que brillaba aún más que el sol: La leyenda de Lucía Zenteno. San Francisco: Children's Book Press.

A mysterious woman shares an inexplicable bond with nature. When villagers reject her, the river empowers her to teach a valuable lesson about kindness. (Grades 3-6).

Call Number: j398.21 Cru

DeSpain, P. (1999). The emerald lizard: Fifteen Latin American tales to tell in English and Spanish=La lagartija esmeralda: Quince cuentos tradicionales latinoamericanos (M. Lamo-Jiménez, Trans.). Little Rock, AR: August House.

DeSpain retells fifteen Latin American folk stories in this bilingual anthology. The stories in this collection represent a broad range of regions and cultures. (Grades 4-7).

Call Number: j398.2 Des

Fowler, A. (1992). El olor de las cosas (A.E. Marcuse, Trans.). Chicago: Children's Press.

Why can we tell the difference between the smell of soap and the smell of freshly cut grass? The nose knows! Young readers explore the sense of smell. (Grades 1-2).

Call Number: j152.1 Fow

Garza, C.L. (1996). In my family=En mi familia (F.X. Alarcón, Trans.). San Francisco: Children's Book Press.

Paintings and stories combine to tell an autobiographic tale about growing up as a Mexican-American in a border town in Texas. (Grades 3-5).

Call Number: j306.85 Gar

Garza, C.L. (1999). Magic windows: Cut-paper art and stories by Carmen Lomas Garza=Ventanas mágicas: Papel picado y relatos de Carmen Lomas Garza (F.X. Alarcón, Trans.). San Francisco: Children's Book Press.

The author explores her Mexican heritage through cut-paper art. Each piece of artwork includes a literary explanation of its significance to her cultural roots. (Grades 4-7).

Call Number: j306.85 Gar

González, L.M. (1994). The bossy gallito=El gallo de bodas. New York: Scholastic.

Will the bossy little rooster miss his parrot uncle's wedding? Since he soiled his beak, he must enlist the help of his friends to clean it before the wedding starts. (Grades PreK-2).

Call Number: j398.2 Gon

Loya, O. (1997). Momentos Mágicos=Magic Moments (C. Lizardi-Rivera, Trans.). Little Rock, AR: August House.

This bilingual anthology of stories and folktales from Latin America contains topics such as scary stories, tricksters, strong women, and myths. (Grades 4-9).

Call Number: j398.2 Loy

Rau, D.M. (2000). Las manos. New York: Children's Press.

A birthday party is a exciting place for a group of young children to learn the tremendous value and many uses for their hands. (Grades PreK-1).

Call Number: j612.98 Rau

Resnick, S. (Ed.). (1962). Selections from Spanish poetry. Irvington-on-Hudson, NY: Harvey House.

This bilingual anthology contains excerpts from the best of traditional Spanish poetry, ranging from the medieval period through the nineteenth century. (Grades 6-12).

Call Number: j861.08 Res

Rohmer, H., & Guerrero Rea, J. (1988). Atariba & Niguayona: A story from the Taino people of Puerto Rico (R. Zubizarreta, Trans.). San Francisco: Children's Book Press.

Niguayona is saddened by the illness of his best friend Atariba. He courageously sets out to find the healing fruit of the tall caimoni tree in order to save her life. (Grades 2-4).

Call Number: j398.208 Roh 1988

Rohmer, H., & Wilson, D. (1987). Mother scorpion country: A legend from the Miskito Indians of Nicaragua=La tierra de la madre escorpión: Una leyenda de los Indios Miskitos de Nicaragua (R. Zubizarreta & A.F. Ada, Trans.). San Francisco: Children's Book Press.

Naklili loves his wife Kati so much that he refuses to abandon her, even to death. After a mysterious visit to the land of the dead, he finds a way to return to Kati. (Grades 3-5).

Call Number: j398.2 Roh

Tabor, N. (2000). Ve lo que dices: Modismos en español e inglés=See what you say: Spanish and English idioms. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.

This bilingual picture book of idioms explains the concept of a figure of speech and compares idioms with similar meanings in both English and Spanish. (Grades 1-3).

Call Number: j428.2 Tab

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Bibliographies of Children's Books

Available in the CMC Reference Room.

Dale, D.G. (2003). Bilingual children's books in English and Spanish: An annotated bibliography, 1942 - 2001. Jefferson, NC: McFarland.

Call Number: Curr. Mats. Ref. Z1037.7 .D36 2003

Recommended readings in Spanish literature: Kindergarten through grade eight. (1991). Sacramento, CA: California Department of Education.

Call Number: Curr.Mats. Ref. PN1009.A1 R41 1991

Schon, I. (1993). Books in Spanish for children and young adults: An annotated guide=Libros infantiles y juveniles en español: Una guía anotada. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press.

Call Number: Curr.Mats. Ref. Z1037.7 .S385 1993

Schon, I. (2000). Recommended books in Spanish for children and young adults: 1996 through 1999. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.

Call Number: Curr.Mats. Ref. Z1037.7 .S387 2000

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