Last updated June 6, 2019
Are you looking for the best Spanish board books to read with your child? Here are five that are Bilingual Book Mom- (and baby-) approved.
These books are perfect for the littlest ones, ages 0 to 3, and their grown-up readers, whether they speak Spanish as their first or second language. These books are not too text-heavy, have delightful illustrations, tell stories that are relevant to baby and toddler interests, and are fun to read time and time again.
1. BabyMoni Series (by Rocio Bonilla)
Okay, so technically this is more than one book, but the entire collection of BabyMoni board books are purchase-worthy. I can’t choose just one! These are a long-time favorite in the Bilingual Book Mom household, loved by both our toddler and Mommy and Daddy. We love the sweet illustrations in this series and how we get to know BabyMoni’s personality and interests as we read through the different books. Plus, each book feels relatable to me as a parent and, I imagine, to my little one, too.
- ¡Hola! offers a fun introduction to animal sounds in Spanish.
- ¡Estoy contenta! is a lighthearted look at the things that bring BabyMoni joy – like Daddy’s tickles!
- In A comer, BabyMoni gets to do what toddlers love best – be our little helpers – as she learns how to set the table for a meal.
- For slightly older toddlers, ¿De qué color es un beso? sees a slightly older Moni doing what she loves to do best – painting. In this story, she explores different colors as she tries to decide what color a kiss would be.
A fun feature of these board books is that each (with the exception of ¿De qué color es un beso?) includes a picture glossary in Spanish of some of the words featured throughout the story. My kid loves pointing at the different pictures in the glossary after reading, and if you are a parent learning Spanish alongside your child you’ll benefit from these picture glossaries, too.
2. Papá Dice (written by Margarita del Mazo and illustrated by Cecilia Moreno)
If you are raising a bilingual child in English and Spanish, chances are you already know that animal sounds can sometimes be quite different between the two languages. Take, for example, the rooster, who says “cock-a-doodle-doo” in English and “kikirikí” in Spanish. Papá Dice introduces babies and toddlers to animal sounds in Spanish with bright illustrations and short-and-sweet text that celebrates fatherly love. Each daddy animal says “I love you” to his little one in his own special way.
3. Cucú-tras ¿Quién eres? (by Yayo Kawamura)
In Spanish, we don’t say “peek-a-boo.” We say, “Cucú!” Cucú-tras ¿Quién eres? is a play on the classic peek-a-boo game, asking readers to guess what animal is hiding behind the page. For each animal, we get to see just a small clue through a die-cut of what is waiting for us when we turn the page. If your baby or toddler is anything like mine, they’ll love sticking their little fingers through the holes in each page.
This is another great pick for parents who are learning Spanish alongside their child, since you’ll both get to practice your animal vocabulary in Spanish.
4. Te Quiero (by Guido Van Genechten)
This book was published originally in Dutch, but if you are choosing between the English version (I’ll Always Hold Your Hand) and the Spanish (Te Quiero), my pick is the Spanish translation. While the illustrations and general premise are the same in each translation, there are several spreads in which the words are translated to two totally different effects. In my opinion, the Spanish feels cozier and more full of love. It’s the book I would choose for snuggling up with my little one before bedtime.
There are lots of opportunities in this book to interact with your little one as you read – by sniffing them (this always gets a laugh out of my little guy), hugging them close, playing peek-a-boo, and more.
5. Violín (by Antonio Rubio and Oscar Villán)
If you’re interested in a musical book, take a look at Violín by Antonio Rubio and Oscar Villán. This author and illustrator duo have published a number of board books for the Spanish market. Their books often have simple words that are played with through repetition and rhyme. This particular book uses onomatopoeia to bring to life the sounds musical instruments make.
Book Round-up
- BabyMoni Collection by Rocio Bonilla
- Papá Dice by Margarita del Mazo and illustrated by Cecilia Moreno
- Cucú-tras ¿Quién eres? by Yayo Kawamura
- Te Quiero by Guido van Genechten
- Violín by Antonio Rubio and Oscar Villán
