Now that I am a mom, I am always on the hunt for children’s books in Spanish to read with my kids. And NOT the books that are “Baby’s 1st 100 Words in Spanish” or translations of popular books in English (although some of those can be good). I’m looking for children’s books Spanish families would love… books that naturally rhyme, books that share culture, and books that my kids want to read over and over again.
I was not expecting the search for these children’s books in Spanish to be so difficult. So, over the past few years, I have been adding to our book collection and wanted to share with you my favorite Spanish books for kids. Your family will love reading these stories together. Plus, these books make perfect gifts for baby showers for Spanish-speaking families or your Spanish teacher colleagues who want to speak Spanish at home with their own kids.
Spanish teachers can also build a classroom library with these simple children’s books. After all, that is how our kids learn at home, so why should our classroom be any different? Here are some ways to save money and find cheap books to build a classroom library on a budget. And here are my favorite Spanish children’s books for teaching grammar concepts.
Spanish Books for Infants and Board Books
These libros infantiles are best for newborns, infants, and young toddlers. Many are board books Spanish language versions, and some are indestructible.
Te Quiero Mucho, Hasta Mañana
“Te Quiero Mucho, Hasta Mañana” by Caroline Jayne Church might be one of my favorite books to read at bedtime. I purchased it at a Scholastic Warehouse book sale. Now, it is not available on Amazon, but you can find it used on eBay or other used book websites. The sweet rhythm and rhyme are relaxing and set the tone for a calm bedtime routine. From “nos enjabonamos de la cabeza a los pies” to “leemos un cuento metidos en la cama,” you will go step by step through your bedtime routine in Spanish.
The author, has written other books, like Te amaré por siempre, Te quiero, yo te quiero, Con todo mi corazón, te quiero. I haven’t read these yet, but based on reviews and the samples I read online, I will be adding them to my wishlist!
Spanish Music Books: Sol solecito and others
I was given “Sol Solecito” from a Spanish teacher friend for the birth of my second baby. And it quickly became one of her favorite books. It is a musical book where you press the button and hear a variety of Spanish nursery rhymes. Since my daughter loved it so much, we purchased “Los pollitos dicen,” and it is a hit, too! At age one, she is pressing the buttons on her own and even moving her hands to The Itsy Bitsy Spider and The Wheels on the Bus – in Spanish! There are classic Spanish nursery rhymes along with translations of popular English ones. There is also a lullaby book by the same company.
Sandra Boyton Books in Spanish
It is hard to find my favorite rhyming books in English that are equivalent with rhymes in Spanish. Well, Sandra Boyton’s Moo, Baa, La La La or “Muu Bee Así Fue ” did a great job! This book maintains its rhyme and its fun…
Hipopótama Feliz, Pato Enojado doesn’t rhyme but it teaches emotion words in a fun way.
Buenas Noches, Luna
Goodnight Moon is probably the most famous children’s book in English because of its calming tone and easy rhyming pattern. The Spanish version is not as effective with the rhyme, but I love having it in our library. Our dog’s name is Luna so we have a special connection to it.
Besos for Baby – bilingual book for babies
This is a bilingual book, mostly in English, but with Besos for Baby, your babies will learn “besos” so quickly! With a lot of repetition with the word “besos” and common people and things in nature, it is a sweet book to sneak in lots of besos as you read!
Spanish Numbers Books
When learning numbers, Contando con Frida is a super simple book, but really good for learning numbers. Plus, it introduces Frida Kahlo to your kids from an early age! The first page is una casa azul for the number one – it is all about Frida!
Did you really think I could make this list without one Llama Llama book? Llama llama números is all about cleaning up. The rhyme isn’t perfect but there are a lot of good vocabulary words for kids to learn in Spanish like bloques and pelotas.
Quiero a mi…
The book, Quiero a mi Mamá porque, (you can also get Quiero a mi Papá porque) is written in simple sentences with illustrations of mom and dad animals taking care of their babies. These are sweet gifts for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. It also makes a perfect set of books for a baby shower!
Indestructible Books
My kids always put books in their mouths.The amount of books on their bookshelves with bite marks and soggy corners is unbelievable. If you can relate, then Indestructible Books are a must-have! These books are “Chew Proof · Rip Proof · Nontoxic · 100% Washable.” And they are right!!! My kids have never ripped these books and boy have they tried!
These are the Spanish Indestructibles we have: Te amo, bebé, Hola granja, Bebé, vamos a comer,
Te amo, bebé taught me a lot of words for taking care of a baby like cuddling, rocking, etc.
But I just discovered there are some others, like Elmo dice “sorpresa” – and my kids are obsessed with Sesame Street, so I’ll be buying this one. There is also one for teaching colors. Bebé, ve los colores.
Spanish Books for Toddlers and Young Kids
These children’s Spanish books are best suited for toddlers and young kids. They are a little bit longer or are children’s Spanish story books with less rhyme and rhythm.
Eric Carle Books
Getting your kids up and moving when learning a language is important. They will associate movements with the phrase they are learning. So, with this book, kids will say “arqueo la espalda como un gato” or “piso muy fuerte como un elefante.” My son loves doing the movements with me when we read “De la cabeza a los pies.”
“Oso pardo, oso pardo, ¿qué ves ahí?” illustrated by Eric Carle is perfect for teaching colors in Spanish. It lends itself to lots of fun activities, too!
El conejo escuchó
The English version of “El conejo escuchó,” was given to us by my kindergarten teacher (now a close family friend). She said her students always voted this as one of their favorites during their March book bracket. And I can understand why. The empathy and lessons learned in this sweet story are relatable to young kids.
Las Aventuras de Marie y LeeLee
This sweet story about friendship, tells the tale of Las aventuras de Marie y Leelee. Check out my full review on this book on my blog post. The illustrations are especially beautiful. This makes the perfect gift to give to your best friend when they are having a baby – it is all about friendship!
Say hola to Spanish
This book, Say hola to Spanish, makes reading really fun! It is bilingual, but with the rhythm, humor, illustrations, and culture, it is one of my favorites! I love it so much, I bought the sequel – “Say Hola to Spanish otra vez.”
Elephant and Piggie Books in Spanish
Elephant and Piggie books are some of my absolute favorites to read, in English or Spanish. Mo Willems is a genius and makes reading aloud extra fun for young kids. I love that when you read his books, you can sense the tone, volume, and emotion just from the speech bubbles. So, when I read the Spanish versions, my kids can actually get a better understanding of what is going on because of the voices I use to read. My top 3 favorite Elephant and Piggie books are “¿Puedo jugar yo también?” “¿Debo compartir mi helado?” and “Esperar no es fácil.”
Let me know what books I should add to my children’s Spanish book collection! I’m always on the hunt for more.
And while you’re looking for children’s books in Spanish, if you are trying to add some more Spanish to your nursery or kids’ play room, I created posters that are motivational, cute, and in the target language! Print them out, frame them, and hang them near your reading corner!
- Tú eres… único, amado, brillante, etc.
- Nunca dejes de… explorar, jugar, aprender, etc.
- Sé… amable, curioso, fuerte, etc. with animal images
If you purchase any of these books, I may receive a small affiliate commission. Thank you for your support.
