Primary (ages 6-9)

Material appropriate for primary age groups

Eight Animals On The Town

Susan Middleton Elya, whose first book, Say Hola to Spanish, was hailed in a starred Kirkus review as “innovative, useful and fun”, has taken her trademark seamless union of English and Spanish to new heights with this fun-filled, rhyming story. It’s a great day out for eight eager animals–ocho animales–who travel to the market to find their supper–including queso (cheese) for the mouse and hierba (grass) for the cow–and then dance the night away at the baile. Introducing Spanish words for numbers, foods, the names of animals, and other simple words and phrases, this book is perfect for non-Spanish speakers as well as Spanish-speakers learning English.

Lee Chapman’s bright and funny paintings, inspired by Mexican folk art, enhance the language and humor of this delightful story.

Remembering Grandma / Recordando a Abuela

A poignant bilingual picture book about the death of a grandmother Like most Saturdays, Mr. García’s rooster wakes Lorena much earlier than she wants to wake up. Lorena pulls the covers over her head to block out the day, but she knows she has to get up. Today is no ordinary Saturday. She and her mother will be going to Grandpa’s house. Since Grandma’s recent death, everything has changed for Lorena. Her mother often cries, and Grandpa sits motionless in his chair staring out the window. Though Mamá says Grandma must be in heaven, Lorena misses Grandma, too. She can’t see or touch heaven. Where is Grandma? At Grandpa’s house, Lorena tries to help him stop grieving, but not even Grandma’s miracle words, “sana, sana, colita de rana…” work. How can Lorena help Grandpa? Lorena notices a beatiful carved chest in the corner of the room. When Lorena opens it, she sees a tangle of colors, fabrics, and keepsakes from when Grandma was alive.

America (Lee And Low): A Book Of Opposites/Un Libro De Contrarios

Illustrated by ten talented and ethnically varied children’s book artists, this new edition celebrates in words (both Spanish and English) and images what America is all about: diversity. Young children are led through a land of opposites, where they learn how to differentiate between high and low, wet and dry, and rough and smooth.

By the Dawn’s Early Light – Spanish (Libros Colibri)

This Spanish translation of the gentle story By the Dawn’s Early Light reflects an experience familiar to many Spanish-speaking children: life in a household where the parent works at night. There isn’t much time to see Mama; but sometimes, early in the morning, Raquel hears her mother come home. She wakes her brother and they go downstairs to share some quiet time with Mama. Full color.

Pio Peep!: Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes

A collection of more than two dozen nursery rhymes in Spanish, from Spain and Latin America, with English translations.