5. Stock up on bilingual books.
My House, Mi Casa by Rebecca Emberley, a book in two languages, introduces young readers to Spanish. There are basic sentences paving the way to absorbing and reinforcing language. Pages are filled with colorful images that are clearly labeled for easy understanding. Barron’s Hide and Speak Spanish is another wonderful option that’s filled with basic vocabulary words centered around a theme. The sentences are written in both English and Spanish and vocabulary words are reinforced in isolation, serving as a mini picture dictionary. For readers with a foundation in both languages, check out bilingual books written by the popular children’s writer and illustrator, Lois Ehlert. Moon Rope, adapted from a Peruvian folktale, is infused with Ehlert’s love of bold images and pre-Columbian artwork.
