There are so many factors to consider when choosing multilingual series books. Typography, translation, layout, imagery, and other design features play a critical role in how multilingual resources are accessed and used. This season’s Spanish series cover lots of exciting, specialized topics for early readers and are well translated for settings where Spanish-only books might be especially useful. Bilingual series feature text and typography that will be easy for early and developing readers to interpret, while also incorporating elements that help build early literacy skills. Virtually all of these series hit the mark on translation, representation of diversity, layout, and text readability, but one that may be of special interest is Jump!/Bullfrog’s “¿De dónde viene? (Where Does It Come From?),” a unique series that will satisfy curious readers, available in both a bilingual and Spanish-only format. Although most of these series are appropriate for beginning readers in the early elementary grades, there are plenty of choices for educators who want to keep their collections relevant and responsive to all readers.

Elementary

Adams, Kenneth. Compartir con los demás / Sharing with Others. ISBN 9781725312333.
––––. Decir hola y adiós / Hello and Goodbye. ISBN 9781725312401.
––––. Escuchar a los demás / Listening to Others. ISBN 9781725312357.
––––. Por favor y gracias / Please and Thank You. ISBN 9781725312371.
ea vol: tr. from English by Natzi Vilchis. 24p. (Ser educado / Being Polite). Rosen/PowerKids. Aug. 2021. Tr. $23.60.
K-Gr 3 –This bilingual series provides practical suggestions for ways kids can share, listen to others, say please and thank you, and say hello and goodbye. Stories are told from a first-person point of view and feature two characters who show each other good manners. In the book about sharing, Heather demonstrates how she shares with others by taking turns, letting friends use her toys, and sharing her art supplies in class. In the book about saying please and thank you, Lucas says please and thank you at home, at the grocery store, and in ballet class. Multiracial and diverse families are represented in this series, and Spanish text appears directly above the English text, helping children draw comparisons between words in both languages. Even with all of the text appearing on the same page, there’s still plenty of white space around words, aiding in word recognition, comprehension, and second language acquisition. This series is also available in Spanish-only format. VERDICT An all-around great choice for a collection that serves children who are learning English as a second ­language, and all readers who benefit from multilingual books.

Bender, Douglas. Arroyos. ISBN 9781039614345.
––––. Canales. ISBN 9781039614291.
––––. Estanques. ISBN 9781039614321.
––––. Lagos. ISBN 9781039614307.
––––. Océanos. ISBN 9781039614314.
––––. Ríos. ISBN 9781039614338.
ea vol: tr. from English by Pablo de la Vega. 16p. (Cuerpos de agua). Crabtree/Roots. Jul. 2021. Tr. $22.60.
K-Gr 2 –Different water elements, including oceans, canals, ponds, lakes, rivers, and creeks are explored in detail in this Spanish series. Using simple sentences, the books present facts about what kinds of plants and animals live in each type of water feature, how humans interact with water, and the natural elements that surround bodies of water. New words are bolded and are included in the picture glossary at the end of each book. Comprehension questions for before, during, and after reading, such as, “What do you think this book is about?” and “What have you learned in this chapter/up until now?” are included at the beginning of each book, giving caregivers ideas and opportunities to engage with readers. Large color photographs appear on almost every page, with some text appearing alongside pictures, while in other cases text appears on its own. ­VERDICT A good choice for larger collections that serve Spanish-speaking learners in the early elementary grades.

Connors, Kathleen. ¿Cómo crece el pasto? (How Does Grass Grow?). ISBN 9781538268278.
––––. ¿Cómo crecen las zanahorias? (How Do Carrots Grow?). ISBN 9781538268117.
––––. ¿Cómo crecen los árboles de arce? (How Do Maple Trees Grow?). ISBN 9781538268155.
––––. ¿Cómo crecen los girasoles? (How Do Sunflowers Grow?). ISBN 9781538268230.
––––. ¿Cómo crecen los pinos? (How Do Pine Trees Grow?). ISBN 9781538268193.
––––. ¿Cómo crecen los plátanos? (How Do Bananas Grow?). ISBN 9781538268070.
ea vol: tr. from English by Diana Osorio. 24p. [¿Cómo crece? (How Does It Grow?)]. Gareth Stevens. Aug. 2021. Tr. $22.60.
PreS-K –How do bananas grow? Where do sunflowers come from? Why are carrots orange and sometimes yellow? Early emerging readers will discover answers to these questions and more in this six-book series that provides basic facts about where things come from and how they grow. The origins of maple trees, pine trees, grass, carrots, sunflowers, and bananas are presented in well-translated Spanish text and pictures that correspond perfectly with concepts, ideas, and questions posed to readers. Thoughtful prompts for further discussion and exploration between caregiver and child, like “How do seeds get planted?” and “Why does grass need water and sun?” make this series great for independent reading as well as group read-alouds. This series is also available in a bilingual format. VERDICT Children who speak and read Spanish as their first language have more reading choices thanks to this series about recognizable, everyday things in nature.

Conn, Marla & Alma Patricia Ramirez. ¡El agua está en todos lados! ISBN 9781731649218.
––––. ¡Empújalo! ISBN 9781731649195.
––––. ¡Jálalo! ISBN 9781731649188.
––––. ¿Qué es un sólido? ISBN 9781731649225.
––––. Los objetos que no son seres vivos. ISBN 9781731649171.
––––. Los seres vivos. ISBN 9781731649164.
––––. Máquinas simples. ISBN 9781731649201.
––––. Puedo correr. ISBN 9781731649140.
––––. Puedo nadar. ISBN 9781731649157.
––––. Puedo saltar. ISBN 9781731648969.
ea vol: 16p. (Listos para las ciencias A). Rourke/Ready Readers. Aug. 2021. Tr. $22.79.
K-Gr 3 –Uncommon words and ideas take the spotlight in this fascinating and innovative series, which presents categories of things and activities, and groups similar concepts, ideas, and activities together in each book. In the title about simple machines, readers learn that ramps, zippers, grocery carts, and bottle caps are all examples of simple machines. In the book about things that jump, readers learn about kangaroos, rabbits, dolphins, and spiders. Each concept gets its own mini-chapter, but text is very sparse in this series—it’s limited to one sentence per page—making it a great choice for a variety of ages. Books aren’t limited to one category of things or ideas, which will help readers draw associations between things they touch and use every day and things they see or experience in the natural world. More advanced learners will benefit from the activities at the end of each book, which are designed to help kids remember what they learned. ­VERDICT A standout second language series that inspires all kinds of creative thinking and makes a great addition to round out any collection.


Conn, Marla & Alma Patricia Ramirez. ¡Reutilízalo! ISBN 9781731649270.
––––. ¿Dónde está el gas? ISBN 9781731649263.
––––. Haz que se mueva. ISBN 9781731648976.
––––. Herramientas para ciencias. ISBN 9781731649256.
––––. Los animales necesitan comida. ISBN 9781731649232.
––––. Los animales necesitan refugio. ISBN 9781731649249.
ea vol: 16p. (Listos para las ciencias B). Rourke/Ready Readers. Aug. 2021. Tr. $22.79.
K-Gr 3 –Basic scientific concepts and their applications in a variety of contexts are presented in this Spanish series for the early elementary grades. Consistent with “Listos para ciencias/Ready for Science A,” the second installment continues in the same innovative format to show how various scientific elements and ideas, like recycling, tools used in scientific inquiry, and how things move, relate to other objects and aspects of everyday life. Like the books in part A, each page includes only one simple statement as well as a vocabulary word that’s represented in the picture. Readers will be inspired to think creatively about relationships between science, their favorite activities, and everyday objects. VERDICT Scientific concepts come to life thanks to this versatile series that’s ideal for early elementary students.

Culliford, Amy. Aburrido. ISBN 9781427139993.
––––. Asustado. ISBN 9781427140036.
––––. Enojado. ISBN 9781427139986.
––––. Feliz. ISBN 9781427140012.
––––. Tranquilo. ISBN 9781427140005.
––––. Triste. ISBN 9781427140029.
ea vol: tr. from English by Pablo de la Vega. 16p. (Mis emociones). Crabtree/Roots. Jul. 2021. Tr. $22.60.
Toddler-K –Kids will learn how to identify what they’re feeling with help from this Spanish series about six different emotions and moods: bored, angry, afraid, happy, calm, and sad. Common feelings, and moods and symptoms associated with each, are defined by simple statements of five or six words, as well as photos of children’s facial expressions. Suggestions for things kids can do to help themselves and others feel better, like making artwork, expressing feelings to a trusted adult, or riding a bike, are included to help readers build skills and strategies for managing difficult feelings. Pictures and text are well-balanced in this series, and diverse identities and experiences are well-represented. VERDICT For school and public libraries looking to enhance their social-emotional learning resources, this series hits the mark.

Earley, Christina. En el agua. ISBN 9781039616677.
––––. En el camino. ISBN 9781039616660.
––––. En el cielo. ISBN 9781039616646.
––––. En tierra firme. ISBN 9781039616653.
––––. En una emergencia. ISBN 9781039616639.
ea vol: tr. from English by Pablo de la Vega. 16p. (Cosas que se mueven). Crabtree/Roots. Jul. 2021. Tr. $22.60.
PreS-Gr 1 –This Spanish series explores common vehicles and how they move—in the sky, on land, in the water, and in an emergency—while providing essential information and building reading comprehension and vocabulary along the way. Action photography throughout each book will capture the attention of reluctant readers, and simple statements, sight words, and repetition throughout makes these books great for early and developing readers who speak and read Spanish as their first language. As a bonus, these books include suggested questions for conversation before, during, and after reading. New words are bolded and are included in the visual dictionary at the end of each book. VERDICT Quality translations and high-action photography make this high interest, low level series a great addition to larger collections.

Earley, Christina. Puedo restar cero. ISBN 9781039615373.
––––. Puedo restar dos. ISBN 9781039615397.
––––. Puedo restar tres. ISBN 9781039615403.
––––. Puedo restar uno. ISBN 9781039615380.
ea vol: tr. from English by Pablo de la Vega. 16p. (Puedo restar). Crabtree/Roots. Jul. 2021. Tr. $22.60.
K-Gr 2 –Readers will learn early math skills thanks to these Spanish books that help with basic subtraction. Some of kids’ favorite things, like puppies, penguins, and pizza, are used to show how to subtract by one, two, three, and four. Although these skills may not come easily to some learners, this series proves that math concepts can be made accessible to even the earliest readers through the use of simple statements, large pictures, and intentional use of sight words. All of these books present the process of subtraction in multiple ways using everyday situations. A vocabulary list and a short visual glossary are included in each book. VERDICT This versatile series is perfect for developing readers and provides essential math skills while remaining relevant and accessible for a range of reading levels.

Jacobson, Bray. Abejas / Bees. ISBN 9781538269510.
––––. Arañas / Spiders. ISBN 9781538269596.
––––. Escarabajos / Beetles. ISBN 9781538269534.
––––. Hormigas / Ants. ISBN 9781538269497.
––––. Mariposas / Butterflies. ISBN 9781538269558.
––––. Moscas / Flies. ISBN 9781538269572.
ea vol: tr. from English by Diana Osorio. 24p. [Asombrosos animalitos (Busy Bugs)]. Gareth Stevens. Aug. 2021. Tr. $22.60.
PreS-K –This six-book series provides basic facts about ants, bees, beetles, butterflies, flies, and spiders in a bilingual format. Pages alternate between close-up, full-color photographs of each bug and bilingual text, with Spanish featured first and then English—a subtle but important detail that helps developing English learners build vocabulary in a new language. Consistent with best practices of bilingual book formatting, these books provide text in fonts that are easy to read, with plenty of white space around letters, to maximize letter and sight word recognition and comprehension. A bilingual table of contents, visual glossary, and an index are also included. This series is also available in a Spanish-only format. VERDICT Kids will pore over the highly detailed photos in these books, while benefiting from a well-translated bilingual format.

Murray, Julie. Al acuario. ISBN 9781098204105.
––––. Al centro de naturaleza. ISBN 9781098204136.
––––. Al museo de arte. ISBN 9781098204112.
––––. Al museo de los niños. ISBN 9781098204129.
––––. Al planetario. ISBN 9781098204143.
––––. Al zoológico. ISBN 9781098204150.
ea vol: tr. from English by Maria Puchol. 24p. (Excursiones con la escuela). Abdo/Abdo Kids. Aug. 2021. Tr. $28.50.
K-Gr 2 –Common school field trip sites are presented in this Spanish series. Readers will enjoy venturing to the zoo, aquarium, art museum, children’s museum, nature center, and planetarium. Lots of color photographs of kids having fun and exciting adventures on each trip correspond to well-translated, simple sentences, which appear on every other page. The vocabulary and sentence structure in these books is slightly more advanced while still remaining suitable for early readers, especially for students in kindergarten and first grade; most pages with text include no more than three sentences or phrases. Lexical comprehension is made easier thanks to bolded and different colored words that may be unfamiliar to some readers. Those words, along with a visual glossary, are included at the end of each book, along with an index and links to additional learning resources accessible through the publisher’s website. VERDICT Kids will look forward to visiting their favorite places again after being away for so long, while getting great ideas for what they can explore on their own field trips.

Rodriguez, Alicia. El banco. ISBN 9781039615618.
––––. El consultorio. ISBN 9781039615625.
––––. El restaurante. ISBN 9781039615663.
––––. El supermercado. ISBN 9781039615649.
––––. La granja. ISBN 9781039615632.
––––. La oficina de correos. ISBN 9781039615656.
ea vol: tr. from English by Pablo de la Vega. 16p. (Espío en mi comunidad). Crabtree/Roots. Jul. 2021. Tr. $22.60.
PreS-Gr 2 –Kids who love to play “I spy” games while out and about will have fun recognizing these familiar places they see in their community, like the doctor’s office, bank, farm, post office, restaurant, and the grocery store. Words and pictures describe each place in detail and provide essential vocabulary words in a way that’s accessible to early readers. In the book about going to a restaurant, readers are walked through the process of going out to eat, while the book about going to the doctor’s office may serve the purpose of helping a child feel at ease about what happens during a visit. The book about farms describes where food comes from while showcasing familiar favorites, like chicken, cows, pigs, and tractors. This series features words and phrases that are slightly more complex, while limiting the amount of text on each page and including plenty of supportive imagery. It will help children build narrative skills as they think about the processes associated with each place and what comes next. VERDICT Early childhood centers should consider investing in this versatile series that doubles well for reading aloud in groups.

Rodriguez, Alicia. Flores. ISBN 9781427140944.
––––. Frutos. ISBN 9781427140951.
––––. Hojas. ISBN 9781427140968.
––––. Raíces. ISBN 9781427140975.
––––. Semillas. ISBN 9781427140982.
––––. Tallos. ISBN 9781427140999.
ea vol: tr. from English by Pablo de la Vega. 16p. (Las partes de una planta). Crabtree/Roots. Jul. 2021. Tr. $22.60.
Toddler-K –These books identify important parts of different kinds of plants: flowers, fruit, leaves, roots, seeds, and stems. Preliminary scientific information is presented in these books, yet they remain appropriate for children as young as three years. The books are short and include lots of clear and colorful imagery. Readers will notice some repetition here, as each of these books follows a similar structure and rhythm (some seeds are big; some seeds are small; some leaves are green; etc.), helping to build predictive reading skills about what to anticipate as pages turn. Young readers will be fascinated by roots that grow above ground, and that some stems are edible. Notable to this series is its recap of the text on the last page, which will help readers remember what they learned and visualize it without pictures. VERDICT This fantastic series will excite kids who love to learn about nature and makes a great addition to any second language collection.

Toolen, Avery. de la Arena Al Vidrio (from Sand to Glass). ISBN 9781636901534.
––––. de la Cera Al Crayón (from Wax to ­Crayon). ISBN 9781636901565.
––––. de la Oveja Al Calcetín (from Sheep to Sock). ISBN 9781636901626.
––––. del Algodón a la Camiseta (from Cotton to T-Shirt). ISBN 9781636901596.
––––. del Árbol Al Papel (from Tree to Paper). ISBN 9781636901657.
––––. del Metal a la Bicicleta (from Metal to Bicycle). ISBN 9781636901688.
ea vol: tr. from English by Annette Granat. 24p. [¿De dónde viene? (Where Does It Come From?)]. Jump!/Bullfrog. Aug. 2021. Tr. $25.65.
PreS-Gr 2 –This series is perfect for kids who have ever wondered where their socks come from or how bicycles are made. The origins of socks, bicycles, crayons, paper, glass housewares, and clothing are presented through large color photos, fast facts, and simple diagrams. Some pages include both text and pictures, while others only include a photo and a simple diagram. Most of the books are about 25 pages in length, making this series ideal for slightly more advanced readers in first and second grade. Another thing that makes these books slightly more advanced is the longer sentences, blocks of color behind the text instead of white space, page numbers, and a table of contents. These books are great for readers who are transitioning from reading with a caregiver to reading independently, but also make a great choice for bilingual group read-alouds. VERDICT A versatile choice for daycares, ECE classrooms, and public and school libraries.