Bilingual Books Review

While looking for books that I could incorporate into our daily read aloud time I came across Raven Tree Press, an independent publisher of bilingual picture books. The books are everything you would look for in a picture book, beautifully illustrated with entertaining storyline and the clever use of bilingual learning (English/Spanish) in four formats:

Full Text
The entire story is printed in English and then Spanish.Embedded Text
The story is presented primarily in English with Spanish sprinkled throughout the book to reinforce learning. Vocabulary words are also available at the end of the book.

Concept
For children just learning a concept (music or math) the book is presented in English with the concept presented in Spanish.

Wordless
A bilingual poem sets the tone for the wordless picture book. The illustrations are descriptive and invite the child to tell the story in their own words or invite discussion between parent and child on each page.

Counting Coconuts by Contando Cocos
Is a clever concept book about counting. In the story Monkey is hungry, but first he must count his coconuts in the fastest way possible. But what is the fastest way possible? All the rain forest animals cannot agree and suggest various counting methods to monkey as he learns to count by sets. Which is the fastest way? Read and see.

Ocean Whisper by Dennis Rockhill
Is a wordless picture book similar to Flotsom. It begins with a poem entitled, “Ocean Whisper” or “Susurro del oceano.” In this story a boy’s fish bowl and whale poster transform his bedroom into an ocean wonderland. Travel along as he goes on wondrous adventures through incredible aquatic vistas with beautiful ocean creatures. Young children will enjoy “reading” this book on their own.

Paco and the Giant Chile Plant by Keith Polette
Similar to the traditional Jack and the beanstalk, Paco and his mother have no money and so they must sell their cow. Along the way Paco ends up with a Giant Magical Chile Plant that he of course climbs. Once he meets the horrible Giant the story takes a unique twist. Presented in the embedded text format the book introduces and reviews 32 spanish words which are also highlighted in red within the story and listed at the back of the book with translation.

Isabel and the Hungry Coyote by Keith Polette
Similar to the story of Little Red Riding Hood, Isabel wears a caperuza roja and is off to see her abuella when she is stopped by Senor Coyote who only has intentions to eat her. After he goes to Isabel’s abuella’s casa the story takes on its own twists and turns with Isabel saving the day thanks to the tamales muy fante that leaves the Coyote’s boca burning.

Parent Tips are available on the Raventree Press website to assist you in including bilingual learning into your read alouds.

For more titles available from Raven Tree Press, please visit their website www.RavenTreePress.com