In this post: A round-up of the best children’s Spanish books for beginners, including board books for toddlers and picture books for preschoolers.
Do you want to start reading in Spanish to your child?
Reading aloud is an effective way to increase a child’s target language input, but finding quality children’s books that are age and level appropriate in Spanish can be a challenge.
So this post focuses on the best Spanish books for beginners from toddlers to preschoolers and early elementary.
Post includes affiliate links.
As beginners, we also recommend you check out this related post on MIXED language books, that are mostly in English but sprinkle in keywords in Spanish. It’s a brilliant method for beginners!
Table of Contents
Spanish First Words Books
These are SO fun for introducing basic vocabulary on a variety of topics, and a great addition to a bilingual bookshelf.
The books are differentiated by level:
1- 3 Years: My First Spanish Word Book
4-8 years: First Hundred Words in Spanish
8+ years: First Thousand Words in Spanish
Related Post: Best Spanish Usborne Books
Spanish Nursery Rhyme Books
As toddlers and preschoolers learn faster and more joyfully with music, I have included music based books here also.
We have found music and songs to be a great tool for vocabulary acquisition.
Related Post: Spanish Musical Books for Babies and Toddlers
Canticos Board Books
Sale
Canticos Little Chickies / Los Pollitos: Bilingual Nursery Rhymes (Canticos…
- Jaramillo, Susie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 16 Pages – 11/17/2020 (Publication Date) – Encantos (Publisher)
We love the Canticos bilingual books which are all based on classic Spanish nursery rhymes!
Visit the Canticos World website to learn the tunes if you are unfamiliar- they are super catchy and easy to sing along to.
Pio Peep
Pio Peep! Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes Book and CD: Bilingual…
- Hardcover Book
- Ada, Alma Flor (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 64 Pages – 03/28/2006 (Publication Date) – HarperFestival (Publisher)
A beautifully illustrated collection of traditional Spanish and Latin America nursery rhymes.
What I love most about this bilingual book is that the English translations are not always literal, which allows for them to also be read as rhyming, lovely poems. ‘De colores’, ‘Tortillitas para mama’ and ‘Cucu’ are some of our favorites.
Mis Primeras Canciones
My first lullabies in Spanish – Mis primeras canciones de cuna en…
- Enjoy 6 beautifully sung traditional Spanish…
- Learn Spanish through music – children sing before…
- Exposure to a second language early in life is…
- A wonderful educational gift that will engage…
- Try risk free – if you don’t love your book, send…
Each sing-along board book has 6 songs.
From classic lullabies, to traditional Latinx songs, you will LOVE their selection.
Coco Learns Spanish
Coco Learns Spanish Vol. 1 | Musical Spanish Books for Kids 1-3, Spanish…
- ❤️ COCO LEARNS SPANISH books are the perfect…
- ❤️ SOOTHING & NATURAL VOICE. Unlike the…
- ❤️ MADE WITH LOVE FOR YOUR BABY. Created by a…
- ❤️ SUPPORTS EARLY LEARNING & EDUCATION. Coco…
- ❤️ THE PERFECT BABY BOOKS IN SPANISH. These…
Another fun collection of sing-along books. These are very cute and engaging, with lovely songs. The illustrations are not as authentic to the Hispanic culture, but they are cute.
Binibi Books
These musical bilingual books are absolutely stunning! There are currently four books in the Binibi collection, including two sound books and two musical books.
Use coupon code MAMALLAMA to save 20% with Binibi.
We have the full set of four books! They are beautifully designed and are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.
Spanish Board Books for Beginners
Oso Pardo
Oso pardo, oso pardo, ¿qué ves ahí?: / Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do…
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Martin, Jr., Bill (Author)
- Spanish (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 12/22/2015 (Publication Date) – Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (Publisher)
This is the board book translation of the classic ‘Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see?’
The vocabulary focuses on animals and colors, which keeps it simple and the repetition throughout of the question allows for easy recognition.
I’m also a big fan of Eric Carle’s illustrations- they are so eye catching for kids!
Related Post: How to Read in Spanish: 5 Tips for Beginners
Habbi Habbi Reading Wand Books
Tappable listen & read style books with a bilingual Reading Wand!
Habbi Habbi provides interactive bilingual books to support bilingual parenting and education at home.
Their Reading Wand brings the books to life as your child taps on any part of the book to hear words, phrases or sentences read aloud in the target language.
The books are also thoughtfully curated with important themes of kindness, diversity, empathy and self-care being just a few they touch on.
El pastel está tan arriba
El pastel está tan arriba (Spanish Edition)
- Straber, Susanne (Author)
- Spanish (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages – 05/01/2015 (Publication Date) – Editorial Juventud, S.A. (Publisher)
This story repeats the phrase ¡Pero el pastel está tan arriba!.…but also repeats a sequence of animal names that climb on each other one by one in order to reach the cake. The ending is so sweet, and unexpected!
Muy Dormido, Muy Despierto
Muy dormido, muy despierto (Spanish Edition)
- Straßer, Susanne (Author)
- Spanish (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages – 02/01/2018 (Publication Date) – Editorial Juventud, S.A. (Publisher)
My toddler giggles so much at the ending (let’s just say someone makes a pedo!) and they have learnt some great phrases that are repeated throughout, like the names of the 6 animals and ‘Están dormidos/ está despierto/ abre la puerta/ cierra la puerta’.
An absolute must have for every Children’s Spanish library!
Buenas Noches Luna
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Goodnight Moon / Buenas Noches, Luna (Spanish Edition)
- Brown, Margaret Wise (Author)
- Spanish (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 04/11/2006 (Publication Date) – HarperCollins Espanol (Publisher)
Salí de paseo
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Sal¡ de paseo
- Williams, Sue (Author)
- Spanish (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 04/18/1995 (Publication Date) – Clarion Books (Publisher)
‘Salí de paseo. ¿Qué fue lo que viste? Esto es lo que vi. Vi a un gato negro mirándome a mí.’
It’s great for practicing first person and also animals and colors. It pairs really well with Oso Pardo.
Llamitas Spanish Curriculum
If you are looking for an open-and-go curriculum that makes teaching your kids Spanish easy and fun, look no further! Llamitas Spanish has sequential levels for Preschool and Elementary grades.
Our lessons are fully scripted with native speaker support, meaning NO prep for you, and no worries about pronunciation! We have you covered every step.
Take the placement quiz on our website so we can match your child with the best level for them.
Keep reading! Related posts:
Spanish Chapter Books for Kids
Supporting Biliteracy Through Stories
Founder of the Llamitas Spanish® Curriculum and former Spanish teacher. Corrie holds two Master Degrees in Spanish and Education. She lives in San Diego, California with her husband and two bilingual children.