Have you noticed that most of the Spanish children’s books that receive mainstream attention are for children under 4 or 5 years old? I recently became concerned that my son and all of the Spanish-speaking children I know would reach an age when Spanish literature (translated or original) would be impossible to find. Then, in a moment of great synchronicity, I happened to run into a display of Spanish chapter books at my local bookstore. ¡Entonces, existen!

While it would be great if young bilingual readers were exposed to authentic Spanish literature, the following list of translated books is a good way to keep your little bookworms interested in their native language. It includes some of my childhood favorites; I wish I had been able to read them in two languages in elementary school!

Visit La Tiendita to get started on summer reading in Spanish with your 2nd-5th graders.

Esperanza renace by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Yo, Naomi León by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Ramona la chinche by Beverly Cleary

Ramona empieza el curso by Beverly Cleary

El ratoncito de la moto by Beverly Cleary

La telaraña de Carlota by E.B. White

Charlie y la fábrica de chocolate by Roald Dahl

James y el melocotón gigante by Roald Dahl

La casa del árbol: Dinosaurios al atardecer by Mary Pope Osborne

La caseta mágica by Norton Juster

Tuck para siempre by Natalie Babbitt

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