25+ Spanish & Bilingual Christmas Books for Kids

25+ Spanish & Bilingual Christmas Books for Kids

Count down the days to Christmas by reading a book together each day! Here are 25+ Spanish and bilingual Christmas picture books to enjoy as a family this season.

In this round-up, I’ve selected a range of our favorites – completely Spanish books and books that include both English and Spanish. Some are beautiful stories of Jesus’ birth on the very first Christmas. Others are classic secular stories of gingerbread kids, reindeer, or Santa Claus. I’ve also selected our favorites that explore popular Latin holiday traditions.

Many books were originally written in Spanish, while others were translated from English classics. I hope you’ll find a new favorite for your family this Christmas season.

Enjoy! Look for these selections to check out from your local library or to give to your kids this year – and to read for years to come. The recommended ages listed come from the book product details when I could find them available.

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Displaying some of our favorite titles to make it easy for little ones to choose

Spanish Favorites

Celebra la Navidad y el Día de los Reyes Magos con Pablo y Carlitos

by Alma Flor Ada & F. Isabel Campoy, illustrated by Walter Torres

Carlitos writes a letter to the Three Kings asking for lots of presents. Later, he decides to ask for a nicer present for his older brother who has been helping him learn to ride a bike. Includes information about Christmas and Three Kings’ Day. Ages 5-8.

Era La Víspera de Navidad

by Clement C. Moore, illustraed by Elena Almazova & Vitaly Shvarov

A charming story that rhymes! A Spanish version of the classic poem, “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Ages 412.

Era La Vispera de Navidad by Clement C. Moore.

La Navidad es un Regalo de Dios

by Lisa Tawn Bergren and David Hohn

Curious Little Cub and Mama discuss who really invented Christmas. Little Cub learns about the very first Christmas and discovers that Jesus is the best gift of all. Preschool to grade 2.

La Navidad es un Regalo de Dios by Lisa Tawn Bergren.

¡Ya Llegan los Reyes Magos!

by Georgina Lazaro, illustrated by Morella Fuenmayor

A beautiful poem telling about the excitement and traditions of Three Kings’ Day – told from a child’s perspective. Three Kings’ Day is a holiday widely celebrated in the Spanish-speaking world. Ages 5-8.

El burrito de Navidad: Una tradición que celebra el verdadero significado de la Navidad

by Sarah Raymond Cunningham, illustrated by Michael K. Foster

This sweet story tells about the true meaning of Christmas – from the perspectives of those who were there: the animals like Donkey and Sheep, the angel, Joseph, and of course baby Jesus! Preschool to grade 3.

¡Llegó la Navidad, David!

by David Shannon

David’s always getting into trouble, and it’s no different at Christmas! It’s so hard to control his naughty behavior. Santa will have to decide if he’s good enough for the nice list this year. A simple favorite for preschool to grade 3.

¡Qué Montón de Tamales!

by Gary Soto, illustrated by Ed Martinez

María’s family is preparing tamales for their holiday celebration. When María accidentally loses her mother’s ring in the masa, she and her cousins try to find it by eating all of the tamales without telling the grownups. Oneof my favorites for any time of year. Preschool to grade 3.

Los Renos Rebeldes de Navidad

by Jan Brett

A classic story by Jan Brett, translated into Spanish, about Teeka and her preparationns with Santa’s reindeer. Teeka thinks she must be hard on the reindeer to get them ready for their big trip, but the reindeer won’t cooperate. I adore Jan Brett’s gorgeous artwork, and the teacher in me appreciates the wide range of vocabulary she weaves through her books. Preschool to grade 3.

El Hombrecito de Mazapán

illustrated by Gail Yerrill

A beautifully simple classic tale of the Gingerbread Man. No age range available, I’d recommend toddler to grade 2.

El Rey Prometido

by Alison Mitchell, illustrated by Catalina Echeverri

A long, long time ago God promised the world a king. But this king wouldn’t be a king like any other, He would be a new king, a savior, and our king forever. No age recommendation.

El Rey Prometido

El Expreso Polar

by Chris Van Allsburg

The Spanish version of the holiday favorite, “The Polar Express.” If your kids already know and love the story in English, it might be fun to compare and learn new vocabulary using the Spanish text. Kindergarten to grade 3.

Clifford: La Primera Navidad

by Norman Bridwell

On Christmas Eve, puppy Clifford helps Emily Elizabeth and her family decorate the tree. Later, when he can’t sleep, he leaves bed to explore and gets stuck in Emily Elizabeth’s stocking. You know who will rescue him! Preschool and up.

Spanish & bilingual Christmas book recommendations for kids.
Gathering all of our favorites to enjoy throughout the month!

La Navidad de Jesús: Explora el increíble plan de Dios para la Navidad

by Barbara Reaoch

This is an Advent devotional book for families to enjoy together before Christmas. It includes daily devotionals and space to record family responses. No age recommendation.

Forastero en el Bosque

by Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick

While not about Christmas, this is one of our favorite winter books that I had to include. With beautiful photography and poetic text, this story is about the animals and birds discovering a snowman in their forest after a winter snowstorm. No age recommendation.

Related post: Winter Scavenger Hunt for Kids (bilingual free printable!)

Froggy Se Viste

by Jonathan London

If your kids love Froggy books, here’s a sweet one for the winter (while not really about Christmas). Froggy has quite a job to get all of his winter gear on before he can go outside and play in the snow. Preschool to grade 1.

And a unique title for 2020…

Incluso los Renos Llevan Mascarilla

by Isla Wynter

This year everything’s a bit different – a pandemic, quarantine, and social distancing. Even Santa and his reindeer want to help keep everyone safe and healthy… by wearing their masks! No age listed.

Spanish and bilingual Christmas picture books for kids.

Bilingual Favorites

A Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas

by Pat Mora and Magaly Morales

Another classic book by award-winning author Pat Mora (we adore her books). This is a Latino twist on the classic “Twelve Days of Christmas” – with piñatas instead of partridges, burritos bailando (donkeys dancing), and lunitas cantando (singing moons). A favorite my kids want to read over and over! Preschool to grade 2.

‘Twas Nochebuena

by Roseanne Greenfield Thong and Sara Palacios

This story is written by another one of our favorite authors – Roseanne Greenfield Thong. It’s Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) and we read about the festive traditions of a Latino family: they make tamales, hang adornos (decorations) on the walls, sing canciones (songs), and sip champurrado (hot chocolate). Mostly English with a few key words in Spanish on each page. Preschool to grade 2.

'Twas Nochebuena by Roseanne Greenfield Thong and Sara Palacios.

La Noche Buena: A Christmas Story

 by Antonio Sacre, illustrated by Angela Dominguez

Nina visits her Cuban grandmother in Miami for Christmas, and isn’t sure she’ll enjoy the holiday. But she joins in and ends up learning all about the wonderful Christmas traditions from her father’s side of the family. Preschool to grade 3.

Un Coquí de Boriquén con los Reyes a Belén

by Lara Mercado & Armando Valdés, illustrated by Nívea Ortiz

This beautiful new book won FOUR International Latino Book Awards in 2020! It is the story of a magical coquí (a tree frog native to Puerto Rico) who traveled with the Magi to the first Christmas. The coquí’s call helps the Magi find the little Baby Jesus. In gratitude, the Kings promise to yearly visit the children of Puerto Rico, and to find them wherever they may be if they hear the coquí’s song. Preschool to grade 2.

N Is for Navidad

by Susan Middleton Elya & Merry Banks, illustrated by Joe Cepeda

We adore the way Susan Middleton Elya combines text in English and Spanish in a rhyming way! This is a beautiful alphabet story exploring Latino Christmas traditions – one for each letter A to Z. Preschool to grade 4.

The Gift of the Poinsetta / El Regalo de La Flor de Nochebuena

by Pat Mora & Charles Ramirez Berg, illustrated by Daniel Lechón

A book you can enjoy fully in either English or Spanish (and another one by Pat Mora)! This book will help kids learn about the value of giving gifts to those we love. Preschool to grade 1.

The Gift of the Poinsettia / El Regalo de La Flor de Nochebuena by Pat Mora and Charles Ramirez Berg.

The Legend of the Poinsettia

by Tomie dePaola

This Mexican legend tells how the poinsettia flower came to be, through a little girl’s unselfish gift to Baby Jesus. In Mexico, the poinsettia is called the Flor de Nochebuena (the flower of the Holy Night/Christmas Eve). Preschool to grade 3.

The Gingerbread Man / El Hombre de Pan de Jengibre

by Catherine McCafferty, illustrated by Doug Bowles

The classic tale of the Gingerbread Man escaping from the oven – in both English and Spanish. Preschool to grade 3.

The Gingerbread Man / El Hombre de Pan de Jengibre by Catherine McCafferty.

Feliz Navidad

by José Feliciano, illustrated by David Diaz

If you love José Feliciano’s classic holiday song, this book includes the lyrics and absolutely beautiful illustrations. Kindergarten to grade 4.

The Night of Las Posadas

by Tomie de Paola

In this mostly English story, we read about the procession of Las Posadas celebrated in many parts of Mexico and Spain. This is the tradition in which Mary and Joseph go from door to door seeking shelter at the inn on Christmas Eve. Preschool to grade 3.

The Christmas Tree / El Árbol de Navidad

by Alma Flor Ada, illustrated by Terry Ybáñez

Another beautiful book written by Alma Flor Ada, this one is a poem in English and Spanish about the tradition of the Christmas tree. No age recommendation.

25+ Spanish and bilingual Christmas picture books for kids.

What other favorite Spanish or bilingual Christmas books do you enjoy? I’d love to check them out! Let me know in the comments below and be sure to pin this post for later. Also, check out my other posts with book recommendations here.

Related posts:

Happy reading,

Jenna

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