I’ve hosted several baby showers, and each time I request that guests bring a book instead of a card. Books are such an essential part of any new parent’s list of must-haves. I still love to get books as gifts for my kids! We need a variety of books at home to start reading to our little ones as early as possible and modeling for them a love for learning through books. And if you’re a bilingual family, you need a great collection of Spanish and bilingual books!
Almost all of these books have stood the test of time through all three of my babies – not just my littlest one. They are such wonderful, engaging stories with beautiful pictures – and hard covers!
Reading with our kids each day doesn’t take much time, but the benefits are tremendous. Check out these fun board books to read with your own child or to give for a baby shower or birthday gift. They truly are some of my daughter’s very favorites.
Looking for more top book recommendations? Browse through all of my Spanish and bilingual book posts here. Support Bilingual Balance and local bookstores by purchasing my top picks on Bookshop. Happy reading!
Spanish/Bilingual Board Books
20 camiones grandes en medio de la calle by Mark Lee
This is a fun story about 20 trucks that get backed up in a traffic jam and a little boy who watches and comes to the rescue. Perfect for practicing numbers, and truck names if you’ve got a little one who loves big trucks.
Animals/Animales (Bright Baby) by Roger Priddy
We use this one to practice animal names and their sounds in Spanish (or English). We also have the colors/colores book. So simple and sweet, but so entertaining for babies and toddlers.
Blankie/Mantita by Leslie Patricelli
Don’t you just love Leslie Patricelli’s books? If you haven’t read any of them, definitely check this one out! She makes the cutest and silliest board books. We love her Potty/Bacinica book as well.
Buenas noches, Luna by Margaret Wise Brown
This is a great gift for a new mom! We have it in English and Spanish, and to be honest my kids prefer it in Spanish. A perfect story for our nap and bedtime book routine.
Chica chica bum bum by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
My daughter loves both the classic “Chica chica bum bum” and the counting book “Chica chica 1, 2, 3” in Spanish. I’ve linked to the traditional alphabet story in Spanish, but could only find the number story in English. Let me know if you know where to find it in Spanish!
¿Dónde estás, conejito? By Sam Taplin
This Usborne book has little peek-a-boo holes to look through to the next page, as well as textured lines for little fingers to follow. I just love Usborne’s books like this that encourage interaction from little ones. Definitely one of my daughter’s top choices.
El camioncito Azul by Alice Schertle
Do you know this one in English? We have a few of the Little Blue Truck series books. It sounds just as cute in Spanish. Great for practicing animal names and sounds, and I love its message of friendship and kindness. She’s loving it even more now as she gets closer to two years old.
La oruga muy hambrienta by Eric Carle
Every family needs a copy of this classic book! Again, we have it in English, in Spanish, and even a bilingual copy as well. It’s one that my kids all love to read in both languages.
Lola le lee al pequeño Leo by Anna McQuinn
This one is available in a board book or a paperback version. I bought it when my older daughter was going to be a big sister to my now one-year-old. It is the perfect book for siblings to encourage them to share books with their new baby.
Mi primera Biblia para bebés by Sally Wright
This one I chose for my son for his very first Easter. The stories are just the perfect length and simplicity to read to babies and toddlers. I definitely recommend this one for bilingual families – perfect for a baby gift, birthday, baptism, Christmas, Easter… anytime!
Quiero a mi mamá porque… by Laurel Porter-Gaylord
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read, and reread, and reread this one. Thank goodness for those sturdy pages! Somehow the story never gets old. My daughter loves the beautiful pictures of the animal mamas and their babies.
Quiero a mi papá porque… by Laurel Porter-Gaylord
I bought this one for my husband for Father’s Day one year when our youngest was little. It has the full text in both Spanish and English, so you can pick which one you’d like to read. Two books in one! 😊
Enjoy! Books are the perfect gifts for the little ones in your life. You can never have too many books! Pin this list for the next time you need a new book recommendation for a bilingual baby or toddler. Check out more book recommendations:
Spanish Early Readers for Kids
Essential Gift Guide for Bilingual Kids
My 5-Year-Old’s Favorite Book List
My 7-Year-Old’s Favorite Book List
