New Bilingual Board Books from Leslie Patricelli

We have not reviewed any bilingual board books for children in a long while, so I am happy to be able to share this pair with you now.

Leslie Patricelli is a writer and illustrator of ten books for infants and toddlers. Her books are vibrantly illustrated and deal with themes such as opposites, imagination, and other conceptual topics to which young children can relate. Each one contains simple language that serves to supplement the story expressed through the illustrations.

Two more of her board books will be released this January in a bilingual format with text in both English and Spanish. The first - Higher! Higher!/¡Más alto! ¡Más alto! - is the story of a little girl whose imagination takes flight on a park swing, taking her out of this world and back. Though it is written for children ages 2 – 5, older kids who are beginning language learners (English or Spanish) will enjoy the story line and quickly learn from the simple text.

The second book - The Birthday Box/Mi caja de cumpleaños - is the story of an infant who receives a puppy in a box on his birthday. The focus of his attention will surprise you…or maybe not! Once again, Patricelli explores the power of a child’s imagination. This book contains a lot more text and would work better with a child whose first language is Spanish. They will love the story line, too! And I loved how even the “sound effects” in the book are translated, as well.

As a parent, I liked this book for the sweet and funny story that it presents. It is what I call a “giggle” read. The type of book, that parents read to their children just for the giggles it produces. Fun for bonding.

As a homeschool teacher, I appreciate these books for the literacy development that they promote. Reading to your children at least 10 minutes a day, goes a long way towards encouraging letter recognition and fostering an interest in reading.

Both these books are available for pre-order on Amazon.com. Or you can check out some of Patricelli’s other bilingual titles.