Make the Holidays both Educational & Fun for Your Children
We’re all thankful to spend more time with family over the holidays - we can enjoy delicious meals together, see distant relatives, and spend more time with our children while they’re on vacation for a few days. A great idea for making memories during this time is to read together - your child will remember these moments forever and have the book to keep making memories all year long! And since November is Massachusetts Literacy Month, we’re providing a few suggestions for you & and your children (ages 3-9).
Happy Birthday, I’m 1 / Feliz Cumpleaños, Tengo 1 año
By Matteo Faglia
Ages: 0-4 years
This book is available in both English and Spanish and celebrates the first year of a Rabbit turning one. The colorful illustrations focus on everything associated with a birthday - cake, presents, celebrating with family, and more. It also leaves space for you to add a photograph and notes from your own child’s first birthday and is available also for a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th birthday.
Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match / Marisol McDonald no combina
By Monica Brown
Ages: 3-5 years
This bilingual picture book follows the story of Marisol McDonald, a girl with “flaming red hair and nut-brown skin” who loves to wear polka dots & stripes and eat PB&J burritos for lunch. Marisol never matches, and she is okay with that! This inspiring story, told in Spanish and English, explores Marisol’s multicultural heritage to teach your child about what it means to be different.
I Went Walking / Salí de Paseo
By Sue Williams
Ages: 3-5 years
Take a walk with your child without having to leave the warmth of your home. You’ll meet a variety of animals from a black cato to a brown horse, that are following the child in the story. This brilliant picture book, written in Spanish and English, uses repetition to help your little one learn colors and animals.
El Gato Léo Comes to Play: A First Spanish Story
By Opal Dunn & Cathy Gale
Ages: 4-6 years
This interactive picture book follows the adventures of El Gato Léo, the cat who only speaks Spanish. The lift-up flaps reveal the English translation of what El Gato Léo is saying, introducing simple directions such as “Ven, Come.” and “Ven aquí, Come here.” This book will help your child work on their Spanish pronunciation and vocabulary; it even includes a guidebook for parents with more ideas on how to use the book to make learning more fun.
Lupe Vargas & Her Super Best Friend / Lupe Vargas y su super mejor amiga
By Amy Costalas
Ages 6-9 years
Lupe and Maritza are “Super Mejor Amigas” who spend their days going on whatever adventure they can think of - they’re pirates, scientist, superheroes, and more. But, one day the inseparable pair gets into a fight and they have to find a way to make it right. This bilingual tale (written in Spanish & English) brings to life the magic of friendship and teaches your child how to handle conflict while following the inspiring story of two best friends with active imaginations.
It’s never too early to expose your child to multiple languages. These bilingual and multicultural books not only help your child improve their linguistic skills, but they teach them about culture and acceptance - important lessons in your child’s education. In fact, these books are a great way to reinforce all of the lessons children are already learning in our Preschool and After School Programs.
If you’re interested in enrolling your child in our Preschool, click here.
Our After School Program is by recommendation only, but if you are interested in more information, click here....