Hi, I'm James

If you're here, chances are you're on the same journey I am. You're trying to raise kids who can speak, read, and think in more than one language. Maybe you grew up bilingual yourself and want to pass that on. Maybe you moved to a new country and want your children to keep the language of home alive. Or maybe you simply believe, like I do, that a second language opens doors that stay open for life.

Whatever your story, I know this: it's not always easy.

There are days when your kid answers you in English no matter how many times you speak to them in your other language. There are moments when you wonder if it's really working. And then there are those magical little breakthroughs - a sentence in the "other" language at the dinner table, a word they picked up from a book - that remind you why you started.

Books have been our secret weapon. A good bilingual or multicultural book doesn't just teach vocabulary - it tells your child that their world, their family's language, their story matters. It gives them characters who look like them, sound like them, and live between two cultures just like they do.

That's why I built The Spanish Bookshelf. I got tired of scouring the internet for quality children's books that actually support my daughter's Spanish learning journey. I wanted one place - a simple, curated list - where parents like us could find books worth reading together.

This site is for all of us. For parents who want to raise bilingual kids, for educators who want to inspire them, and for kids who want to grow up knowing more than one language.

Every book on The Spanish Bookshelf is chosen with intention. I look for stories that celebrate growing up between languages and cultures, books available in bilingual editions, and titles that make reading together a joy.

I organize them into categories that follow your child's growth: from first sensory board books, to bedtime favorites, to stories about big feelings, brave firsts, and the endless "why?" questions. Because no matter what language you read them in, a great book is a great book.