1
Action Words
Movement and sound effects reinforce verbs and simple phrases in both languages.
Songs & Rhymes
Wheels on the Bus / Las ruedas del autobús
Susie Jaramillo· Published 2020
This book is part of the Canticos series. It's a bilingual sing-along that builds action vocabulary with predictable, repeatable patterns. The bus photos remind me of the chicken buses I encountered during my travels in Guatemala.
This bilingual edition keeps the familiar rhythm kids love while expanding vocabulary through motion and sound.
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Why It's On Our Shelf
This book is basically a permission slip to be loud and silly while learning language. We do the motions, make the sounds, and switch languages without stopping the fun. The real photos make it feel more “real world” than a typical rhyme book, which I love. By the end, your kid has practiced a bunch of verbs and sounds and doesn’t even notice.
Why It Works
2
Easy Switching
Predictable structure makes bilingual reading feel smooth and natural.
3
Real Photos
Photo imagery sparks conversation and helps kids connect words to life.
Songs & Rhymes
Little Chickies / Los Pollitos
Susie Jaramillo
A beloved Spanish nursery rhyme that works beautifully for rhythm, sounds, and repetition.
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Songs & Rhymes
Five Little Monkeys / Cinco monitos
Eileen Christelow
A high-energy rhyme that sneaks in counting and repeated phrases kids memorize fast.
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Songs & Rhymes
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes / Cabeza, hombros, rodillas y pies
Traditional
A bilingual movement song that's basically guaranteed to get repeated (and repeated).
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