Are you looking for books in Spanish to expand your classroom library? In this post I will highlight my favorite “Back to school” books for my Spanish class.
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Books about naming customs
How many times have students asked about my two last names? More than I remember. These two books “Alma and how she got her name“ and “René tiene dos apellidos“ will answer this question without a doubt.
“Alma and how she got her name by Juana Martinez Leal” This book is available in English and Spanish. Alma discovers why she has some many names and where do these names come from.
“René tiene dos apellidos by René Colato Laínez” This is a lovely story about a boy named René. He finds his second last name is missing on all of his belongings. He has a big task of explaining the importance of a second last name to his friends and teacher at school.
Books to create extension activities
Looking for a way to bring more culture and meaningful content in your lessons?
These books from Carmen Loma Garza “In my family” and “Cuadros de Familia” are packed with culture, traditions and important elements that will allow your students to explore our rich culture through authentic lenses.
You can do activities like “Find someone who”, “I spy” or invite students to create a short passage based on a picture on these books. The possibilities are endless. These books can be used for any themed unit in your classroom.
Numbers and colors for preschoolers
Colors, numbers, feelings and shapes are concepts you need to review with preschoolers on a daily basis. What if you sprinkle some cultural elements every time you review these concepts?
One of my favorite books to review colors is “Green is a chile pepper” by Roseanne Greenfield. There are more books from this same author (and lovely illustrations by John Parra) to review shapes with “Round is a tortilla” and to review numbers with “One is a piñata”.
“Counting with Frida” is another book that my kids (and my own daughter) enjoy when it comes to review numbers.
These books not only have colorful and wonderful illustrations, they give your students new vocabulary, that is meaningful and connected to the Spanish speaking culture.
Books about feelings
This is a very odd time. Checking with your students feelings and emotional wellbeing is always a good idea.
“Happy Within/Feliz for dentro” is an excellent bilingual book. I can’t take credit for this book finding, since the lovely Naomi O’Brien from @ReadLikeARockstar is the teacher who recommended it. This book reflects on what makes us happy and how to mute those voices that want to make us feel less.
“Detrás de mi cubre bocas/Behind my mask” is a wonderful bilingual book that goes over what is being our masks. Our feelings, fears and things you can see…even with your mask on.
Hispanic Heritage
I urge you to read about notable Hispanics all year long, not only during Hispanic Heritage Month.
These two books “Messi” and “Queen of Tejano Music“ are my class’ current favorites. These are in English, but I translate them for my kids and they enjoy looking at the pictures.
The book of Selena is available in Spanish too. “La Reina de la Música Tejana” is a newly released book about Selena’s early beginning and rise to stardom.
Thank you so much for reading my book recommendations. Do you have any must-have book you use in your classroom? Make sure to leave your suggestions in the comments.
Feliz Semana
Resources you might like
Hispanic Heritage Month Writing Activities Spanish – Herencia Hispana Escritura
This is a great resource to introduce Hispanic leaders to your younger students. You will find 20 Hispanic leaders in this resource. Each leader contains pages with the following formats:
Files included
- 20 Bio tracing sheet
- 20 Bio writing templates (primary lines)
- 20 Bio writing templates (single lines)
- 20 Informational bookmarks (perfect for students to write independently)
- 20 Sentence practice worksheets
- 20 Free writing templates with picture (primary lines)
- 20 Free writing templates with picture (single lines)
- 20 Free writing templates no picture (primary lines)
Excelente, Caro de Fun for Spanish Teachers es una de mis favoritas.