90 Great Bilingual Board Books from Barefoot Books
Bilingual board books introduce young readers to the sounds and rhythms of more than one language from the very start, helping to build early literacy skills, expand vocabulary, and strengthen cognitive development. These books also celebrate diversity, offering children a window into different traditions and perspectives. By sharing stories in multiple languages, families can bridge cultures and foster a love of language that lasts a lifetime.
Why Bilingual Board Books Are Important
“At Barefoot Books, we believe that all children deserve access to stories in their home languages. Our bilingual board books help build bridges across cultures, support families in sharing stories together, and nurture a love of reading from the very start.” – Nancy Traversy, CEO & Co-founder
“It’s so important for early language learning to be both accessible and engaging for young minds and little hands. We carefully curate the books in our bilingual list and work closely with trusted translators to create the very best experience for young readers. Our board books have sturdy pages designed for children still developing fine motor skills and feature our signature vibrant artwork to capture toddlers’ attention.” – Emma Parkin, Publishing Director
The CBC is delighted to feature below 15 bilingual board books from Barefoot Books as well as share a spreadsheet of 90 books by Barefoot for downloading and sorting.
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Baby Dream / Soñando Con Bebé, by Sunny Scribens (Barefoot Books) — Concepts, Sleep / Dreams / Bedtime, English, Spanish, ages 0-3.
Baby Play (Bilingual Arabic & English), by Skye Silver (Barefoot Books) — Family / Community, Concepts, Imagination / Play, English / Arabic, ages 0-3.
Baby’s First Words (Bilingual Chinese & English), by Stella Blackstone & Sunny Scribens; illustrated by Christiane Engel (Barefoot Books) — Concepts, Family / Community, Imagination / Play, English / Chinese, ages 0-3.
¡Chones, Por Favor! / Undies, Please!, by Sumana Seeboruth; illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin (Barefoot Books) — Mental / Physical Health, Concepts, English / Spanish, ages 0-3.
Fast and Slow (Bilingual Haitian Creole & English), written and illustrated by Britta Teckentrup (Barefoot Books) — Construction / Transportation, Concepts, Haitian Creole / English, ages 0-3.
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First Friends: Shapes (Bilingual Portuguese & English) by Mk Smith Despres; illustrated by Aya Watanabe (Barefoot Books) — Friendships, Concepts, English / Portuguese, ages 0-3.
Grande Y Pequeno / Big and Small, by Britta Teckentrup (Barefoot Books) — Concepts, Science / Nature, English / Spanish, ages 0-3.
¡Hola, Barriguita! / Hello, Tummy!, by Aya Khalil (Barefoot Books) — Concepts, Mental / Physical Health, English / Spanish, ages 0-3.
Mindful Tots: Animal Antics (Bilingual French & English), by Whitney Stewart; illustrated by Rocío Alejandro (Barefoot Books) — Mental / Physical Health, Imagination / Play, English / French, ages 0-3.
Mindful Tots: Rest & Relax / Niños Mindful: Descansa Y Relajate, by Whitney Stewart; illustrated by Rocío Alejandro (Barefoot Books) — Mental / Physical Health, Sleep / Dreams / Bedtime, English / Spanish, ages 0-3.
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¡Muy Verde! / Too Green!, by Sumana Seeboruth; illustrated by Maribel Castells (Barefoot Books) — Concepts, Mental / Physical Health, English / Spanish, ages 0-3.
¡No Cansada! / Not Tired!, by Sumana Seeboruth; illustrated by Fotini Tikkou (Barefoot Books) — Sleep, Dreams / Bedtime, Mental / Physical Health, English / Spanish, ages 0-3.
That’s Mine! (Bilingual Bengali & English), by Sumana Seeboruth; illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin (Barefoot Books) — Imagination / Play, Friendship, English / Spanish, ages 0-3.
T’áá Sáhí! / By Myself! (Bilingual Navajo & English), by Sumana Seeboruth; illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin (Barefoot Books) — Imagination / Play, Friendship, English / Navajo, ages 0-3.
Yoga Tots: Calm Bunny / Niños Yoga: Conejito Calmado, by Tessa Strickland; illustrated by Estelí Meza (Barefoot Books) — Mental / Physical Health, How-to / Activity, English / Spanish, ages 0-3.
Check out more Diversity booklists and resources, and our Inclusivity Resources.
