It’s (the end of) National Reading Month! Heyooo! I love that the U.S. has a whole month dedicated to helping kids (and adults) improve their reading skills and find a love for books. March is almost over, but that doesn’t mean the reading fun should stop!
As you know, I also love a good Spanish children’s book roundup, because it’s rare for us to just be able to go to the library or bookstore and happen upon great books en español. It usually takes a little more planning and research to be able to find the fabulous ones, and in my experience that’s even more true with nonfiction books.
I’m thrilled to partner with Read on Arizonaand the Conversar para Aprender initiative this month to share a list of fantastic nonfiction books for little ones!
You know I talk all the time about how important reading is. It’s a huge part of the Conversar para Aprender campaign as the fourth strategy (out of five) for helping kids’ language and literacy development.
Reading nonfiction is ESPECIALLY important for kids though, because it helps them develop reading comprehension, build background knowledge, improve vocabulary, and develop analytical skills. In fact, the book we sent out to our Sol Book Box subscribers this month was nonfiction for these very reasons!
The picture books below are the perfect intro to nonfiction thanks to their compelling text and kid-friendly visuals. I hope you can pick up one or a few at your local library or online to enjoy as a family!
Hay un triceratops en la casa del árbol by Larousse
We are in a dinosaur phase right now, so this book has been a big hit lately. Have you ever thought about how a triceratops would do in our modern world? He’d be great at playing soccer/fútbol because of his super strong legs… buuut he might accidentally pop the ball with his horns. I like it because it shares so many interesting facts about the triceratops in a silly, kid-friendly format.
El pan by Francois Laurent
“El pan” is part of a series of books called “Yo sé lo que como.” Like the other books in the series, this one talks about a specific food (bread, in this case) and helps kids understand where it comes from, starting from the wheat we grow to make the flour. This book is also really great because it discusses things like “¿Cómo podemos producir el pan respetando la tierra?” I really appreciate the environmentally conscious vibe.
La gravedad by Jason Chin
This was an unexpected library find! It has sparse text and compelling images to take the very complex subject of gravity and make it accessible to young readers. My only complaint is that, while it asks questions like “What stops everything from floating into space?” it leaves the reader with the heavy-lifting of explaining what exactly gravity IS, which I was so not prepared to do. Fair warning so you can prep before your own small child makes you explain. 🙂
En el parque de bomberos (Spanish Edition) by Marie Fordacq
What is a firefighter’s job? What kind of things do they do each day? This interactive picture book walks us through a firefighter’s daily routine, from training to rescue missions. This was a Sol Book Box book we sent out last year. We especially love the removable figurines at the back of the book that let readers build their own fire station!
¿Sabes cómo funciona? by Cecile Jugla
This book is REALLY great for curious little people because it explains the science behind 50 items we use in our everyday life. It’s divided into different sections (a few examples include: At Home, Transportation, Food, and Getting Ready). In each of those sections it teaches kids things like why we use soap, what happens at the airport, or even how cartoons are made. Highly recommended in case you need some help with answers to the many “porque’s” and “como’s” you get asked on the daily!
BONUS BOOKS FOR OLDER KIDS (7+)
When I asked for recommendations on Instagram, there were a couple of suggestions for books geared toward older kids. I checked them out and they are pretty great, so I’m including in case you have older readers! Both of these are still picture books, but are written for kids in the 7-11 age range.
Viajamos tan lejos… by Laura Knowles
I think animal migration is such a fascinating thing! Just think of all the creatures that spend their life swimming, flying or walking across the planet. In this book, beautiful illustrations accompany the amazing migration stories of different species, including whales, albatross, leatherback turtles, monarch butterflies, and polar bears (plus lots of others).
Sabores De America by Ana María Pavez and Constanza Recart
This book is all about food, so it’s pretty easy to love. In it, we read about some of the foods that until modern times were consumed only on the American continent (things like corn, potatoes, tomatoes, chocolate, papaya, and avocado). This book is also awesome because for along with little facts and a history lesson behind each food, you also get a simple, kid-friendly recipe to try out.
And there you have it! I would LOVE to add to this list, so if you have suggestions for other fabulous nonfiction books your kids have loved, please leave them in the comments!
This post is sponsored by Read On Arizona, an organization that shares my enthusiasm for helping parents raise readers.