Books in Spanish
For Independent Reading
VERY EASY
- El universo (Look Up)
- by Richard Vaughan
(Science/Health)
Harper Déjame leer
Photos and simple text describe the moon and the stars and other things seen in the sky.
- La vida bajo la tierra (Life Underground)
- by Josep M. Parramón
(Science/Health)
Children learn what living things make the ground their home.
- El agua y tú (Let Me Tell You About Water)
- (Social Studies)
by Clarita Kohen
Simple text stresses the importance of water conservation.
- El invierno (Winter)
- by Josep M. Parramón
(Science/Health)
A description of the environmental changes that occur during winter.
See others in series.
- Pingüinos (Penguins)
- by The Cousteau Society
(Science/Health)
A simple photographic introduction to the world of penguins. See others in series.
EASY
- El libro de las nubes (The Cloud Book)
- by Tomie de Paola
(Science/Health)
An appealing introduction to different types of clouds, how they're formed, and how they get their names.
- Podría ser un mamífero (It Could Still Be a Mammal)
- by Alan Fowler
(Science/Health)
Childrens
The basic characteristics of mammals are outlined and specific mammals are identified.
- Las gallinas no son las únicas (Chickens Aren't the Only Ones)
- by Ruth Heller
(Science/Health)
Readers learn that not only chickens but birds, reptiles, fish, and insects also lay eggs.
- ¿Cómo sabes que es primavera? (How Do You Know It's Spring?)
- by Alan Fowler
(Science/Health)
Childrens
Readers discover the changes in nature that signal spring. See others in series.
- El aire (The air)
- by Josep M. Parramón
(Science/Health)
A description of air, one of the four basic elements.
- Podría ser un árbol (It Could Still Be a Tree)
- by Alan Fowler
(Science/Health)
Childrens
Information about trees is imparted through photographs and easy-to-understand text.
AVERAGE
- Ciudades de hormigas (Ant Cities)
- by Arthur Dorros
(Science/Health)
Harper Arco Iris
The fascinating and complex ways industrious ants work together are explored.
- Cómo nació el arco iris (How the Rainbow Came to Be)
- by Alma Flor Ada
After painting the earth, the colors Blue, Red, and Yellow create a beautiful rainbow.
- El libro de las arenas movedizas (The Quicksand Book)
- by Tomie de Paola
(Science/Health)
Facts about quicksand are related through the funny story of Jungle Boy and Jungle Girl.
- La Señorita Runfio (Miss Rumphius)
- by Barbara Cooney
(Social Studies)
Penguin Ediciones
A woman who pledged to make the world more beautiful plants lupines everywhere in her neighborhood.
- Cuenta los insectos (The Icky Bug Counting Book)
- by Jerry Palotta
(Math)
Charlesbridge
This counting book introduces children to butterflies, beetles, and other insects.
- Dentro del arrecife de coral (At Home in the Coral Reef)
- by Katy Muzik
(Science/Health)
Charlesbridge
The importance of maintaining the balance of nature is revealed through an exploration of a coral reef.
CHALLENGING
- The Harvest Birds/Los pájaros de la cosecha
- by Blanca López Mariscal
Children's Book Press
Zanate birds help a young man inexperienced at farming to plant a field that yields a bountiful harvest.Text in English and Spanish.
- Antártida (Antarctica)
- by Helen Cowcher
(Social Studies)
Farrar Mirasol
This story shows how humans affects the balance of nature in Antarctica.
- Dentro de la selva tropical (At Home in the Rain Forest)
- by Diane Willow
(Science/Health)
Charlesbridge
Readers learn about the animals, birds, insects, and plants that live and grow in the Amazon rain forest.
- Un paseo por la naturaleza (A Walk in the Wild)
- by Lorraine Ward
(Social Studies)
Charlesbridge
A Group of school children explore the different environments of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas.
- Fernando's Gift/El regalo de Fernando
- by Douglas Keister
(Social Studies)
Sierra Club
After his friend Carmina's favorite climbing tree is cut down, Fernando gives her a sapling to plant in their Costa Rican rain forest.Text in Spanish and English.
For Teacher Read Aloud
- El aullido de los monos (When the Monkeys Came Back)
- by Kristine L. Franklin
(Social Studies)
Simon Libros Colibrí
After deforestation causes the howler monkeys to disappear from her Costa Rican village, a woman makes a plan to get them back.
- Stelaluna (Stella Luna)
- by Janell Cannon
Stelaluna, a baby bat, is adopted by a family of birds after falling into their nest.
- This House Is Made of Mud/Esta casa está hecha de lodo
- by Ken Buchanan
(Social Studies)
Northland
A family who makes their home in the Sonoran Desert finds their lives entwined with the environment.Text in English and Spanish.
For Shared Reading
- Un árbol es hermoso (A Tree Is Nice)
- by Janice May Udry
Harper Arco Iris
A poetic description of why trees play an important role in our lives.
- The Desert Is My Mother/El desierto es mi madre
- by Pat Mora
Piñata Books
A description of the desert as a provider and source of strength.Text in Spanish and English.
Books in English
(English Language Development)
For Shared or Independent Reading
VERY EASY
- Growing Colors
- by Bruce McMillan
(Science/Health)
Mulberry
Garden fruits and vegetables are shown close-up in all their glorious colors.
EASY
- Peeping and Sleeping
- by Fran Manushkin
Clarion
A boy and his father follow the sounds they hear one spring night and discover peepers in a pond.
AVERAGE/CHALLENGING
- Alejandro's Gift
- by Richard E. Albert
(Social Studies)
Chronicle
An old man named Alejandro builds a water hole for the desert animals he considers his friends.
- Owl Moon
- by Jane Yolen
(Social Studies)
Philomel
On a winter evening, a young girl and her father go owling in the woods.
For Teacher Read Aloud
- It Rained on the Desert Today
- by Ken and Debby Buchanan
(Social Studies)
Northland
Desert people and animals celebrate the coming of rains after months of scorching days.
- The Tree That Rains: The Flood Myth of the Huichol Indians of Mexico
- by Emery and Durga Bernhard
Holiday
With the help of Great-Grandmother Earth, Watakame survives a great flood.