As literacy coaches and bilingual educators, we work alongside teachers across a variety of classrooms: general education, bilingual, and special education. One of the most versatile and underutilized tools we see time and again is the bilingual picturebook. These books don't just support language learners—they elevate comprehension, vocabulary, and engagement for all students.

Bilingual Books in General Education Classrooms

In one first-grade classroom we supported, the teacher used a bilingual picturebook during a read-aloud even though none of her students spoke Spanish fluently. As she paused to ask comprehension questions and draw out vocabulary connections, students became highly engaged. Several began to notice cognates and root words, and one student proudly pointed out a Spanish word she'd seen on a sign in her neighborhood. That moment sparked a short writing activity where students shared words they knew from different languages. The teacher later told us it was one of the most energizing literacy blocks of the year.

In Bilingual Classrooms: Building Bridges

In a dual language classroom, bilingual books offer a seamless bridge between students’ home languages and academic content. One third-grade bilingual teacher used a picturebook about a cultural celebration to anchor both language and literacy standards. English-dominant and Spanish-dominant students participated in reciprocal read-alouds, switching languages and supporting one another in real time. This built not only fluency and comprehension, but also classroom community and confidence. The teacher noted that bilingual texts allowed students to bring their full linguistic selves into the learning space.

For Special Education: Access and Affirmation

In a special education resource room, a teacher used a bilingual book with side-by-side text to support a small group of students with IEPs. For one student with emerging English skills and a speech-language impairment, seeing the story in both languages helped reduce frustration and build confidence. The teacher paired the book with picture supports and sentence stems to scaffold comprehension. What surprised her most was how the visuals and rhythm of the bilingual text increased student participation and prompted spontaneous discussion—something rarely observed with more traditional leveled texts.

Why It Works

Bilingual books are rich with context, visuals, and rhythm—all powerful tools in supporting early literacy. When used intentionally, they:

• Promote vocabulary development through repeated exposure and cross-linguistic connections
• Support comprehension by engaging students in multiple modes (oral language, visuals, discussion)
• Invite students to bring their backgrounds and interests into reading

Even when teachers aren’t bilingual themselves, they can still use these books effectively. We’ve coached many educators on simple strategies like:

• Previewing key vocabulary in both languages
• Using visuals and gestures to support unfamiliar words
• Encouraging students to share background knowledge or personal connections

A Tool for All Classrooms

Whether in general education, bilingual, or special education settings, bilingual picturebooks are not just for multilingual learners—they’re a high-impact tool for all students. They promote literacy through engagement, relevance, and inclusivity.It’s time we move bilingual books from the margins to the center of our literacy instruction. Not because it’s a trend or a cultural checkbox—but because it works.

Valerie Butrón and Rita Guzmán, EdD, are co-founders of Tumbao Bilingual Books. They are experienced literacy coaches and former classroom teachers who support educators and districts across the country in designing effective and joyful language-rich instruction.

Learn More

Writing as Play: Engaging Elementary Students

Literacy Today magazine: Reflecting Every Reader