Bridges to Comprehension: Choosing and Using Culturally Relevant Bilingual Books

Yvonne Freeman The University of Texas at Brownsville

Bilingual Books: Bridges across Languages and CulturesHay tantísimas fronterasque dividen a la gente,pero, por cada fronteraexiste también un puentePoesía de Gina Valdés: Puentes y Fronteras: Coplas Chicanas

Types of Bilingual Books: In some cases, two books are available, one in each

language. In other cases, a single book has the text written in two

languages Some books flip over with one language on each side

Translation When using bilingual books, it is important to check to be sure

that the translation is a good one. This is true whether the translation is from English to Spanish

or from Spanish to English. Literal translations result in inferior literature.

Using Bilingual Books:

The teacher or the students read the book in their first language as a preview. Later, the teacher or the students read the book in their second language.

Students choose the language they want to read in. The students read in their second language and use the first

language text as a resource to check if they have difficulty. Students compare and contrast versions of a book written in two

languages. This is a good linguistic investigation.

Students Improve Their Skills in Both Languages Bilingual authors allow students to develop proficiency in their

first and second languages. Bilingual books can be read by Spanish speaking and English

speaking parents and then shared with their children. Monolingual English speakers can look at bilingual books to

become aware that other languages have value and serve a purpose.

Freeman

TAIR 2010

1

Bilingual books help strengthen the home school connection. Bilingual books are an excellent resource for a dual language

program. Bilingual books can serve as models for students to write their

own bilingual books.

Like all books that teachers choose, bilingual books should have characteristics that support reading

Checklist: Characteristics of Texts that Support Reading

1. Is the language of the text natural? When there are only a few words on a page, do these limited-text books sound like real language, something people really say?2. Are the materials authentic?Authentic materials are written to inform or entertain, not to teach a grammar point, a letter-sound correspondence, or a series of related syllables.3. Is the text predictable?Text is more predictable when readers have background knowledge of the concepts.

For emergent readers:Books are more predictable when they follow certain patterns (repetitive, cumulative) or include certain devices (rhyme, rhythm, alliteration).

For developing readers:Books are more predictable when students are familiar with text structures; beginning, middle, end, problem-solution, main idea, details, examples, etc.

4. Are the materials interesting and/or imaginative? Interesting, imaginative texts engage students.5. Is there a good text-picture match?A good match provides nonlinguistic visual cues. Is the placement of the pictures predictable?6. Are the texts culturally relevant? Do the situations and characters in the book represent the experiences and backgrounds of the students?

From: Freeman, D. & Y. Freeman. (2000). Teaching reading in multilingual classrooms Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

Freeman

TAIR 2010

2

Using Culturally Relevant Texts When teachers use culturally relevant texts, students are more

engaged. Readers comprehend culturally relevant texts better because

the students have more background knowledge about the situations and characters.

At least some of the texts students, especially ELL’s, read should be culturally relevant.

Choosing Bilingual Books with Characteristics of Text that Support ReadingWhen teachers use bilingual books with characteristics of text that support reading:

Students develop biliteracy Students are more engaged They comprehend the texts more fully They develop a love of reading

Freeman

TAIR 2010

3

From: Paulson, E. & Freeman, A. (2003) Insight from the eyes: The science of effective reading instruction. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

FreemanTAIR 2010

4

Bibliography of Bilingual BooksAda, Alma Flor (2002). I Love Saturdays and Domingos. New York: Atheneum

Books.Ada, Alma Flor (2004). Me ecnantan los Saturdays y los domingos. Miami:

SantillanaAda, A. F. (1993). Me llamo María Isabel. New York: Libros Colibri.Ada, A. F. (1993). My Name is María Isabel. New York: Atheneum Books.Altman, L. J. (1993). Amelia's Road. New York: Lee & Low Books Inc.Altman, L. J. (1993). El camino de Amelia. New York: Lee & Low Books.Ancona, G. (1993). The Piñata maker: El Pinatero. San Diego: Harcourt Brace

and Co.Anzaldúa, G. (2007). Borderlands: La Frontera. San Francisco: Aunt Lute

Books.Anzaldúa, Gloria (1993). Friends from the Other Side: Amigos del otro lado.

San Francisco: Children's Book Press.Argueta, J. (2008). Xochitl and the Flowers/Xochitl, la Nina de las Flores. San

Francisco, CA: Children's Book Press; Bilingual edition Argueta, J. (2006). La fiesta de las tortillas/ The fiesta of the tortillas. Miami,

FL: Alfaguara.Argueta, J. & Gomez, E. (2001) A Movie in My Pillow/Una pelicula en mi

almohada: Poems/Poemas. San Franciso, CA: Children's Book Press; Bilingual edition

Bradman, Tony (1999). No hay nadie como yo. Boston, Houghton Mifflin.Bradman, Tony (1999). There's Nobody Quite Like Me! Boston, Houghton Mifflin.Carden, Mary and Mary Cappellini (1997). I Am of Two Places. Crystal Lake,

Rigby.Carden, Mary and Mary Cappellini (1997). Soy de dos lugares. Crystal Lake,

Rigby.Chavarría-Cháirez, B. (2000). Magda's Tortillas: Las tortillas de Magda.

Houston: Arte Publico Press.Chavarría-Chávez, B. (2001). Magda's Piñata Magic: Magda y la piñata mágica.

Houston: TX: Piñata Books.Colato Lainez, R. (2004) Waiting for papá / Esperando a papá. Blue Ridge

Summit, PA: Luna Rising; Bilingual edition.Colato Lainez, R. (2005) Playing loteria / El juego de la loteria. Blue Ridge

Summit, PA: Luna Rising; Bilingual edition.Costales, A. & Aviles, M. (2007). Abuelita Full of Life/Abuelita Llena de Vida.

Blue Ridge Summit, PA: Luna Rising; Bilingual edition.Dooley, Norah (1991). Everyone Cooks Rice. New York, Carolrhoda Books, Inc.Dooley, Norah (1993). Todo el mundo cocina arroz. New York, Scholastic.Dorros, A. (1993). Radio Man: Don Radio. New York: Harper Collins.Dumas-Lachtman, O. (1995). Pepita Talks Twice: Pepita habla dos veces.

Houston: Piñata Books.Elya, S. M. (2002). Home at last. New York: Lee and Low.

Freeman

TAIR 2010

5

Galindo, Mary Sue (2001). Icy Watermelon: Sandía fría. Houston, TX: Piñata Books.

Garza, X. (2008). Charro Claus and the Tejas Kid. El Paso: Cinco Puntos Press.Garza, X. (2005). Lucha libre: The Man in the Silver Mask. El Paso, TX: Cinco

Puntos Press.Gonzalez, A. (2007). My Colors, My World / Mis colores, mi mundo. Houston,

TX: Piñata Books.Gonzalez, A. (2006). Juan and the Chupacabras/ Juan y el Chupacabras.

Houston, TX: Piñata Books.Gonzalez, A. (2006). Mayte and the Bogeyman/ Mayte y el cuco. Houston, TX:

Piñata Books.Gonzalez, A. (1999). Angels ride bikes and other fall poems: Los angeles andan

bicicletas. Houston, TX: Piñata Books.Gonzales Bertrand, D. (2003). The Empanadas That Abuela Made/Las

Empanadas Que Hacia LA Abuela: Las Empanadas Que Hacia LA Abuela. Houston, TX: Piñata Books.

Gonzales Bertrand, D. (1999). Family/Familia. Houston, TX: Piñata BooksGriswold del Castillo, Richard. (2002). César Chávez: The Struggle for Justice

César Chávez: La lucha por justicia. Houston, TX: Piñata Books.Hayes, J. (2008). Baila, Nana, Baila: Dance, Nana, Dance. El Paso, Tx, Cinco

Puntos Press.Hayes, J. (2002). Pájaro Verde: The Green Bird. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos

Press.Hayes, J. (2003). The Day It Snowed Tortillas: El día que nevaron tortillas. El

Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press.Hayes, J. (2005). A Spoon for Every Bite: Una cuchara para cada bocado. El

Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press.Hayes, J. (2001). El cucuy: A Bogeyman Cuento in English and Spanish. El

Paso, Cinco Puntos Press.Hayes, J. (2006). La llorona: The Weeping Woman. El Paso, Cinco Puntos Press.Herrera, J.F. (2006) The upside down boy/ El niño de cabeza. San Francisco,

CA: Children's Book Press.Herrera, J.F. (2003) Super cilantro girl/ La superniña del cilantro. San

Francisco, CA: Children's Book Press.Herrera, J.F. (2002) Grandma and Me at the Flea / Los Meros Meros

Remateros. San Francisco, CA: Children's Book Press.Herrera, Juan Felipe (1998). Laughing Out Loud, I Fly: Poems in Spanish and

English. New York, Joanna Cotler Books.Herrera, J. F. (1995). Calling the Doves: El canto de las palomas. Emeryville,

CA: Children's Book Press.Jiménez, F. (1998). La mariposa. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. (English and

Spanish versions)Kurusa (1983). La calle es libre. Caracas, Venezuela: Ediciones Ekaré-Banco

del Libro.Kurusa (1985). The Streets are Free. Scarborough, Ontario: Firefly Books, Ltd.Levy, Janice (2007). I Remember Abuelito: A Day of the Dead Story

Freeman

TAIR 2010

6

Yo recuerdo a abuelito: Un cuento del Día de los Muertos. Morton Grove, IL, Albert Whitman & Co.

Lomatewama, R. and G. Reyes (1997). Cantos al maíz. Crystal Lake: Rigby.Lomatewama, R. and G. Reyes (1997). Songs to the Corn. Crystal Lake: Rigby.Medina, Jane (1999). My Name is Jorge on Both Sides of the River. Honesdale,

PA, Boyds Mills Press.Mora, Pat (2007). Yum! ¡MmMm! ¡Qué rico! Americas' Sproutings: Haiku by

Pat Mora. New York, Lee and Low.Mora, P. (2001). The Bakery Lady / La señora de la panadería. Houston, TX:

Piñata Books.Murphy, Mary (1997) I Like it When / Me gusta cuando. New York: Harcourt.Palacios, A. (1994). A Christmas Surprise for Chabelita. New York: Andrews

McMeel Pub.Palacios, A. (1994). Sopresa de Navidad para Chabelita. Mexico: Bridge Water

Books.Paulsen, G. (1995). La tortillería. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt Brace & Company.Paulsen, G. (1995). The Tortilla Factory. New York: Harcourt Brace and

Company.Pérez, A. (2004). Birthday in the barrio/ Cumpleaños en el bario. San Francisco,

CA: Children's Book Press.Pérez, A. (2002). My diary from here to there/ Mi diario de aquí hasta allá. San

Francisco, CA: Children's Book Press.Pérez, Amada Irma (2000). My Very Own Room: Mi propio cuartito. San

Francisco, Children's Book Press.Rodriguez, G. M. (1994). Green Corn Tamales: Tamales de elote. Tucson, AZ:

Hispanic Books Distributors.Rodríguez, L. (2004). It Doesn't Have to Be This Way/No tiene que ser asi: A

Barrio Story/Una historia del barrio. San Francisco, CA: Children's Book Press.

Romero Stevens, J. (1999) Carlos and the Cornfield / Carlos y la milpa de maiz. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: Luna Rising; Bilingual edition.

Sáenz, Benjamin Alire (2008). A Perfect Season for Dreaming: Un tiempo perfecto para soñar. El Paso, TX, Cinco Puntos Press.

Salinas, Bobbi (1998). The Three Pigs: Los tres cerdos, Nacho, Tito, and Miguel. Oakland, CA: Piñata Publications.

Salinas, Bobbi (2003). Cinderella Latina: La cenicienta latina. Oakland, CA: Piñata Publications.

Torres, L. (1995). El Sancocho del sábado. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.Torres, L. (1995). Saturday Sancocho. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.Tripp, V. (1997). Josefina's Surprise. Middletown, WI: Pleasant Company.Tripp, V. (1997). Una sorpresa para Josefina. Middletown, WI: Pleasant

Company.Vela, Guadalupe Espinoza (2008). Cuando regresa mi papá. Salem, MA,

Pedestal Publishing.Vela, Guadalupe Espinoza (2008). When My Dad Comes Home. Salem, MA,

Pedestal Publishing.Womersley, Judith (1999). Carlos. Boston, Houghton Mifflin.

Freeman

TAIR 2010

7

Womersley, Judith (1999). Carlos. Boston, Houghton Mifflin.

Freeman

TAIR 2010

8