José and Feliz Play Fútbol (José and El Perro)

In this bilingual, beginner chapter book, Jose comes home from school to announce that he has been chosen for the school soccer team. When he begins practicing at home, Jose discovers that his dog, Felix, is quite a talented soccer player. Indeed, Felix becomes the team mascot after the whole family attends Jose’s practice and Felix chases the ball on the field like he did at home. At the big game, Jose worries that Felix will dash out onto the field. Instead, Jose scores the winning goal, Felix stays in the bleachers like he was told to do, and Jose hugs his best friend.

This story, which is told in both English and Spanish, is a terrific way to help encourage the understanding of both languages. Although a list of Spanish words and phrases is provided at the back of the book, the meaning of any given word is clear from the context. While a pronunciation key might have proved helpful for those who are not well-versed in Spanish, this book proves a fun introduction to a second language.