15 Free Bilingual Books in Spanish and English Online
Have you ever read bilingual books in Spanish and English? If not, you may think it would feel odd to read a book in two languages at the same time, but reading bilingual books in Spanish is actually a fantastic experience!
Imagine you’re home. It’s raining outside, raindrops hitting your window. There’s a hot beverage in your hands, and you’re snuggled up with a good book.
Or imagine you’re on vacation! The sun hitting your face and the warm sand dusting your feet. You’re lying down on a towel with a book in your hands.
Now imagine the book you’re reading is a bilingual book in Spanish. You’re practicing Spanish while enjoying yourself! Sounds amazing right?
Why Read Bilingual Books?
It doesn’t matter if you’re a bookworm, or you just like reading every now and then. Reading bilingual books in Spanish helps you improve your Spanish in many ways:
- Expand your vocabulary
- Practice your reading comprehension
- Read out loud and practice speaking in Spanish
And you know what’s the best part? You can read them anywhere! You can read them on your phone, or computer, or tablet. You can read them at home, or on the bus, or even during breaks at work! That way you can read and practice your Spanish skills everywhere you go.
Are you ready to see our selection of books?
15 Free Bilingual books in Spanish and English
Bilingual books in Spanish keep your skills fresh and active. That’s why we’re giving you a list of 15 free bilingual books in Spanish and English that you can read online—including six novels and nine short stories.
Our list of bilingual books in Spanish consists of works written by Latin American authors, as well as classic stories that you already know. We made it this way so that you can explore and learn more about Latin American literature, but also get some options of books you’re familiar with so you feel more comfortable practicing your Spanish skills.
1. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Cien Años de Soledad is a classic in Latin America. Gabriel Garcia Marquez is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century in Latin America. This novel was originally published in 1967. It tells the story of a fictional Colombian town, Macondo, and the rise and falls of its founders, the Buendía family.
You can read this book here!
2. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Garcia Marquez is so good, we had to add another one of his books to this list. This one, Amor en los tiempos de cólera, tells the story of Florentino and Fermina. They were in love in their youth, but got separated when Fermina decided to marry a wealthy man. It is a love story with a lot of heartache, but it is an outstanding narrative that’s beautifully written.
Read this book here!
3. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, or in Spanish Las aventuras de Alicia en el país de las maravillas was first published in 1865. It tells the story of a girl, Alice, who falls through a rabbit hole and discovers a fantasy world with vanishing cats and talking caterpillars. This novel is whimsical and unique and you’ll have such a fun time reading this bilingual book in Spanish and English.
4. The Hound of Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
El sabueso de Baskerville is one of the most famous novels from the Sherlock Holmes universe. We all know this beloved detective who is clever and extraordinary, and you can see that clearly in The Hound of Baskerville. This novel was actually serialised, which means that it was published in parts, from 1901 to 1902. Now you can read it all together right here!
5. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Talking about extraordinary stories! This novel by Jules Verne is a real masterpiece. The title in Spanish is Veinte Mil Leguas de Viaje Submarino. It tells the story of a marine biologist, Pierre Aronnax, who, during a hunt for a sea monster finds himself a prisoner of Captain Nemo. This novel is exciting and will capture you from the beginning. You can read it here!
6. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
La Metamofosis is actually a novella. Although it’s only three chapters long, it’s gripping and thought-provoking. Published in 1915, it tells the story of a man who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a huge insect. Even if it is rather short, it has a variety of interesting characters that accompany you throughout the whole book.
You can read this book here!
7. The Aleph and Other Short Stories by Jorge Luis Borges
Jorge Luis Borges is another renowned Latin American author. He was born in Argentina and wrote many short stories and poems. El Aleph was published in 1949 and it is accompanied by other short stories.
8. Short Stories by Julio Cortazar
Talking about renowned authors, if you’ve looked into Latin American literature you’ve probably come across Julio Cortazar. He wrote many novels and short stories, and here are some of his best short stories.
9. Birth of the Cabbage by Ruben Darío
Ruben Darío is best known for his poems, but he wrote some short stories that are just as good. This short story, El nacimiento de la col, is super concise and to the point, but you can still appreciate the beauty of the written word.
Read this short story here!
10. To Build a Fire by Jack London
We all know Jack London for his novels White Fang and Call of the Wild, but he also wrote many short stories. To Build a Fire, Encender una hogera, is the best known short story he wrote. Read the bilingual version of it here!
12. The Nameless City by H.P. Lovecraft
Lovecraft is well-known for his horror stories. This one, La ciudad innombrable in Spanish, is a story about a character who travels to the middle of the Arabian desert to explore an ancient underground city. Read this short story here.
13. The Mark on the Wall by Virginia Woolf
La marca en la pared is the first published story by Virginia Woolf. It was first published in 1917 as a part of a collection of short stories. Read them here.
14. The Pine Tree by Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen wrote a lot of fairy tales. El Pino tells the story of a pine tree that is so anxious to grow up that it ends up missing all the great things happening at the moment. Read this short story here!
15. The Golden Bird by the Brothers Grimm
Speaking of fairy tales, the brothers Grimm have the most well-known fairy tales. El pájaro de oro tells the story of a gardener’s three sons who are in pursuit of a golden bird. Read the bilingual version of this short story here.
Time to Read—and Speak—in Spanish!
Do you think you have plenty of reading material? These bilingual books in Spanish should keep you entertained for a while! If you’re looking for more books in Spanish to read, check out these two blog posts for more reading material:
- 20 Free Spanish Books, Novels, and Stories in PDF and Printables!
- 20+ Free Online Spanish Books for Self-Motivated Beginners
Want to talk about what you’re reading with a book-loving Spanish teacher? Sign up for a free class with one of our certified teachers. You can have 1-on-1 conversations with a native speaker and polish your Spanish! Soon enough, you’ll be reading books in Spanish without the need for the English translation next to it. Join us at Homeschool Spanish Academy today!
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