February 11, 2023 by J.A. García Our Top Picks, Reading Practice in Spanish 0 comments

8 Free Bilingual Spanish-English Books Online

Are you looking for free bilingual books online?

If you want to combine your love for books with language learning, this list is for you!

While some people might turn to music or movies to learn Spanish, books are also a magnificent way to improve your language skills and broaden your vocabulary.

It’s even better if you read bilingual books. Fiction, non-fiction, young adult, sci-fi—they can all help you out and entertain you at once. Learn about historical events and other cultures.

Keep reading to discover eight bilingual books available online for free!

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Why Read Bilingual Books?

As humans, we absorb language in different ways. Talking with other people, watching movies or listening to music, writing, and, of course, reading. Here are some of the benefits you get when reading bilingual books:

Broaden your vocabulary
Improve your reading skills
Develop literacy skills
Read aloud to practice speaking
Transition smoothly between English and Spanish

8 Free Online Bilingual Books

Without further ado, here’s the list of free bilingual books and where to find them online!

Beginners

1. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll – Las aventuras de Alicia en el país de las maravillas

Let’s start with a classic! In 1865 British author Lewis Carroll published his acclaimed fantasy novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, which has spun countless adaptations.

Its fast-paced story, colorful characters, and witty dialogue will help you improve your Spanish. The book is fun, and you can read it in one sitting. This bilingual version includes some original illustrations; you almost get a picture book here!

2. The Little Prince by Antoine by Saint-Exupéry – El principito

Everybody should read The Little Prince at least once a year. Written by French aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, this book follows a young prince who visits several planets and stars and meets a flower, a king, and other colorful characters.

It’s a classic of children’s literature. Due to its accessible prose, it might just be the perfect book for Spanish learners. Follow this link for the English version and this one for the one in Spanish. We’ll see you on Asteroid B612.

Hand-picked for you: Teach Kids Spanish With 10 Dr. Seuss Books in Spanish

Intermediate

3. Ready Player One (first chapter) by Ernest Cline – Ready Player One (primer capítulo)

Any gamers out there? Ernest Cline’s widely praised debut young adult novel follows Wade Watts, aka Parzival. It’s 2045, and people spend hours in the Oasis, a virtual reality universe. When the Oasis’ creator dies, he says that his fortune will go to the first person who has a digital easter egg hidden in the Oasis.

So naturally, everyone wants the money! Criminals, billionaires, unscrupulous business owners, and Wade. You can find the first chapter of this amazing novel in English here, and Spanish here, both in PDF format.

Check out: Vocabulary Guide to Book Genres and Literature in Spanish

4. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson – El extraño caso del Dr. Jekyll y Mr. Hyde.

This novel has a strange and gripping plot. It tells the story of Dr. Jekyll, a well-respected scientist who has a darker side, a violent and monstrous alter ego called Mr. Hyde.

The author’s clean prose allows it to be smoothly translated into Spanish. Follow Mr. Hyde’s unpredictable escapades in English, Spanish, and French!

5. No One Writes to the Colonel by Gabriel García Márquez – El coronel no tiene quien le escriba

A retired colonel lives with his wife in a shabby house near the sea. Every Friday, for the past 15 years, he goes to the local post office hoping to get his long-overdue pension. This is one of Gabriel García Márquez’s shortest yet most beautiful novels.

Unlike One Hundred Years of Solitude, you can read No One Writes to the Colonel in a sitting as it’s less than 100 pages long. Love, sadness, hope, and desperation are the story’s themes.

Free bilingual version

6. Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez – Crónica de una muerte anunciada

Again, with Gabo? Yes, this is another of his shorter yet still dazzling books. Chronicle of a Death Foretold is a non-linear story that slowly uncovers why and how Santiago Nasar was murdered.

You’ll find passion, intrigue, mystery, drama, and a little bit of journalism in this amazing novella that was once adapted into a Broadway musical.

Free bilingual version

Advanced

7. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison – Ojos azules

The debut of Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison is the stuff of legends. The Bluest Eye is set in Ohio, and it tells the story of a young African-American girl named Pecola who thinks of herself as ugly because of her dark skin and strongly desires to have “the bluest eyes” ever and white skin.

Read Toni Morrison’s fantastic novel in English here, and Spanish here, both in PDF format. Heads up: this book deals with sensitive topics.

You might also like: 6 Books by Nobel Prize Winner Gabriela Mistral

8. Frankenstein by Mary M. Shelley – Frankenstein

We bet you’re familiar with the story. A brilliant scientist brings to life a creature he built using parts of dead bodies. However, he and society reject the creature.

With drama, horror, science fiction, Mary Shelly’s masterpiece is one of literature’s most beloved stories. It has spun countless adaptations. Its florid prose and long descriptions make it a challenging read for Spanish learners, but this free Spanish-English version will surely come in handy.

Practice Reading and Speaking Spanish

If you truly want to learn Spanish, you also need to practice your listening, writing, and speaking skills. But don’t worry, we’re here for you! Sign up for a free class at Homeschool Spanish Academy today, and soon you won’t need a bilingual edition to read a book in Spanish; you’ll be able to jump right into the Spanish version. What’s more, you’ll be able to understand and appreciate countless movies, shows, podcasts, and comic books—you name it!

Also, there are lots of economic benefits to learning Spanish. You can study abroad, be eligible for international employment opportunities, and engage with Spanish-speaking businesses! Remember, we offer affordable programs for kids and adults with classes taught by experienced Guatemalan teachers. See you in class!

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Want more free Spanish lessons and reading practice? Check these out!

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J.A. García

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I am a Guatemalan bilingual fiction writer, translator, and journalist. In my spare time I like to read, play video games, and do sports. I’m a fan of historical fiction, family sagas, and graphic novels. I’m left-handed, a failed drummer, an amateur goalkeeper, and I drive a 1988 Subaru J10.