CURIOUS MINDS, SHARED STORIES
Mis Raíces’ approach is informed by research into bilingual literacy, shared reading, and heritage-language development.
The books are written primarily in English because that is often the language children living abroad know most confidently.
Spanish words are incorporated as meaningful parts of the story, rather than presented through line-by-line translation.
Children work out meaning through:
The story does not stop to explain or teach every word.
Learning is a consequence of engagement, not the objective.
Children should remember the adventure first. The Spanish words come with it.
Words are chosen for their emotional, cultural, or narrative value. Examples include:
The principle is quality over quantity. A small number of memorable words is more valuable than filling every page with unfamiliar vocabulary.
Spanish Treasures are introduced through context and then repeated naturally. This creates familiarity without turning the story into a lesson.
The books are designed to create interaction between children and their families. Parents and grandparents can:
The approach recognises that bilingual families move naturally between languages. Spanish is not treated as a test or a separate school subject. It appears as part of family life, emotion, culture, and identity.
INSIDE EVERY ADVENTURE
Each Mis Raíces book includes:
A joyful story inspired by a real Latin American figure
Spanish Treasures embedded within the story
A Spanish Treasures glossary with pronunciation guide
A family activity or conversation prompt
