Books about bilingualism for kids

Not all literacy learners are English language learners, of course, but some are. At Second Start in Oakland, our FFL program has a much higher percentage of English language learners and multilingual students than the program as a whole. Often, the children in these families grow up bilingual or multilingual, speaking the family language with the family but expected to speak English in the world outside the home.

The expectations of multilingualism on kids raises all kinds of issues: at school, in the home, with the family outside the home, in everyday life. Here, from the wonderful blog "Playing By the Book," is a list of children's books about multilingual children, multilingual families, children who have to learn English when their families move to America, and children who live in a non-English-speaking family in an English-speaking world.

This list is a compilation of suggestions from many people, not vetted by any single authority; you may have your own thoughts about some of these books, or think of others that should be on the list. Please comment!