El Rancho Chocolaté: A Bilingual Adventure

More Than Just a Story: Why El Rancho Chocolaté is a Bilingual Adventure

When I wrote El Rancho Chocolaté, I wanted to do more than just tell a story. I wanted to create a book that felt like a warm, loving hug from my own childhood—a story that reflected the way my family talks, loves, and laughs. That’s why you’ll find Spanish words sprinkled throughout the book, not as a foreign language, but as a natural part of the conversation, just as they are in so many Mexican American homes.

This was a deliberate choice, born from my own journey of celebrating my heritage. The rhythm of "Spanglish"—the mix of Spanish and English—is a beautiful part of our culture. By including words like familia, troca, and tesoro, I wasn't just adding flavor; I was adding heart. It brings an authenticity and a texture to the story that resonates on a deeper level.

For Latine Children: A Reflection in the Pages

One of the most profound reasons for this choice was to make sure that Latine children feel seen and celebrated in the world of books. It’s an incredibly powerful moment for a child to open a book and see words they hear at home. It says, "Your language is important. Your culture is beautiful. Your stories belong here."

This simple act can be a source of immense pride, validating their identity and making the act of reading a more personal and affirming experience. It helps build a strong sense of self and cultural belonging, fostering a love of literature that feels directly connected to who they are.

For All Children: An Invitation to Explore

For non-Spanish speaking children, the bilingual aspect of El Rancho Chocolaté is a welcoming invitation. The Spanish words are always used in context, making their meaning clear and easy to understand. As a parent or educator, you can use the story as a gentle introduction to a new language. You can point to the word prima (cousin) and say, "That's how we say 'cousin' in the story!"

This low-pressure exposure to another language is a fantastic tool for learning. It sparks curiosity about different cultures and helps children appreciate how people around the world communicate. It builds a foundation of empathy and understanding, showing them that a different language isn't something to be feared, but a new door to be opened.

A Guide for Parents & Educators

This story is a launchpad for learning. Here are a few ways to use it as a tool in your classroom or at home:

• Read Aloud: Don't worry about perfect pronunciation! Try your best to say the words as they appear, and have fun with it. Children will love the rhythm and sound.

• Use The Pronunciation Guide: This guide is an easy-to-use resource to help you and your child master the words.

• Be a Team: Encourage your child to say the Spanish words along with you. If you have Spanish-speaking children in your class, invite them to "be the teacher" and help their classmates with pronunciation, which is a great confidence booster.

• Discuss the Words: After reading, ask questions like, "What does familia mean in the book?" or "Can you say 'family' in Spanish now?

• Use The Pronunciation Guide: This guide is an easy-to-use resource to help you and your child master the words.

Extend the Learning with a Word Search Puzzle

To keep the learning adventure going, you can download our special Spanish/English Word Search Puzzle from our website for just $1.50 or purchase the Spanish-English coloring book for $7.50 on Amazon. This fun activity is a fantastic tool for reinforcing the vocabulary and ideas from the book. It’s a great way for children to practice visual word recognition and cement their new knowledge in a fun, game-based format. This puzzle provides a quiet, engaging activity that builds literacy skills while they're having fun searching for words like tesoro and aventura.

By embracing the dual language of El Rancho Chocolaté, you're not just reading a book—you're embarking on a learning adventure that celebrates diversity, fosters cultural pride, and reminds us that language, in all its forms, is a beautiful way to connect.

Pronunciation Guide

This simple guide will help you and your family pronounce some of the Spanish and Spanglish words from El Rancho Chocolaté. Remember to have fun with it!

• Abuela (ah-BWEH-lah) / Abuelo (ah-BWEH-loh) — Grandmother / Grandfather

• Amigo (ah-MEE-goh) / Amiga (ah-MEE-gah) — Friend (male/female)

• Aventura (ah-ven-TOO-rah) — Adventure

• ¡Ay! (eye) — Oh! or Ah!

• Caballo (kah-BAH-yoh) — Horse

• Carro (KAH-rroh) — Car

• Chicas (CHEE-kahs) / Chicos (CHEE-kohs) — Girls / Boys

• Comida (koh-MEE-dah) — Food

• Corazón (koh-rah-SOHN) — Heart

• Cuento (KWEHN-toh) — Story

• Estrellas (es-TRAY-ahs) — Stars

• Familia (fa-MEE-lee-ah) — Family

• Feria (FEH-ree-ah) — Fair

• Fresa (FREH-sah) — Strawberry

• Galletas (gah-YEH-tahs) — Cookies

• Hija (EE-hah) / Hijo (EE-hoh) — Daughter / Son

• Joyería (hoh-yeh-REE-ah) — Jewelry

• Manos (MAH-nohs) — Hands

• Mapa (MAH-pah) — Map

• Milagro (mee-LAH-groh) — Miracle

• Ojos (OH-hohs) — Eyes

• Pan dulce (pahn DOOL-seh) — Sweet bread

• Prima (PREE-mah) / Primo (PREE-moh) — Cousin (female) / Cousin (male)

• Rancho (RAHN-choh) — Ranch

• Rebozo (reh-BOH-soh) — Shawl

• Sueños (sweh-nyohs) — Dreams

• Tesoro (teh-SOH-roh) — Treasure

• Tierra (tee-EHR-rah) — Earth / Land

• Tío (TEE-oh) / Tía (TEE-ah) — Uncle / Aunt

• Troca (TROH-kah) — Truck

• Vámonos (VAH-moh-nohs) — Let's go!

• Vestido (ves-TEE-doh) — Dress

• Qué rico (keh REE-koh) — How delicious!