#ItTakesAVillage: Free Multilingual Online Libraries & Books

Reading with children is a go-to strategy to keep kids engaged and excited about learning. Adults can help children develop literacy skills, and a love of reading, by reading to and with them in their native language.

Sharing multicultural literature and books written in languages besides English also serves as a powerful tool, helping learners to gain a better understanding of both their own culture and the cultures of others. This deeper knowledge and exposure can bridge the gap between students from diverse cultural backgrounds and identities.

So, multicultural literacy is a win-win!

Free Multilingual Online Libraries

• Unite for Literacy: Early Learning eBooks: More than 100 original ebooks carefully crafted to connect with young children and their families. Books are written in English and Spanish and include audio narration in 43 languages.

• Global Storybooks Portal: Read, download, toggle, and listen to a wide variety of illustrated stories from around the world.

• Worldstories: A growing collection of short stories including retold traditional tales and new short stories from around the world. The stories can be read and listened to online, or downloaded.

• International Children’s Online Library: A searchable library of digital children’s books in more than 50 languages.

• Storyline Online: Books read aloud by actors.

• Lastly, The Big List of Children’s Authors Doing Online Read Alouds & Activities