2025 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Language Learning
As we continue to travel through the alphabet, we taking the chance to travel around the world as well with an introduction to language learning in a variety of languages, plus being able to better understand the importance of language both verbal and nonverbal as well! Studies show that kids have an easier time picking up a new language than you do as an adult which means you should take advantage of their malleable (squishy) brains and introduce them to another language. If you’re lucky enough to be bilingual or have family or friends who are, ask for help to get started.
We have a lot of kids in our community who speak two and even three languages fluently. I did not grow up bilingual and took Spanish from middle school through most of high school. I wish I would have stuck with it because it’s a lot harder to learn now – I’m looking at you Duolingo! Even if your kids only learn a few words of another language, I think it’s valuable to better understanding the world your live in and if you get a chance to meet someone who might speak another language and get a chance to converse, it opens the world up even more for your little one!
Check out these great books about the history of language, how to teach English (an insanely hard language in and of itself) or try a language that might be new to you or one you have to dust off since your high school years. Teach basic vocabulary like hello, counting numbers, maybe a few colors to get started and see how it goes!
2025 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Language Learning
The Atlas of Languages: Words Around the World by Rachel Lancashire, illustrated by Jenny Zemanek
Where did the word “banana” originate? What is the world’s most secret language? Which word is universally understood?
This book answers all these questions and more, taking the reader on a journey across the globe to explore the complexity, beauty, and variety of languages. It includes:
- Fun facts and language trivia
- Beautifully illustrated maps to pore
- Intricate language family trees that show how different languages have grown and connected over time
- Eye-catching infographics
The Book of Languages by Mick Webb
We use language all day, every day – probably without thinking much about it. But if you stop and consider it, language is not only extremely important, it’s fascinating, too! Use of language is one of the key things distinguishing humans from other animals, and nearly 7,000 languages are spoken around the world. Without it, we’d be hard pressed to communicate, express ourselves, or understand others.
The Book of Languages begins with an introduction to why language is important, how it originated and how it changes. From there, the book profiles 21 of the world’s languages. Each spread showcases a language’s history, where it’s spoken, what it looks like and how to speak a few phrases and count to ten. Rounded out with sections on non-verbal and animal language, this book will stimulate readers’ curiosity about the world and spark appreciation for language learning.
First 100 Words / Primera 100 Palabras by Roger Priddy
Within the pages are more than 100 outstanding photographs of foods, animals, toys, and more that children will recognize in their own lives. Each image is accompanied by a description in English and Spanish, written in large, bold letters. This book is a great help for implementing bilingual vocabulary and teaching sight words in both languages.
Help Your Kids with Language Arts: A Step-by-Step Visual Guide to Grammar, Punctuation, and Writing
This visual reference book takes you through all the different parts of the English language, leaving you ready to help your children tackle the trickiest of subjects.
DK’s unique study aid encourages parents and children to work together as a team to understand and use all aspects of the English language, including grammar, punctuation, and spelling. This latest title in the best-selling Help Your Kids series… combines pictures, diagrams, instructions, and examples to cover the components of the school syllabus, while building knowledge, boosting confidence, and aiding understanding.
Let’s Learn Japanese: First Words for Everyone by Aurora Cacciapuoti
Let’s Learn Japanese: First Words for Everyone is an ideal travel primer and companion for aspiring Japanese speakers, as well as a welcome addition to the bookshelves of language lovers of any age. Pairing words and characters with whimsical illustrations, each section features examples of word pronunciation, the three main Japanese writing systems (kanji, hiragana and katakana), and common Japanese elements.
- Instructive and engaging book families can use together.
- Great gift for travelers of any age heading to Japan.
- Aurora Cacciapuoti is an author and illustrator of more than a dozen children’s books.
Little Lingo: A Language Book for Kids
Introduce young children to the excitement of learning foreign languages. This book is a fun and engaging way to boost children’s vocabulary while teaching them different languages from around the world. 50 Words | 4 Languages Languages included: English, Spanish, French, and Mandarin
My First Book of Hindi Words by Rina Singh, illustrated by Farida Zaman
The familiar ABC rhyming structure provides a framework that encourages fun and easy learning from A-Z. A welcoming Indian family introduces everyday Hindi words, including many that have special significance in Indian culture. The vivid illustrations give kids a glimpse of Indian life and show how, despite cultural differences, kids the world over have a lot in common.
My First German Book by Anna Young
With this new German language learning book, you and your kids will be able to learn German in an exciting, fun, and educational way. You can use this great resource for your kids to learn their first German words and phrases.
BOOK FEATURES:
- For Ages 0-5 whose first language isn’t German
- 30 pages of colorful pages for kids
- Over 200 words about different topics to help strengthen your child’s bilingual ability
- Bright and vivid illustrations to keep kids interested
- Written in both German and English, so parents who don’t speak German can read it to their kids.
My First Mandarin Words with Gordon & Li Li by Michele Wong McSween and Nam Doan
Gordon and Li Li are cousins. Li Li is from Beijing, China, and speaks Mandarin. Gordon lives in Brooklyn, New York, and speaks English. When Li Li visits Gordon for the first time, the cousins must learn to communicate using simple, everyday words.Children and caregivers can read along with Gordon and Li Li as they learn basic English and Mandarin words and their correct pronunciation. Each spread of this sturdy book spotlights a different theme, including greetings, everyday words, numbers, and animals! And every word features the English and Pinyin spelling along with the Chinese character and the phonetic Mandarin pronunciation to help readers practice.
My First Picture Book English Arabic
Beautiful colorful illustrations that make it easy to memorize the vocabulary of everyday life in a playful way. Your child will find little memory exercises to learn while having fun. Translation into English and Arabic, the romanization of the letters will facilitate the pronunciation of beginners.
Rosetta Stone French Picture Dictionary
LEARN FRENCH WITH ROSETTA STONE: Build the foundation for a new language with Rosetta Stone’s picture dictionary! Learn key French vocabulary such as numbers, colors, animals, and more. Children and adults get hooked on colorful, engaging illustrations, and jump start their communication skills with common greetings, questions, and other useful phrases.
We Can Sign!: An Essential Illustrated Guide to American Sign Language for Kids by Tara Adams
Discover how simple learning sign language for kids can be! Whether it’s for reaching out to a Deaf person, chatting with friends across a crowded room, or just learning an amazing new language, We Can Sign! is an essential guide to getting started with American Sign Language for kids.
Bursting with almost 200 fully-illustrated signs, memory tips, and more, this instructional aid for sign language for kids makes mastering ASL easy. Ten chapters take you all the way from sign language basics and conversation phrases to must-have vocab. Get signing today!
2025 is my tenth year participating in the Blogging A to Z Challenge! This year, I chose as my theme: Fact Finders Club: Nonfiction for Curious Kids with a focus on providing book lists focused on all types of nonfiction books for readers from birth to teens. Each letter of the alphabet will focus on different topics and will provide twelve titles on each list. Nonfiction is having a heyday in children’s literature and if you think it’s dry and boring, then I implore you to take a look at these amazing suggestions! Stop by daily to check out the new books and other posts that I’ll be sharing in April.
