Cultura y noticias hispanas del Valle del Hudson
A Book on the Couch: The Power of Bilingual Literacy
Por Ivette O’Sullivan
November 2026 Dreaming big has always been one of my gifts, allowing my imagination to run free for as long as I can remember. That spark began during my childhood visits to the Washington Heights Public Library. One of my favorite books back then was Madeline, Ludwig Bemelmans’s classic story about a redheaded schoolgirl in Paris. Reading that series opened up a whole new world for me. I began imagining myself visiting Paris and exploring Europe someday.
Whether you call it manifestation or divine planning, that childhood dream came true when I had the opportunity to travel through Europe with my family from July to August 2011. I firmly believe that when God protects you, it doesn’t matter what forces may stand against you.
As a Dominican American, I have always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives, which led me to dedicate my career to social work. Today, as the author of Mac The Disc Dog / Mac El Perro De Disco Volador, I am passionate about raising awareness of National Family Literacy Month every November. Reading opens the imagination to worlds that might otherwise feel completely out of reach.
For bilingual families, it is essential to remember that raising children in more than one language is a tremendous opportunity. Early exposure to a richer vocabulary and diverse sentence structures in two languages gives children a broader set of tools on which to build their learning. Although the language spoken at home is often different from the one spoken and written at school or in the wider community,
reading connects written words with spoken language, giving meaning to the message. Processing two languages is like giving the brain two unique puzzles to solve at the same time.
Research shows that learning to read in more than one language stimulates a child’s brain rather than overwhelming it, and many basic reading skills naturally transfer to whichever language they eventually prefer in adulthood.
Here is my message to parents and guardians: Feel proud of your roots, and show that pride: Let your children see you speaking Spanish, even when everyone around you is speaking English. Show them where you come from with pride so they learn that their heritage is something worth claiming.
Be patient when speaking: When your child responds to you in English, celebrate the fact that they understood exactly what you said in Spanish. Speaking fluently comes with time. Keep speaking and keep reading!
Enjoy a connection without pressure: When sharing a page, no one has to prove anything. You read, they point, and Spanish fills the room. A book on the couch does quiet, consistent work.
Protect the foundations of the home: Your mother tongue is the foundation for learning, not something you should leave behind. Read stories, discuss illustrations, and introduce new vocabulary in your language. Tell stories, ask open-ended questions, and talk about everyday experiences during daily routines, family celebrations, and conversations with loved ones. As English becomes more dominant at school, families play a key role in keeping Spanish alive and thriving at home.
Together, let’s raise children who are curious about the world, who see themselves reflected in stories, and who learn to appreciate experiences different from their own. Visit your local library and make a list of books to read together. After all, reading is not something we celebrate for just one month a year; it is a lifelong journey.
*Ivette O’Sullivan is the author of Mac the Disc Dog / Mac El Perro De Disco Volador, winner of an Honorable Mention in the Ella’s Way Children’s Literary Awards. ivetteosullivanbooks.com COPYRIGHT 2026
La Voz, Cultura y noticias hispanas del Valle de Hudson
As a Dominican American, I have always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives, which led me to dedicate my career to social work. Today, as the author of Mac The Disc Dog / Mac El Perro De Disco Volador, I am passionate about raising awareness of National Family Literacy Month every November. Reading opens the imagination to worlds that might otherwise feel completely out of reach.
For bilingual families, it is essential to remember that raising children in more than one language is a tremendous opportunity. Early exposure to a richer vocabulary and diverse sentence structures in two languages gives children a broader set of tools on which to build their learning. Although the language spoken at home is often different from the one spoken and written at school or in the wider community,
reading connects written words with spoken language, giving meaning to the message. Processing two languages is like giving the brain two unique puzzles to solve at the same time.
Research shows that learning to read in more than one language stimulates a child’s brain rather than overwhelming it, and many basic reading skills naturally transfer to whichever language they eventually prefer in adulthood.
Here is my message to parents and guardians: Feel proud of your roots, and show that pride: Let your children see you speaking Spanish, even when everyone around you is speaking English. Show them where you come from with pride so they learn that their heritage is something worth claiming.
Be patient when speaking: When your child responds to you in English, celebrate the fact that they understood exactly what you said in Spanish. Speaking fluently comes with time. Keep speaking and keep reading!
Enjoy a connection without pressure: When sharing a page, no one has to prove anything. You read, they point, and Spanish fills the room. A book on the couch does quiet, consistent work.
Protect the foundations of the home: Your mother tongue is the foundation for learning, not something you should leave behind. Read stories, discuss illustrations, and introduce new vocabulary in your language. Tell stories, ask open-ended questions, and talk about everyday experiences during daily routines, family celebrations, and conversations with loved ones. As English becomes more dominant at school, families play a key role in keeping Spanish alive and thriving at home.
Together, let’s raise children who are curious about the world, who see themselves reflected in stories, and who learn to appreciate experiences different from their own. Visit your local library and make a list of books to read together. After all, reading is not something we celebrate for just one month a year; it is a lifelong journey.
*Ivette O’Sullivan is the author of Mac the Disc Dog / Mac El Perro De Disco Volador, winner of an Honorable Mention in the Ella’s Way Children’s Literary Awards. ivetteosullivanbooks.com COPYRIGHT 2026
La Voz, Cultura y noticias hispanas del Valle de Hudson
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