6 Books Recommended for Parents Raising Multilingual Kids
February 06, 2025
Whether you are a parent or not, raising or being around multilingual children comes with numerous challenges. Some people may feel lost, while others write entire books on multilingual parenting styles. There are many things to consider, tips to try, and experiences to relate to. If you want to expand your knowledge on multilingual parenting, check out our list of six books recommended for parents raising multilingual children.
Bilingual vs. Multilingual
Bilingual children usually have fairly straightforward routines when it comes to mastering two languages at once. Common strategies include the "one parent, one language" approach or speaking one language at home while using the other outside. The boundaries between languages remain clear, making it relatively easy for families to maintain consistency in spoken languages.
However, when a child is exposed to more than two languages, navigating everyday language routines may become more challenging. But don’t lose hope of raising a little polyglot! With the right methods and consistency, even a small child can handle multiple languages at once. These books may not only inspire you but also help you create structure for your multilingual family.
1. Colors & Shapes: In 10 Languages by Tye Alexandra
While this book doesn’t provide specific tips on raising multilingual children, it’s a great activity book for toddlers and young children struggling with language basics. I wanted to include this title because it offers a fun way to learn together with your kids.
2. Raising Multilingual Children by Julia Festman, Gregory J. Poarch, and Jean-Marc Dewaele
If you’ve ever wondered whether multilingual upbringing might harm your child, this book should be your next read. The authors are not only multilingual themselves but also raising their children in multilingual environments. They present research-backed insights on the advantages of mastering multiple languages.
If a family member frequently questions your decision to raise a multilingual child, this book will provide strong, research-based arguments to support your choice.
3. Learning to Read and Write in the Multilingual Family by Xiao-lei Wang
This book combines interdisciplinary research with real-life experiences from multilingual families. It guides you through different literacy milestones that children should achieve at each stage of their development until adolescence.
Moreover, it offers practical suggestions for improving your child’s reading and writing skills at every stage. The author, Xiao-lei Wang, has extensive academic and research experience, making this book a valuable investment for any multilingual family.
Read Also: How Many Languages Can a Child Learn Simultaneously?
4. Multilingual Children: How to Develop All the Languages They Need & What to Do When You’re Worried by Mary-Pat O’Malley
This book demystifies common concerns about language development delays in multilingual children. The author walks you through different stages of language acquisition and provides helpful tips for situations where something seems off.
Language development delay is one of the most common concerns for parents raising multilingual children. If you’re unsure about multilingual upbringing, this book offers a mix of research data and real-life experiences from successful multilingual families.
Mary-Pat O'Malley is a highly qualified professional in this field, with over 25 years of experience as a language therapist, including work with multilingual families.
5. Children’s Multilingual Development and Education: Fostering Linguistic Resources in Home and School Contexts by Alison L. Bailey and Anna V. Osipova
These authors collected valuable insights from parents and teachers who successfully maintained their children's language skills at home and in school. The book blends personal experiences, best practices, and research data, offering effective strategies for fostering multiple languages in young children. This title is useful for both parents and educators.
6. Growing Up with Languages: Reflections on Multilingual Childhoods by Claire Thomas
Unlike the other books on this list, this one focuses on multilingual upbringing from the child’s perspective. It contains over 50 interviews with adults who grew up speaking multiple languages across different countries. This book offers a unique opportunity to understand what your child may be experiencing while navigating multiple languages.
The Limited Resources
Multilingual upbringing is still not widely discussed in literature or research, meaning that only a few high-quality books are available. However, if you’re looking for books about bilingual upbringing, you’ll find dozens of titles written by researchers, parents, and educators. Bilingualism has been studied for much longer, while multilingualism has only recently gained popularity and recognition. Hopefully, more books on this topic will become available in the near future.
What to Take Away
If you are raising multilingual children, you may need additional resources at some point. Searching for information and tips online can be time-consuming, and sources are not always reliable. Investing in a well-researched book can help expand your knowledge while providing a trustworthy source of information.
Do you have any book recommendations? Feel free to share them so we can add them to this list.
Happy learning!
Hana Koubova
Language enthusiast
