Alma at Home/Alma en casa

What a delightful addition to Martinez-Neal's Alma series! This board book follows our beloved Alma through her morning routine at home, and it's absolutely perfect for toddlers and young preschoolers. The story shows Alma washing up, putting on her striped outfit and bow, eating breakfast with her family, and having her brother read to her before going outside to play with Pajarito.
As someone who's always advocating for quality bilingual books, I'm thrilled with how seamlessly Martinez-Neal integrates English and Spanish throughout the story. The bilingual format isn't forced or awkward - it flows naturally. My preschooler loves pointing to objects and hearing both languages, which has been fantastic for vocabulary building in both languages. He has actually started asking, “What is this in Spanish?” frequently.
From a developmental perspective, this book is gold for very young children. Morning routines are such an important part of toddler and preschooler security, and seeing Alma's predictable, loving routine helps children understand structure and family rhythms. The simple, repetitive text structure is perfect for emerging language skills, and the familiar activities make it instantly relatable.
The illustrations maintain Martinez-Neal's signature warmth and cultural authenticity. I love how she shows Alma's family interactions - the gentle care in getting ready, the cozy moment of brother reading to sister, the freedom to play outside. These details reinforce positive family dynamics and sibling relationships.
What makes this book particularly special is how it celebrates the ordinary moments that make up childhood. In our fast-paced world, books that honor simple daily rhythms and family connections are important. This has become part of our own morning routine discussions, and my children love comparing their routines to Alma's. It's a perfect bridge between Martinez-Neal's more complex Alma stories and board books for the youngest readers.