Mission Statement

The mission of Bilingual Bookshelf is to bridge the literacy gap for young English as a Second Language (ESL) learners in underserved communities by providing accessible, bilingual educational resources. Through our innovative mobile app, we aim to empower children by offering engaging children’s books in both English and Spanish, read aloud by teachers and students.

We recognize that many children in these communities face significant barriers to literacy, often lacking access to resources and support at home, especially in the context of learning a second language. To address this, Bilingual Bookshelf is focused on creating a free, easily accessible platform that allows children to hear stories in both English and Spanish, helping to build language proficiency and foster a love of reading.

A core component of our project involves distributing devices—iPads and iPhones—to local healthcare offices, such as pediatrician and dentist offices, where children frequently wait for appointments. By strategically placing these devices in spaces children visit regularly, we can seamlessly integrate literacy development into their everyday experiences. While waiting, children can engage with the app, listening to the stories being read aloud in both languages, offering them a meaningful, educational distraction that supports their language learning journey.

This approach also ensures that the app is accessible to children who may not have a device at home, ensuring that all children, regardless of their family’s financial situation, can benefit from the program. The devices are pre-loaded with the Bilingual Bookshelf app, providing a fun, interactive tool for developing literacy skills at no cost to families or schools.

Our goal is to create an educational ecosystem where children are equipped with the resources they need to succeed in a bilingual world. By distributing devices in doctor’s offices, we are making literacy development accessible, convenient, and a natural part of children’s daily routines, while also alleviating the burden on families who may not have the means to purchase digital devices themselves. Ultimately, Bilingual Bookshelf seeks to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive, both academically and personally, in an increasingly interconnected, multilingual society.