Answer
Can I get a bilingual personalized children’s book?
Yes. Akoni Books makes bilingual personalized storybooks in English plus one second language — Spanish, French, Portuguese or Mandarin Chinese — with the entire story in both languages on every page, including the dedication. It is not a separate translated edition you buy instead; it is one book that carries both languages side by side, so a child can read it with a parent or grandparent who speaks either one.
The personalization is unchanged: the child is still illustrated as the hero from one photo. Turning it on is a single toggle — "Add a second language" — when you create the book, and it adds $10 to any format: digital $19.99, softcover $39.99, hardcover $49.99. The story, the illustrations and the translation are all AI-generated. You preview the book free before paying.
The details, in one place
| Languages offered | Spanish (Español) · French (Français) · Portuguese (Português) · Mandarin Chinese (中文) |
|---|---|
| How the two languages sit | Both languages on every page — the full story, plus the title and the dedication |
| Price | +$10 on any format: digital $19.99, softcover $39.99, hardcover $49.99 |
| How to turn it on | The "Add a second language" toggle on the create page, before you generate the book |
| Personalization | Unchanged — one photo, the child illustrated as the hero on every page |
| Speed | about a minute for a digital book on the most popular themes |
| 5–7 business days, free shipping, 8 × 8 inches square | |
| Translation method | AI-generated, like the story text and illustrations |
Pick the second language
Each link opens the create page with that language already selected. English is always the first language.
Why "both languages on every page" matters
Most bilingual children’s books are published as two separate editions, or as an English book with a translated block relegated to the back. Neither helps in the situation that actually drives the purchase: a mixed-language household, where the person reading aloud and the child listening are not equally fluent in the same language.
Putting both languages on the same page solves that directly. A grandparent who reads in Spanish and a grandchild who reads in English can share one physical book, on the same page, at the same time. The dedication is translated too, so the signed first page — "For Maya, with love. From Grandma" — reads in both languages as well.
What is unchanged, and what is not
Unchanged: the photo-based likeness, the nine art styles, the age range of 2 to 10, the themes, the free preview, the print formats and the refund policy.
Changed: every page carries two blocks of text instead of one, so a bilingual book runs longer than the standard 35-page English edition. The price is $10 higher on whichever format you pick.
Chosen up front: the second language is selected before generation, not afterwards.
Make their book in two languages
One photo, their name, and a second language. See the cover and opening pages free before you decide.
Start a bilingual bookIf the child does not light up when they see themselves in the book, email us within 30 days of delivery and we refund you in full — and they keep the book.
Frequently asked questions
What languages can a bilingual Akoni book be made in?
English plus one of four second languages: Spanish (Español), French (Français), Portuguese (Português) or Mandarin Chinese (中文). Every book includes English; the second language is what you select.
Are the two languages on the same page or in separate sections?
The same page. Each page carries the story text in English and in the second language, and the dedication page is bilingual too. That is what makes it readable by a parent, a grandparent and a child who do not all share one first language.
How much does a bilingual personalized book cost?
A second language adds $10 to any format. That makes a bilingual digital PDF $19.99, a bilingual 8 × 8 inch softcover $39.99, and a bilingual hardcover $49.99. Printed formats include the digital PDF and ship free.
Is the child still illustrated from a photo in a bilingual book?
Yes — the bilingual option changes the text, not the illustrations. You still upload one photo and the child is rendered as the illustrated hero on every page in whichever of the nine art styles you pick.
Who translates the story?
The translation is AI-generated, as are the story text and the illustrations. Each translated book is checked for completeness before it ships; if the translation cannot be produced, the book ships in English only rather than shipping half-translated.
Can I choose the second language after the book is made?
No — select it before you generate, using the "Add a second language" toggle on the create page. The translation is produced as part of building the book, and the bilingual layout changes the pages themselves.
Is a bilingual book good for a child who is only just learning the second language?
That is the common use. Because both languages appear on the same page, a child who reads confidently in one can follow along in the other, and the adult reading aloud can switch between them. It is also the usual choice when a grandparent’s first language differs from the child’s.
Can I still see it free before buying?
Yes. The free preview shows the illustrated cover, the bilingual dedication and the opening pages, with no card required.
Last reviewed July 2026. Prices, formats and turnaround times on this page are checked against the live Akoni Books product.