Frequently Asked Questions
📚 About Our Books
What types of bilingual and foreign language children's books do you stock?
Our collection includes two types of children's books. Our Arabic books are bilingual Arabic-English editions, featuring both languages on the same page, perfect for bilingual children, heritage language learners and multicultural families in the UK.
Our Portuguese collection is written entirely in Portuguese, ideal for native Portuguese-speaking families or parents seeking full heritage language immersion. Our Portuguese books are written entirely in Portuguese and are not bilingual editions.
We will soon be adding Polish-English bilingual collection to our website, so follow us on socials to be up to date on all launch details.
What languages do you stock?
We currently stock:
- Arabic-English bilingual books
- Portuguese language books
- Polish-English bilingual books — coming soon!
All collections have been carefully curated for bilingual children, heritage language learners and multicultural families across the UK. We are continuously growing and always open to suggestions for new languages, drop us a message on our socials or through our Contact page, we would love to hear from you!
Are your books suitable if I don't speak the second language?
Absolutely! Our Arabic-English bilingual books include the english text alongside Arabic on every page, so even if Arabic isn't your dominant language you can always follow along, read and attempt to pronounce the words together. No prior language knowledge needed, just a love of reading and a willingness to learn alongside your child.
What age are your books suitable for?
Our collection covers babies and toddlers right through to early storytelling and fairy tale reading ages. You can find the recommended age range on each individual product page to help you find the perfect book for your child.
I am struggling to engage my child with our native language — can these books help?
Absolutely! You are not alone, struggling to engage children with a heritage language is one of the most common challenges for multilingual families in the UK.
Our goal is to support children and families at every stage of their language journey, from first words to fluent readers. Through carefully chosen books built around storytelling, repetition and joyful illustration, we want to make language feel like a natural, exciting part of everyday life rather than a lesson.
Because when reading is fun, language follows.
✨ The Magic of Growing Up Bilingual
Why did I start Clara's Little Library?
I am a first time mum, and I created Clara's Little Library because throughout my daughter's early development I struggled to find meaningful, high quality books in our native language to read to her. What started as a personal frustration quickly became a much bigger question.
If I was struggling to find these books in the UK, how many other families were in the same position? How many parents were slowly giving up on their second language simply because the books just weren't there?
I wanted meaningful time away from screens with my daughter. I wanted her to develop a real love of reading, of language and of our culture, to grow up knowing where she came from and feeling proud of it.
I wanted to give other families that same chance. To read together, to connect and to keep their language alive through the stories they share.
Clara's Little Library is my answer to that struggle.
And I hope it becomes yours too.
What age should I introduce a second language?
The earlier the better! Research shows that children absorb language most naturally before the age of 7!
However it is never too late, our collection supports children at every age and stage, from babies hearing their first words to older children reconnecting with their heritage language.
Why is it important to introduce a second language early?
Research shows children exposed to a second language before age 7 develop stronger cognitive skills, better problem solving abilities and higher literacy levels. The earlier you start, the easier it is.
What if my child is not keen on taking on the second language and I am feeling deflated?
First of all, you are doing an amazing job!
Life gets in the way, work, cooking, cleaning, the constant pressure to be everything for everyone whilst raising another human being.
Be proud of yourself for wanting to give your child the gift of a second language, and for showing up, whatever and however that looks like for you and your family dynamic.
Whether you speak it fluently or are learning alongside them, language journeys are rarely linear and every child is different.
There is no perfect way and no perfect timeline. The right book at the right moment can change everything, a story that makes them laugh, a character that looks like them, a word that suddenly clicks.
Our collections are chosen to spark curiosity and make language feel exciting rather than overwhelming. Start small, read together, and let the stories do the work.
🛍️ Orders, Delivery & Our Values
Do you offer free delivery?
Yes — we offer free UK delivery on all orders over £20, automatically calculated at checkout!
With books across our Arabic-English bilingual, Portuguese language and our exciting upcoming Polish-English collection, it's easy to reach the free delivery threshold and even easier to find something your child will love.
Do you ship outside the UK?
We currently deliver across the United Kingdom. We are working to expand to Europe and the US very soon.
Follow us on Instagram to be the first to know when international shipping launches.
How long does UK delivery take?
UK orders typically arrive within 3–5 working days. You will receive a confirmation email with tracking information once your order is dispatched.
Do you work with independent publishers?
Yes, and we are proud of it. Clara's Little Library works with independent publishers, bringing carefully chosen and high quality books to families rather than mass-market titles.
What makes Clara's Little Library different?
We are not Amazon. We are an independent UK bookstore built by a mum, for families.
Every single book in our collection has been personally and carefully chosen with your child's language journey in mind.
We work with independent publishers who share our values, whilst championing likeminded mums and families who have faced the same struggles we have, and who have created something beautiful for their children because of it.
Our values align with every single publisher we work with, because at the heart of it we are all driven by the same thing, making sure no family has to struggle to find meaningful books in their language the way we once did.