Lindo Menino, Handsome Boy (Riso Books Series)

Lindo Menino, Handsome Boy is a heartwarming bilingual children's book in English and Portuguese that celebrates the incredible impact of a parent's loving words. Beautifully illustrated with original watercolor artwork, this gentle story is told from the perspective of a little boy who begins each day hearing encouraging, affirming words from his mother. As she points out his beautiful smile, lovely eyes, handsome hair, strong fingers, and kind heart, he discovers just how special he truly is.

Children thrive when they feel loved, valued, and encouraged. Through simple, meaningful language, this touching story reminds young readers that positive words have the power to build confidence, nurture self-esteem, and strengthen the bond between parent and child. It also offers parents a wonderful opportunity to create special reading moments while reinforcing the importance of speaking kindness and affirmation into a child's life.

Presented side by side in both English and European Portuguese, Lindo Menino, Handsome Boy is an excellent resource for families raising bilingual children, introducing Portuguese as a heritage language, or learning Portuguese together. The easy-to-follow bilingual format makes it accessible for both fluent speakers and beginners, allowing parents, grandparents, and caregivers to share the story regardless of their language ability.

Whether you're a Portuguese-speaking family, part of the Portuguese diaspora, or simply looking for a meaningful bilingual children's book, this story offers a beautiful way to celebrate language, culture, and unconditional love. It is perfect for bedtime reading, story time, baby showers, birthdays, or as a thoughtful gift for a young boy.

"I'm third-generation Portuguese American, so I'm not fluent in Portuguese," says author Angela Costa Simões. "When our children were little, I wanted them to grow up speaking Portuguese, but reading books written entirely in Portuguese was difficult for me. Creating bilingual books allowed our family to learn the language together while making story time enjoyable. My hope is that other families will experience that same joy and connection."

With its timeless message of love, encouragement, and belonging, Lindo Menino, Handsome Boy is more than just a bilingual picture book—it's a story that reminds every child they are wonderfully made and deeply loved.