This article is a defense of translation as a major input in the internationalization and multiculturalism of Spanish society. The conclusions for internationalization are drawn from percentages of translations in the catalogues of some major publishing houses which specialize in children's literature: Barco de Vapor, Alfaguara, Anaya and Bruño. Multiculturalism is analyzed from the introduction, through the translation, of cultural references such as: geographical names, names and surnames, foodstuff and drinks, names of meals, names of objects and words in other languages.