Children's books for an intermediate Spanish speaker

Question

I've been learning Spanish for a few years now and wanted to help further my understanding. A while back I heard one of the best ways to do that is to read children books in Spanish because they're simple and just as children learn we learn. My question is does anyone know any good children's books in Spanish? Some that they enjoy and yet are a little challenging for a intermediate Spanish speaking student.

¡Gracias amigos!

Also wait and see if AnnRon answers, she is an author of children's books, and a librarian, and if you can give some idea of what your like, she may have ideas. :) - bosquederoble, Mar 7, 2016

Answer 1

I have read some of the Manolito Gafotas books by Elvira Lindo They are about a boy in a working class area of Madrid. They have made a film too. However, there are colloquialisms.

We read some of the 'se vende Mamá by Caro Sante in class. Again it is based in Spain and any colloquialisms are from there.

I have heard this is good Historia de una gaviota y del gato que le enseno a volar by Luis Sepulveda He is Chilean though he now lives in Spain.

I like Soldados de Salamatina by Javier Cercas. It is about the Spanish Civil War though part is set in the present. He is a journalist and I find the journalistic style is easier for me to read. It is an adult book. If you are based in the States you may prefer books written in Mexico or Latin America. I like crime fiction.

You need to read something you like. If you get a reading app you can download to a laptop or tablet. Try El País en 35 historías. Short articles published in El Pais the last 35 years. It is free

With ebooks you can download the first few chapters as a preview which is a good way to try different writing.

Answer 2

When I was at the right level, I enjoyed reading the Mary Pope Osbourne series- they were action oriented and involved some history. The downsides- they are written for children, and they are translations from English. But translations are not necessarily bad in the early stages of learning. Part of the attraction was that my library system had them, so I could just order them online and my wife would pick them up at the library when she went.

I think I might have read these 1-1.5 years into my learning. Anyway what you read will depend on your tastes, but if you have any English series that you enjoyed, there might be a translation of the series.