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Childrens Books in Spanish

Sir LandsharkSir Landshark resting shark faceRegistered User regular
in Help / Advice Forum
I have a pretty specific question for H/A, but I'm hoping there's someone here who can help me out.

I am conversationally fluent in Spanish but my vocabulary has really atrophied in the past 10 years or so due to lack of use and study. I try and speak Spanish with my son as much as possible but I thought it would really help to get some children's books in Spanish as he currently loves being read to. He is approximately 18 months in age.

The problem is, I ordered Spanish versions of his favorite English books (specifically Go Dog Go and One Fish Two Fish) and they are terrible! The translations are either poorly done, or they use super complicated grammar/vocab as opposed to the basic stuff present in the English versions.

So does anyone have recommendations for very basic children's books in Spanish?

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Posts

  • ceresceres When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning And the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    Have you tried going to amazon and searching "children's books in spanish" or similar? You may find something to your liking, but read the reviews, and while you're doing so keep an eye out for notes on the translation. You may also find some books that are originally intended for native Spanish-speakers in Mexico or Spain of [insert Spanish-speaking country here], which is probably more what I would be looking for if I were trying to do something like this, rather than books that started out in English.

    And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn
  • FantasmaFantasma Registered User regular
    edited November 2012
    Hello,

    Following ceres recommendation, I did a quick search in Amazon.com using the keywords "Cuentos Infantiles", I must admit I don't know the material in question, but here you are:

    http://www.amazon.com/Cuentos-contaban-nuestras-abuelas-Abuelitas/dp/1416939652/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352462309&sr=8-1&keywords=cuentos+infantiles

    http://www.amazon.com/Disney-Tesoro-cuentos-Coleccion-Treasure/dp/9707185538/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1352462309&sr=8-3&keywords=cuentos+infantiles

    http://www.amazon.com/Cuentos-para-ninos-Duende-Spanish/dp/8430562346/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352462683&sr=1-11&keywords=cuentos+para+ninos+en+espanol

    Fantasma on
    Hear my warnings, unbelievers. We have raised altars in this land so that we may sacrifice you to our gods. There is no hope in opposing the inevitable. Put down your arms, unbelievers, and bow before the forces of Chaos!
  • Sir LandsharkSir Landshark resting shark face Registered User regular
    Yeah, my first attempts were all through amazon, which is how I got Go Dog Go and One Fish Two Fish in Spanish.

    The reviews for both were quite positive but I personally found them both to be too grammatically complex and idiomatic for a young one that only has one (mediocre) Spanish speaking parent. I guess I was hoping someone might be able to personally recommend a book they grew up with or that they read to their young children.

    Otherwise I guess I can try to find a brick and mortar store with a decent selection and browse there.

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  • DisruptedCapitalistDisruptedCapitalist I swear! Registered User regular
    edited November 2012
    How bad was it anyway? Something like this seems easy enough...

    "¡Hola!"

    "¡Hola!"

    "Te gusta mi sombrero?"

    "No me gusta"

    "¡Adiós!"

    "¡Adiós!"


    Assuming I remember Spanish well enough...

    DisruptedCapitalist on
    "Simple, real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time." -Mustrum Ridcully in Terry Pratchett's Hogfather p. 142 (HarperPrism 1996)
  • Sir LandsharkSir Landshark resting shark face Registered User regular
    I'm at work, but this is what I remember from One Fish Two Fish

    This one has a little car
    This one has a little star
    Say, what a lot of fish there are

    Este va a todo dar
    Va tan rapido en su auto
    Que se va a estrellar!

    It may not actually be Go Dog Go but another Dr. Seuss book that we got. I'll text my wife and see. I agree it seems really hard to screw up Go Dog Go.

    Please consider the environment before printing this post.
  • DisruptedCapitalistDisruptedCapitalist I swear! Registered User regular
    Ah... I guess the problems arise in trying to rhyme the words.

    "Simple, real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time." -Mustrum Ridcully in Terry Pratchett's Hogfather p. 142 (HarperPrism 1996)
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