Spanish Language Books for Children

Vampires oh my!

2010-02-09T16:20:11-08:00

Crepúsculo (Twilight) (Twilight Saga)

Author: Stephenie Meyer

What's hotter than vampires these days? Vampires in Español of course.

When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerizing voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. Up until now, he has managed to keep his vampire identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret.

Description in Spanish: ''Hay tres cosas de las que estoy completamente segura. Primera, Edward es un vampiro. Segunda, una parte de el se muere por beber mi sangre. Y tercera, estoy total y perdidamente enamorada de el''. Cuando Isabella Swan se muda a Forks, una pequena localidad del estado de Washington en la que no deja de llover, piensa que es lo mas aburrido que le podia haber ocurrido en la vida. Pero su vida da un giro excitante y aterrador una vez que se encuentra con el misterioso y seductor Edward Cullen. Hasta ese momento, Edward se las ha arreglado para mantener en secreto su identidad vampirica, pero ahora nadie se encuentra a salvo, y sobre todo Isabella, la persona a quien mas quiere Edward.

Despereaux

2008-09-30T10:42:18-07:00

Title: Despereaux
Author: Kate DiCamillo
ISBN: 8427932588
Reading Level: Ages 9-12

We love love love Despereaux. My 3rd grader had a slow start but once he got into the story, it was a race to the finish. This is the first real novel he's read and his enthusiasm to tell me what just happened in each chapter was tremendous.

Of course my son was motivated to read the book because of the movie trailer:

Here's the Amazon review:

Kate DiCamillo, author of the Newbery Honor book Because of Winn-Dixie, spins a tidy tale of mice and men where she explores the "powerful, wonderful, and ridiculous" nature of love, hope, and forgiveness. Her old-fashioned, somewhat dark story, narrated "Dear Reader"-style, begins "within the walls of a castle, with the birth of a mouse." Despereaux Tilling, the new baby mouse, is different from all other mice. Sadly, the romantic, unmouselike spirit that leads the unusually tiny, large-eared mouse to the foot of the human king and the beautiful Princess Pea ultimately causes him to be banished by his own father to the foul, rat-filled dungeon.

The first book of four tells Despereaux's sad story, where he falls deeply in love with Princess Pea and meets his cruel fate. The second book introduces another creature who differs from his peers--Chiaroscuro, a rat who instead of loving the darkness of his home in the dungeon, loves the light so much he ends up in the castle& in the queen's soup. The third book describes young Miggery Sow, a girl who has been "clouted" so many times that she has cauliflower ears. Still, all the slow-witted, hard-of-hearing Mig dreams of is wearing the crown of Princess Pea. The fourth book returns to the dungeon-bound Despereaux and connects the lives of mouse, rat, girl, and princess in a dramatic denouement.

Children whose hopes and dreams burn secretly within their hearts will relate to this cast of outsiders who desire what is said to be out of their reach and dare to break "never-to-be-broken rules of conduct." Timothy Basil Ering's pencil illustrations are stunning, reflecting DiCamillo's extensive light and darkness imagery as well as the sweet, fragile nature of the tiny mouse hero who lives happily ever after. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Camaleón - Series Books for 12 yrs +

2008-02-27T10:11:10-08:00

Title: Camaleón
Author: Nacho Docavo Alberti
Colección: Barco de Vapor Roja
ISBN: 9788467502992

Summary:
Nico is fifteen years old and works alongside his family, as a trapeze artist at the Star Circus. One day the Grand Naurm appears at the circus, an elderly magician who "instead of disappearing, appears." The relationship between Nico and Naurim becomes very close, but things get complicated and Naurim has to leave abruptly, but not before leaving his friend the secret of his magic: the Chameleon Skin, with which Nico saves the circus from closing its doors.

Resumen
Nico tiene quince años y trabaja, junto a su familia, como trapecista en el Circo Estelar. Un día aparece en el circo el Gran Naurim, un anciano mago que "en vez de desaparecer, aparece". La relación entre Nico y Naurim se hace muy estrecha, pero las cosas se tuercen y Naurim tiene que marcharse repentinamente, no sin antes dejar a su amigo el secreto de su magia: la Piel de Camaleón, con la que Nico logrará descubrir a unos ladrones de cuadros y conseguir una recompensa importante que servirá para que el circo se salve de cerrar sus puertas.

There are five books in the Camaleón series:

Camaleón y la Gondola Dorada, ISBN: 9788467503012
La Guarida de Camaleón, ISBN: 9788467503036
Camaleón en las tumbas de Menorca, ISBN: 9788467503005
Camaleón y el Complot en Los Balcanes, ISBN: 9788467503029

Need a new series for your 3rd-5th Grader? Geronimo Stilton to the Rescue

2007-12-12T15:32:07-08:00

We've recently discovered the wonderful world of Geronimo Stilton. Always on the look out for a good long series (having exhausted Casa de Arbol and Capitan Calzoncillos), the Geronimo Stilton series of books (up to 33 with more coming out next year) is a funny, punny, fast paced set of chapter books with great illustrations and playful typography.
The Spanish is accessible and the vocabulary is rich but not obscure so kids will be able to easily figure out the words within the context of the sentence. There's a little bit of of the vosotros (-ais/-eis) but not enough to be inpenetrable.

Who is Geronimo Stilton?

Geronimo Stilton is the international bestselling author of the Geronimo Stilton chapter book series --- and he's a mouse! His United States publishing company, Scholastic, calls him a VIR (Very Important Rodent) and hails him as a big cheese.

Geronimo is the editor of the New Mouse City newspaper, The Rodent's Gazette. Although Geronimo likes to stay home with his nice couch and his huge fridge full of cheddar, Swiss and Bleu cheeses, he often finds himself traveling afar --- and having the most incredible jaunts ever.

Geronimo became an author when he decided to write down the many exciting adventures he shares with his sister Thea, cousin Trap, nephew Benjamin, and other nice, I mean "mice," characters. His first book, the bestselling LOST TREASURE OF THE EMERALD EYE, was warmly welcomed by readers who are now pouncing on each new book. In spite of his newspaper duties and his frequent escapades, Geronimo is a prolific writer. There will be a new Geronimo Stilton adventure once a month.

Browse the Amazon collection of Geronimo Stilton!

RSS Feeds for the newest Spanish Children's Titles from Amazon!

2007-11-30T12:49:55-08:00

Amazon has a terrific RSS feed that you can subscribe to for hot new releases in children's books in spanish. The ?tag=sipapa-20 means that SIPAPA gets commissions on your book purchases! Copy these RSS feed into Yahoo or your favorite RSS Reader:

For Elementary School Readers

Hot New Releases In Books: Infante y juvenil (all ages updated every hour)

http://www.amazon.com/rss/new-releases/books/301735/ref=pd_nr_rss_link?tag=sipapa-20

Hot New Releases In Books: Infante y juvenil ages 4-8 (all ages updated every hour)

http://www.amazon.com/rss/new-releases/books/301739/ref=pd_nr_rss_link?tag=sipapa-20

Hot New Releases In Books: Infante y juvenil ages 9-12 (all ages updated every hour)

http://www.amazon.com/rss/new-releases/books/301740/ref=pd_nr_rss_link?tag=sipapa-20

Hot New Releases In Books: Infante y juvenil SERIES books ages 9-12 (all ages updated every hour)

http://www.amazon.com/rss/new-releases/books/308194011/ref=pd_nr_rss_link?tag=sipapa-20

For Middle School and High School readers:

Hot New Releases In Books: Infante y juvenil ADOLESCENTS (updated every hour)

http://www.amazon.com/rss/new-releases/books/301741/ref=pd_nr_rss_link?tag=sipapa-20

Guide to Barco de Vapor Books

2007-10-08T10:56:35-07:00

El Barco de Vapor is a publisher's imprint of children's books in Spanish. They carry a mixture of original spanish language books as well as translated titles such as Captain Underpants. The website is completely in Spanish and the catalog provides summaries of the titles in Spanish as well. Unfortunately you cannot purchase books directly from the website.

The Barco de Vapor series is color-coded. You'll notice the color on the cover of the book. Each color indicates the recommended age range:

Serie Blanca (white) - new readers

Serie Azul (blue) - 7 to 9 year olds

Serie Naranja (orange) - 9 to 12 year olds

Serie Rojo (red) - 12 years +

Easy Crossword Puzzles for 4-8 year olds

2007-10-08T10:38:04-07:00

Easy Spanish Crossword Puzzles
ISBN 0486274527
Publisher: Dover
Reading Level: Ages 4-8

As children fill in the correct Spanish word in this mini-treasury of 25 six-word crossword puzzles, they'll enjoy all the fun of puzzle-solving as they build their basic Spanish vocabularies. With fun-to-color pictures of each word, an alphabetical list of Spanish words with their articles, English translations and solutions.

Spiderman en Español

2007-07-10T11:17:34-07:00

Ultimate Spiderman: Doble Problema
ISBN: 9871215010

The story focuses a lot on how Peter Parker became Spiderman. the story is also told in how someone, like Peter Parker would act in our century. Instead of working as a photographer at the Daily Bugle, he works as a web designer. Usually, in the older comics, the story on how Spiderman got his powers would be explained in one or two 20 page comics. Now, as a graphic novel, they can do more. Definitely a read for Spiderman fans.

Available through: Amazon

Spiderman Ultimate 19 - En Poder del Duende Verde
ISBN: 9872216916

Available through: Amazon

Spiderman NB: 21
iSBN: 9872216908

Available through: Amazon

Ultimate Spider Man NB: 21 - Heroe Fuera de La Ley
ISBN: 9871272006

Available through: Amazon

Spiderman #22
ISBN: 9872216940

Available through: Amazon

Spiderman NB: 23 Alianza Profana
ISBN: 9871272022

Available through: Amazon

More Comic Books - Tintin!

2007-07-06T08:47:43-07:00

Tintin was the determined and resilient hero of a comic book series that took him on thrilling adventures around the world â and on some voyages not quite of this world. Actually, though Tintin is not as well known in the U.S. as in Europe, his distinctive tuft of ginger hair and Hergé's no less distinctive drawing style will ring a bell with many Americans. Appearing from 1929 to 1982, the series took Tintin to the planet's most exotic places to confront all sorts of danger, treachery and political machinations, with an emphasis on the fast-paced visuals of trains, planes, cars, bombs and other new technologies. (Source: Tintin and I)

Both Amazon and Last Gasp Books (do a search on Tintin Spanish) have a wide selection of Tintin comic books in Spanish. Below are a random sampling of Tintin on Amazon. Click hereto browse the entire Amazon selection.

El Cangrejo en los Pinzas de Oro/The Crab with the Golden Claws
Herge
ISBN: 0686543351

On a visit to his friends the detectives Thomson and Thompson, Tintin recognizes a piece of paper torn from the label of a can. Earlier in the day Snowy had found the can with the rest of the label attached on the street. The label shows a picture of a red crab on a golden background and is evidence in an investigation into counterfeit money...

Available through: Amazon

Objecto: La Luna/Destination Moon
Herge
ISBN: 2203751495

Destination Moon (Objectif Lune) is the sixteenth of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip albums, written and illustrated by Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring young reporter Tintin as a hero. Destination Moon is the first part of one of the four multi-book stories in the Tintin series, the other part being Explorers on the Moon (read more...)

Available through: Amazon

Hemos Pisado la luna/Explorers on the Moon
Herge
ISBN: 8426114121

Explorers on the Moon (On a marché sur la Lune), published in 1954 is the seventeenth of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip albums, written and illustrated by Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring young reporter Tintin as a hero. It is the second of a two-part adventure begun in Destination Moon.

The story continues from Destination Moon. Calculus is taking Tintin, Tintin's dog Snowy, Haddock and his assistant Frank Wolff to the moon in his rocket.

At least he thinks that's all: but soon the Thompson twins come up from the hold. (read more...)

Available through: Amazon

El Asunto Tornosal/The Calculus Affair
Herge
ISBN: 842611413X

The Calculus Affair (L'Affaire Tournesol) is the eighteenth of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip albums, written and illustrated by Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring young reporter Tintin as a hero.

Some, such as Benoit Peeters, in his book Tintin and the World of Hergé have labeled this as the greatest of the series. The Tintin website ^[1] dubbs The Calculus Affair as the most "detective-like" of the whole series. (read more...)

Available through: Amazon

Tintin en el Tibet/Tintin in Tibet
Herge
ISBN: 8426114032

Tintin in Tibet is the twentieth book in the series. It is said to have been Hergés favourite of the Tintin series ...The story is unlike any previous Tintin books, before or since: there are no enemies and only a small number of characters. (read more...)

Available through: Amazon

story synopses from Wikipedia

We love Star Wars comic books

2007-07-03T08:18:57-07:00

We went through an intense Star Wars phase last year and I was desperate to find Star Wars material in Spanish. I found some novels that nearly killed me as I tried to read them out loud to my son - both the vocabulary and the vosotros (after all these books were originally published in Spain) left us exhausted.

Fortunately, the Star Wars comic books & graphic novels came to the rescue. Pictures + text (still that vosotros but hey, it's preparation for Spanish Lit).

Last year I read them to my 6 year old son; this summer he's reading them again on his own. The suggested age range is 9-12 year olds. Check them out:

Star Wars: La Guerra De Los Clones Adventuras Volume 1 (Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures Volume 1)
ISBN: 1593075804

Dark Horse is making this title available in Spanish language for the first time! New stories of heroism and villainy inspired by the Cartoon Network's Clone Wars cartoons, with the same stripped-down visual style in a 96-page digest format!

Available through: Amazon

Star Wars: La Guerra De Los Clones: La Defensa de Kamino (Star Wars: Clone Wars Defense of Kamino)
ISBN: 1593075812

Dark Horse is making this title available in Spanish language for the first time! The Clone Wars have begun! Ever since they were mentioned in the very first Star Wars film, fans have been dying to know more. Attack of the Clones offered a glimpse, but "The Defense of Kamino" brings the galaxy-wide conflict into full view! This volume collects Star Wars: Republic #49-50 and Star Wars: Jedi - Mace Windu.

Available through: Amazon

Star Wars: El Imperio Volumen 1 (Star Wars: Empire Volume 1)
ISBN: 1593075820

Dark Horse is making this title available in Spanish language for the first time! In the weeks before the events in Star Wars: A New Hope, as the Death Star is readied for its fateful first mission, a power-hungry cabal of Grand Mofs and Imperial Officers embark on a dangerous plan to kill Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader and seize control of the Empire!

Available through: Amazon

Star Wars: Aventuras en las Guerras Clonicas: Volume 2 / Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures
ISBN: 9509051918

In the rolling asteroid rings above a remote planet, General Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker play a deadly game of cat and mouse against Separatist droid fighters - and a squadron of highly skilled human pilots who have pledged their guns to Count Dooku. Find out why Anakin is known as the greatest pilot in the galaxy! Also in this volume, Jedi Master Luminara Unuli and her Padawan Barriss Offee race against time to evacuate farmers and their families before the droid forces of General Grievous overrun their village. When Barriss and her squad of clone troopers are caught in the path of the enemy army, only fast thinking and steel resolve can save the day! Incredible action, hot art, and lightning-fast pacing are coming your way in this new take on the Star Wars galaxy!

Available through: Amazon

Star Wars: Aventuras en las Guerras Clonicas: Volume 3 / Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures
ISBN: 9509051926

As the Clone Wars continue to rock the Star Wars universe, the Republic's forces, led by the Jedi, find themselves drawn ever-deeper into Darth Sidious' evil web. With stories covering all aspects of the Clone Wars - from the trials of the revered Jedi Master Yoda, to the tribulations of the lowliest Clone Troopers fighting on the front lines, to the wicked machinations of the dreaded Count Dooku and General Grievous - these fast-paced tales feature a unique look into the world of Star Wars and at the events that shook the galaxy far, far away...

Available through: Amazon