In this post: A round-up of our top children’s books of Spanish fairy tales and fables—cuentos de hadas. Post contains affiliate links.
Fairy tales are a magical and timeless way to bond with children. These familiar, memorable stories are also a wonderful tool for language learning. From illustrated classics to more modern adaptations, the Spanish fairy tales and fables in this round-up make a meaningful addition to any bilingual family’s library.
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Best Spanish Fairy Tales & Fables
Reading fairy tales in Spanish is an excellent tool for language learning. Here are some of our favorite collections to add to your bookshelf:
Cuentos de hadas
Another beautiful collection (in Spanish only) is this Usborne Books edition of illustrated fairy tales.The Cuentos de Hadas Ilustrados collection is absolutely beautifully illustrated and makes a wonderful family read aloud. Great for ages 6+.
Cuentos de Hadas para Peques is very similar but for slightly younger readers ages 2–5. From “Caperucita Roja,” “Ricitos de oro,” “Cenicienta” and “La princesa y el guisante,” the simple, yet magical text makes these titles very accessible to young readers. These fairy tale collections are a must for all bookshelves!
Entra en un cuento
One of our favorite fairy tale series is “Entra en un Cuento” (Peek Inside a Fairytale) from Usborne Books & More. They have 5 titles available in Spanish and even more in English.
What we love most about each of these titles is the incredible intricacies in the design. They’re very detailed with cut-through pages that are stunning to the eye. These familiar fairy tales are so engaging that you’ll want the whole collection!
Bilingual Fairytales
We love this collection of familiar favorites like “Snow White” and “Little Red Riding Hood” for Spanish learners. Blending English with Spanish, these bilingual fairytales from Homeschool Languages are perfect for beginners! They also include native speaker audiobooks for every story, making them ideal for those who are new to the Spanish language.
With engaging illustrations and Spanish sprinkled thoughtfully throughout the pages, these fun stories will introduce beginners to Spanish vocabulary and boost their confidence.
The Fable Cottage
The Fable Cottage is an awesome resource for children! It’s a membership based resource, although you can access some stories for free.
With 5 languages to choose from and your choice of a 3-month or 12-month membership, you can access a bank of famous fairytales with native speaker audio AND videos!
If you want to check it out first, you can access Pollito Tito for FREE here.
Related post: How to Read to Your Child in Spanish
Learning Spanish With Fairytales
If you’re looking for a magical way to enrich your Spanish lessons, these fairytales are a wonderful choice. Stories are the perfect way to bond with your children and use their language skills in a meaningful way.
Here are some tips for learning and practicing Spanish with fairytales:
- Read aloud together. This is a great way to practice speaking and pronunciation.
- Use audio and video resources. Some of these books include native speaker audio videos to read along with—perfect for checking pronunciation and practicing listening.
- Pick level appropriate stories. Reading material that’s too advanced for a learner can discourage them. They need to understand enough to stay engaged!
- Review vocabulary and grammar. Choose a few key words or grammar points in the book and review them before reading. Then you can bring attention to them as you read the story.
- Repeat! Repetition is key—and part of why Spanish fairytales work so well for learning. Make reading together a part of your daily routine!
At Llamitas Spanish, using literature to support biliteracy is an important part of our curricula. If you’re looking for traditional fairytales from Spain and Latin America, you’ll also love our folklore anthology, included in our Level 3 Spanish Curriculum!
These beautifully illustrated bilingual stories explore Hispanic culture while building Spanish language proficiency. Like all of our curriculum levels, they make learning Spanish both fun and easy!
Related Posts:
Libros vivos: Spanish living books
Spanish Leveled Books and Readers
Founder of the Llamitas Spanish® Curriculum and former Spanish teacher. Corrie holds two Master Degrees in Spanish and Education. She lives in San Diego, California with her husband and two bilingual children.