Over the years, I’ve built up a rich and varied library of Spanish literature—everything from colourful baby board books to the poetic prose of Álvaro Mutis and Gabriel García Márquez. While I especially enjoy using picture books in children’s classes, there’s something truly magical about bringing the Spanish language to life through stories, songs, games, and drama. Spanish and Latin American literature also features regularly in my adult classes. In this blog post, I’m sharing some of my favourite books for adult beginners—perfect if you’re just starting out and want something that feels authentic, accessible, and inspiring.
I also subscribe to a number of Spanish-language magazines, including Leo Leo from Spain (a brilliant choice for readers aged 7–10) and La Tundra, a beautifully curated magazine that celebrates Latin American culture here in the UK. If you’d like regular book recommendations, along with practical tips and resources for learning Spanish, you can sign up for my weekly newsletter here.
El Principito – Antoine De Saint-Exupéry
This book is perfect for beginners. I was gifted this book by students I taught while I lived in Merida, Venezuela in 2002.
Back then my own Spanish was very limited – I was a total beginner and found the sentence structure and storyline refreshingly simple.
Purchase El Principito on Amazon here El Principito (affiliate link)
Cuentos e La Selva – Horacrio Quiroga
A book I use in my lessons with Improvers. It’s particularly useful to practice the imperfect tense as most of the stories are written in the imperfect.
It’s a series of short stories set in Argentina by Horacrio Quiroga and has a feel of magical realism, similar to Gabriel Garcia Marques’ novels.
There are simplified and child-friendly versions of the same book, however I use the original stories.
Available to purchase via Amazon here Cuentos de la Selva (affiliate link)
El Niño, El Topo, el Zorro y el Caballo – Charlie Mackesy
A delightful book for beginners. The great thing about this is that you can read it simultaneously with the English version – translating as you go.
I often gift this to students who graduate with me and it is always warmly received and well read by the whole family.
Purchase a copy via Amazon here El Niño, El Topo, El Zorro y El Caballo (affiliate link)
El Libro de las Preguntas by Pablo Neruda
The original poem (320 questions) The Book of Questions is suitable for intermediate to advanced learners but this bilingual Spanish-English edition children’s edition was launched recently and I made sure I got my hands on a copy. It is the first illustrated selection of questions, 70 in all.
It’s a wonderful read for beginners; adults and children alike.
Available on Amazon HERE (affiliate link)
Of course I couldn’t write this blog post without recommending my own bilingual books. Written for children they are perfect for adult beginners also and bring culture and language together. Illustrations were provided by the children I teach Spanish to and MP3 recordings are available free of charge to help learners develop listening skills. Visit my website here for more information and to order a signed copy.
Am I Nearly There Yet? ¿Ya Estoy Llegando? – Kelly Thornhill & Jude Lennon
A bi-lingual picture book for children. It follows the adventures of Frida the Monarch butterfly as she tries to find her way to Mexico for the ‘Day of the Dead Festival’. Who will she meet along the way and will she arrive in time?
Available to purchase on Amazon HERE
Fernando Can Tango ¡Fernando Baila el Tango! -Kelly Thornhill & Jude Lennon
Valentina is the best dancer in Mendoza. She longs to dance at the Tango Day Celebration in Buenos Aires. But she needs a partner to dance with. She’s heard that Fernando can tango but will she find him in time?
Fernando Baila el Tango is available to purchase on Amazon HERE
So, there you have it. A selection just a few books. Hopefully you find this useful and enjoy exploring Spanish and Latin literature. I look forward to hearing your comments on these and any other books you enjoy reading.
