7 Spanish Books for Kids That Teach Courage and Bravery

We all face uncertainty and fear from time to time. If you can teach your child about being courageous in the face challenge, they are far more likely to develop a healthy resilience to adversity. 

We have created a fantastic list of Spanish books for kids of all ages whose core messages are about courage and bravery. Why is this such a crucial topic to explore with your child? Because it gives them the tools to succeed by showing them how others were brave or courageous in the stories you’ll read.

Reading about values and life lessons with your children is a powerful way to introduce them to the possibilities of overcoming stressful situations. Not only do you teach them new vocabulary while sharing a story, but you also impart a wealth of social, emotional, and developmental skills that help your child to grow into a healthy, well-balanced individual. 

As you expand your bilingual library at home, we hope you delight in trying out these seven Spanish books for kids that explore the value of coraje (courage) and valentia (bravery) with heart-warming characters and unforgettable storylines.

How to Learn with Spanish Books for Kids 

These Spanish books for kids are suitable for toddlers to pre-teens. If you choose to read with your child, you can use the opportunity to work on vocabulary and continue the Spanish learning even after you’re done reading. 

If you have an older student who would like to read on their own, encourage them to keep track of new vocabulary. Here are some tips to maximize the Spanish learning possibilities:

• If you don’t speak Spanish, learn with your child! Practice the pronunciation and make a game out of practicing the words. 
• If the book has pictures, use them to check learning comprehension. Ask your child to show you where the árbol is or say what color it is. 
• For younger and older kids, keep a Spanish vocabulary journal. Look up any new words you come across and jot down their meaning and pronunciation. 
• Keep studying the new vocabulary after reading by labeling objects, making worksheets, and playing games. 
• Ask comprehension questions about the book. If your student is ready, these can be completely in Spanish. 
• Even if your student is new to the Spanish language, these books are a great way to introduce them to the language.

Whether your child is a Spanish beginner or fluent in the language, reading Spanish books for kids will improve their fluency and introduce them to new skills. 

Spanish Books for Kids About Courage and Bravery

While life is full of opportunities for us to face our fears, it’s necessary to share these skills in resiliency with our children from an early age. Showing them what it’s like to be brave in challenging situations is essential for their development—and you can accomplish this by snuggling up to read one of these Spanish books for kids who want to know more about bravery. While every story has unique vocabulary, here are five keywords to get you and your child started.

1. Porque eres especial (Because You Are Special)

Ages: 4-9

Pages: 36

Author: Alma Gross

Porque eres especial talks about the importance of embracing who you are. Kids often compare themselves to the people around them, especially in a school setting with different cliques. This book teaches children to have the courage to be themselves since everyone is special in their own way. 

The book is fairly short and has endearing illustrations. While the cover shows a drawing of a girl, the author wrote the book for both boys and girls.

2. Yo mataré monstruos por ti (I Will Kill Monsters for You)

Ages: 6+

Pages: 32

Author: Santi Balmes

Yo mataré monstruos por ti offers an incredibly original way of talking about common fears. A little girl, Martina, is scared of the monsters living upside down in the world beneath the ground. Likewise, the monster girl, Anitram, fears the humans living upside down under her bed. When their arms touch one night, they meet and learn to conquer their fears. 

Since there are two little girls living on opposite sides of the ground, the design of the book is interactive. You can read it right side up, upside down, andsideways. Not only is this a fun and interesting book, but it also helps kids overcome their fears. 

3. El abrazo del árbol (The Tree Hug)

Ages: 7-10

Pages: 88

Author: Ana Alcolea

El abrazo del árbol follows a little boy named Miguel as he learns to embrace his greatest fear: the tree on the way to school. While he usually avoids it, he must be brave and face his fears when his dog disappears in its branches. 

Sometimes kids have fears that may seem irrational to other people. However, they are big and scary to the kids. This boy faces a fear that other people may think he’s silly, teaching kids that they can be brave no matter the situation.    

4. El mago de oz (The Wizard of Oz)

Ages: 6-10

Pages: 160

Author: L. Frank Baum

A classic book, the Wizard of Oz is great for kids who like a touch of fantasy. As the story goes, Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Lion, and the Scarecrow go on an adventure searching for things that were inside of them all along. 

The wonderful thing about reading the Wizard of Oz in Spanish is that the story is likely already familiar to you and your child. As such, your child won’t need to spend time on the details of the words trying to understand the story. Instead, they can understand the general idea just by reading and enjoying the story.

5. El lugar más bonito del mundo (The Nicest Place in the World)

Ages: 7-10

Pages: 64

Author: Ann Cameron

Courage is often born in difficult situations, and El lugar más bonito del mundo follows the challenges that a little boy called Juan faces. He lives in Guatemala with his grandma because his parents abandoned him. Because of their financial situation, he works as a shoe-shiner to make ends meet. However, he has the courage to look for something more in life and pursue his dreams of going to school. 

Besides teaching courage, this book shows what life can be like for kids in other countries. Plus, it portrays the value of education and learning.

6. Coraje (Courage)

Ages: 8 and up 

Pages: 224

Author: Raina Telgemeier

What better book to learn about courage than one called “Courage”? Fears and worries come in all shapes and sizes, but one that we don’t often talk about with kids is anxiety. Raina thinks she has a virus because of her stomach pains, but it’s really just the worries about school, friends, and family situations. With the help of her parents, Raina learns how to be brave and face her worries in a healthy way.

7. Mamá se va a la guerra (Mom Goes to War)

Ages: 7-9

Pages: 24

Author: Irene Aparici Martín

Mamá se va a la guerra discusses overcoming fears of sickness. It follows the story of a queen and her army who fight against enemies invading her territory.

The book is an allegory for a woman’s fight against cancer. It provides a meaningful way to help kids understand the physical and emotional challenges that a loved one with cancer faces. Instead of being afraid of the disease, they can see it as a fight to restore their kingdom.

Comprehension Questions

Once you’ve finished reading, follow up the Spanish learning opportunity with the following questions. 

1. ¿Qué pasó a ___ en el cuento?
   What happened to (character) in the story?

2. ¿Qué entendiste sobre el cuento?
   What did you understand about the story?

3. ¿Me lo puedes resumir?
   Can you summarize it for me?

4. ¿Qué quiso decir el autor con esta parte?
   What did the author want to say with this part?

5. ¿Qué aprendiste sobre ___?
   What did you learn about ____?

Start with an eBook!

While you’re thinking about which book to buy, you can download Homeschool Spanish Academy’s free ebook called Weird and Wacky Spanish Stories for Beginners. Fill out some information below, and you can start reading these funny stories with your kids. 

While it is designed for an A2 Spanish learner and above, complete beginners can still find value in the new vocabulary. Enjoy the fun pictures and parallel English-Spanish text with your child today!

Want more free Spanish resources for kids? Check out out latest posts!

• Author
• Recent Posts

Ashley Reid

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I have a B.A. in Linguistics and a passion for Spanish. I've lived in Latin America for almost a decade. I'm a freelance writer and ESL teacher, as well as a loving mom and wife. In my free time, I dabble in art and music.

Latest posts by Ashley Reid (see all)

• Top 40 False Cognates in Spanish That Will Trip You Up and Confuse You - May 18, 2021
• Ser Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Quiz, Exercises, and PDF - March 12, 2021
• Ir + a + Infinitive: The Near Future Tense in Spanish - February 26, 2021