Marcelo reads some ads for the free podcast app Anchor.
Positive Messages
a lot
Messages and morals of each story-based episode include honesty, self-love and acceptance, and respect for others. Since episodes tend to be Spanish versions of traditional fairy tales, some promote outdated ideas that women need to be saved by a man or compromise to receive love.
Positive Role Models
a lot
The host, Marcelo, is a child who shares his opinions of and reactions to the story at the beginning of each episode. Characters in some episodes represent perseverance and resilience. Some stories, like "The Little Mermaid" and "Cinderella," have lead female characters who perpetuate the stereotype that women need to be saved by a man, and that love means giving up a part of yourself. But the narrator looks to highlight the positive and empowering messages.
Diverse Representations
some
Many stories are inspired by traditional fairy tales and sometimes perpetuate stereotypical gender roles. Some are more contemporary, like Zoololoco, the Spanish adaptation of Zooboloo written by award-winning Filipina American writer and publisher Christine Villa that teaches about self-love and acceptance. She is a special guest on the podcast's one-year anniversary episode and explains a bit about the process of creating her story and her cultural background. All stories are given an introduction in English and told in Spanish. Since these retellings are audio only and in Spanish, it allows the listener to imagine the characters and their environment.
Suitable for intermediate to advanced Spanish-language learners and bilingual and Spanish-speaking listeners. Episodes are well-narrated and leave the audience with new words to add to their Spanish vocabulary.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Spanish Stories for Kids is a podcast where a young boy and his mother tell their favorite bedtime stories in Spanish. Each story has it's own positive messages and morals to teach, including honesty, self-love, acceptance, perseverance, and respect for others. Those learning Spanish may find the show mildly educational as the narrator, Marcelo, introduces the story in English and mentions new Spanish words to pay attention to throughout, later reviewing the words and giving their translations. It's suitable for native Spanish speakers and intermediate to advanced language learners, as well as for beginners who want an immersive approach to language learning. Since some of the stories are retellings of traditional American fairytales, there are some outdated stereotypes of girls and women (princesses needing to be saved by a prince, girls having to sacrifice to receive love). Stories are the perfect length for quiet time, nap time, and bedtime alike.
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What’s It About?
SPANISH STORIES FOR KIDS is created by a boy named Marcelo and his mom to share their favorite kids' stories in Spanish. Traditional fairy tales written by the Brothers Grimm ("Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Cinderella," and more) and Hans Christian Andersen ("The Little Mermaid," "The Princess and the Pea," and "The Ugly Duckling") contribute to this podcast's Spanish adaptations repertoire. Well-known fables like "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" and "The Tortoise and the Hare," along with more contemporary children's stories, teach little ones life lessons and values like honesty, persistence, and patience. Each episode starts off with an English introduction from Marcelo, who gives listeners new Spanish vocabulary words to listen for, and ends with Marcelo explaining the translation and meaning of the words.
Marcelo has a sweet voice and does a great job introducing the stories narrated in Spanish by his mother. The dynamic between the mother-son duo in Spanish Stories for Kids is touching, as Marcelo's mother is a native Spanish speaker and Marcelo is still learning to speak Spanish. This podcast offers something for both non-Spanish speakers and those fluent in the language. It serves as a gentle and immersive experience for little ones and even adults learning Spanish, while also offering a soothing audio-only approach to story time for those fluent in Spanish.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Spanish Stories for Kids has expanded their Spanish vocabulary and the importance of learning new languages. What are some benefits of hearing a story told in different languages?
What are the advantages of learning a new language and being bilingual or multilingual?
Can you create a modern version of your favorite fairy tale or story from the show? What would you change and why?
Many of the stories you hear in this podcast are fairy tales or stories you've seen in movies and books. How is it different listening to these stories with no images? How did your imagining of the characters change?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Ana Hanssen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
