Cuentitos Simpaticos

Rating:
Summary: An entertaining reader
Review: I was increedibly pleased to find this book. I have used it with my elementary-school-age kids, whom I started teaching Spanish with the Pimsleur course. Pimsleur is excellent, but it is almost all audio. Cuentitos simpaticos is an excellent first reader for several reasons: (1) The stories are short enough that one can be completed in a single session. (2) They are really funny; that they are so entertaining helps motivate the student to continue, despite difficulty. (3) New words and expressions are translated in the margin. (This compares to Spanish story books, ostensibly for younger children, that have words and expressions I cannot even find in my dictionary.) My kids have not had the patience to do the execises, which reinforce vocabulary and patterns, but others may find them useful. The book was written by a high-school teacher; I think adults, as well as kids, would find the stories engaging.