Holidays are synonymous with relaxation, fun and disconnecting, but they also offer a unique opportunity for our students to strengthen their linguistic and creative skills through books.
Through reading, students improve their language skills, stimulate and develop their imagination and critical thinking, and broaden their minds through stories that connect them with cultures, characters, and realities different from their own, thus expanding their perspectives. For young children, sharing reading time as a family is a magical experience that goes far beyond the simple act of reading. When parents dedicate time to reading stories with their children, they strengthen the emotional bond and foster a love of reading at an early age. Children who experience reading as a pleasurable and shared activity naturally develop a lasting interest in books, improve their vocabulary and language comprehension, and associate reading with moments of warmth and family security.
During this holiday period, we invite our students to embark on exciting literary adventures. Reading is not only an educational activity but also an inexhaustible source of pleasure and personal discovery. The teachers of Lope de Vega International School They suggest some readings for different ages.
Spanish language
For children from 3 to 5 years
“How Does Santa Claus Come Down the Chimney?” by Mac Barnett
A fun collection of children's explanations to the big question of Christmas, some plausible and others far-fetched, but all very funny.
“The Snowflake” by Benji Davies
A touching and tender story in which a girl and a snowflake embark on a journey to find their special place.
“Fermín and the Three Wise Men” by Antonio VicentaA story in which Fermín reflects on the gifts he asks the Three Wise Men for. A meaningful tale that conveys the true spirit of the holidays.
For children from 6 to 8 years
“Elmer” by David McKee
A heartwarming story about Elmer, a colorful elephant, who teaches the value of being different and unique."
What Does the Moon Taste Like?” by Michael Grejniec
A story that tells the tale of several animals who want to know what the moon tastes like and how they work together to reach it.
“Lorenzo’s Pot” by Isabelle Carrier
A touching story about a boy who learns to cope with life's difficulties, represented by a "saucepan" that always accompanies him.
For children from 8 to 10 years
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl
A classic of children's literature about a boy who, along with other children, visits Willy Wonka's incredible chocolate factory.
“Matilda” by Roald Dahl
The story of Matilda, a girl with extraordinary mental powers, who fights against injustice in her home and at her school.
“The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett
A charming story about a girl who finds a hidden garden and turns it into a haven of magic and personal growth.
For children from 10 to 12 years
“Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” by JK Rowling
The famous story of a boy who discovers he is a magician and begins his education at a school of magic.
“Wonder. August's Lesson” by RJ Palacio
A heartwarming story about a boy with a facial deformity who goes to school for the first time, learning about friendship, empathy, and acceptance.
“Charlotte’s Web” by EB White
A beautiful story about the friendship between a little pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte, who does everything she can to save him.
For teenagers from 12 to 14 years old
“The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak
Narrated by Death, this book tells the story of Liesel, a girl in Nazi Germany who steals books to share with others and survives in times of war.
“Invisible” by Eloy Moreno. Emotional, moving, different… invisible It tells, through the eyes of a child, a story that could be any of ours.
For teenagers from 14 to 16 years old
“Networks” by Eloy Moreno. She spends a few more hours looking at the wonderful trips, the perfect bodies, and all the outfit that are tested every day influencersAnd she feels bad because she can't live the life she sees on social media; she knows she'll never be able to achieve that kind of happiness. Part two of INVISIBLE.
“A Monster Calls” by Patrick Ness
A deeply emotional story about a boy who faces his mother's illness and the arrival of a monster that will help him understand life and death.
“The Prince of Mist” by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
A mysterious adventure story in which a group of teenagers confronts secrets and ghosts in an old house near the sea.
For teenagers from 16 to 18 years old
“Chronicle of a Death Foretold” by Gabriel García Márquez
A short novel that examines the fatality of events and the influence of destiny, narrating the events leading up to a murder in a Colombian town.
“The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
A story of mystery and intrigue in post-war Barcelona, in which a young man discovers a forgotten book that will change his life and unleash a series of dark secrets.
“The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde
A novel about the obsession with beauty and eternal youth, centered on Dorian Gray, a young man whose image in a portrait ages while he maintains his perfect appearance.
English language
For children from 3 to 5 years
“You can't take an elephant on th“e bus” by Patricia Cleveland-Peck
This hilarious picture book is full of animals causing utter chaos as they try to travel in the most unsuitable vehicles. A truly entertaining book, with witty rhyming text and spectacular illustrations.
“Monkey Puzzle” by Julia Donaldson
Can the butterfly help the little monkey find his mother? Yes, eventually, but only after many trials and errors, as the butterfly misinterprets the monkey's descriptions and leads him to all sorts of unsuitable animals.
Little Miss ClumsyMr. Silly and Mr. Nonsense have a crazy day at the beach! They throw a saw into the sea and pretend they're playing a sea saw, then they buy some shovels and pretend to row, they dig a big hole and fill it in, they eat sand sandwiches, write in the sand with crayons, and sunbathe under umbrellas! And when they return to the beach after getting home, it's already night!
For children from 6 to 8 years
“We're Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen
- SynopsisA group of children embark on an adventure to hunt a bear, facing different obstacles along the way.
- ThemesIt is ideal for teaching prepositions and actions, as well as fostering imagination and enthusiasm for exploration.
“Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown
- SynopsisA classic bedtime story, where a little bunny says goodnight to everything around him.
- ThemesIt helps children learn vocabulary about everyday objects and routines, in a relaxing and poetic context.
“The Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister
- SynopsisA beautiful fish learns the value of sharing and friendship by giving away its shiny scales.
- Themes: Introduces basic concepts such as colors, numbers, and emotions, while teaching important lessons in values.
For children from 8 to 10 years
“A Bear Called Paddington” by Michael Bond
- SynopsisThe adventures of Paddington, a friendly bear from Peru who arrives in London and causes hilarious problems for his new family.
- ThemesIt helps to teach vocabulary about travel, emotions, and everyday objects.
“How to Train Your Dragon” (Simplified Adaptations) by Cressida Cowell
- SynopsisHiccup, a young Viking, tries to train his dragon, Toothless, and prove his worth to his tribe.
- ThemesIt teaches vocabulary about dragons, adventures, and values such as courage and friendship, using accessible language.
“Stuart Little” by E. B. White
- SynopsisStuart, a mouse who lives with a human family, has adventures while searching for his lost friend, a little bird named Margalo.
- ThemesIt offers a clear narrative and vocabulary related to family, friendship, and travel.
For children from 10 to 12 years
“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” by CS Lewis
- SynopsisFour siblings enter a magical world, Narnia, where they fight alongside the lion Aslan against the evil White Witch.
- Themes: Introduces a rich vocabulary about fantasy, nature, and values such as sacrifice and courage.
“Holes” by Louis Sachar
- SynopsisStanley Yelnats is sent to a detention camp to dig holes, but discovers a mystery related to his family.
- ThemesExplore vocabulary about friendship, justice, and mystery, with an intriguing and humorous narrative.
For teenagers from 12 to 14 years old
“I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World” (Young Readers Edition) by Malala Yousafzai
- SynopsisThe true story of Malala, a girl who fought for her right to education.
- ThemesEquality, education and courage
“The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” (Young Readers Edition) by William Kamkwamba
- SynopsisThe inspiring story of a young man who built a windmill for his village in Malawi.
- ThemesCreativity, effort, and problem-solving
“The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” by John Boyne
- SynopsisThe story centers on Bruno, a nine-year-old German boy, who moves with his family near a concentration camp during World War II. There he meets Shmuel, a Jewish boy on the other side of the fence, with whom he develops a deep friendship.
- Themes: : friendship, innocence and the horrors of the Holocaust.
For teenagers from 14 to 16 years old
The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins
- SynopsisIn a dystopian future, Katniss Everdeen becomes a symbol of resistance in a world where young people fight to the death in a televised spectacle.
- ThemesJustice and society.
“The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak
- SynopsisNarrated by Death, this is the story of Liesel, a girl who finds solace in books while growing up in Nazi Germany.
- Themes: the power of words, humanity, friendship, love, and mortality.
Little Red Riding Hood in Manhattan (Carmen Martín Gaite)
Carmen Martín Gaite reimagines the familiar fairy tale in New York City, where Little Red Riding Hood is Sara Allen, a young girl living in Brooklyn who longs to visit her grandmother one afternoon and bring her a strawberry shortcake. Her grandmother is a woman ahead of her time, having been married several times and a former Music Hall singer, while the wolf is Mr. Woolf, a wealthy pastry chef who lives near Central Park. However, there is another character in the story: Miss Lunatic, a homeless woman who lives hidden inside the Statue of Liberty and emerges at night to help people and even offer an elixir capable of conquering fear. It's an updated version of the classic tale about coming of age and navigating the transition to adulthood during adolescence.
Invisible (Eloy Moreno)
Through the eyes of a child, Eloy Moreno creates an atmosphere steeped in mystery to tell a story with which any reader can identify, because “who hasn’t ever wished to be invisible? Who hasn’t ever wished to stop being invisible?” With short chapters and simple writing, young readers will delve into a novel that addresses important themes such as friendship, equality, inclusion, and bullying, accompanied by superheroes like Hulk, Superman, and Spiderman, as well as a monster and a dragon.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Mark Haddon)
Christopher Boone, a boy with autism and a dazzling intellect, decides to investigate the strange death of his neighbor's dog. Christopher's unique perspective on the world and his relationship with his parents, and especially with his teacher, give rise to a moving story of overcoming adversity, friendship, and tolerance, supported by a large cast of characters who cross paths with the determined Christopher.
For teenagers from 16 to 18 years old
“The Empyrean Saga” by Rebecca Yarros
- SynopsisThe saga begins with Fourth WingThe series follows Violet Sorrengail, a young woman forced to join an elite group of dragon riders, where she will face deadly challenges and political conspiracies. It blends elements of epic fantasy, romance, and action as the characters navigate a world filled with intrigue and danger.
- ThemesFantasy, moral dilemmas, personal growth, courage, and loyalty.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
- SynopsisThrough the eyes of Scout Finch, a girl in the southern United States, a story about justice, racial prejudice, and morality is told, centered on her father, Atticus Finch, who defends a black man unjustly accused.
- ThemesEthics and equality.
“1984” by George Orwell
- SynopsisWinston Smith lives in a dystopian society controlled by Big Brother, where truth is manipulated and freedom is repressed.
- ThemesControl and freedom
Maus (Art Spiegelman)
Synopsis: Maus is a graphic novel based on the biography of Vladek Spiegelman, a Polish Jew who survived the Nazi extermination camps, told through his son Art, a comic book artist who wants to preserve the memory of the terrifying persecution suffered by millions of people in Hitler's Europe and the consequences of this suffering on the daily lives of later generations.
Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury)
Synopsis: Fahrenheit 451 presents the story of a bleak and horrifying future. Montag, the protagonist, belongs to a strange brigade of firefighters whose mission, paradoxically, is not to extinguish fires, but to start them in order to burn books. Because in Montag's country, reading is strictly forbidden. Because reading forces one to think, and in Montag's country, thinking is forbidden. Because reading prevents one from being naively happy, and in Montag's country, happiness is mandatory.
The coffee grounds (Mario Benedetti)
Synopsis: An unforgettable novel where humor and love for humanity become a reflection of ourselves. The Coffee Grounds comprises forty-eight fragments and an enigma unfolds through the mysterious image of a woman, the presence of a fig tree, and the recurring time, 3:10, throughout the years. Benedetti, in a dreamlike setting, recounts the anecdotes that accompanied Claudio, the protagonist, during his childhood in Montevideo: childhood games, his friend Mateo's blindness, his mother's unexpected death, the move to a new neighborhood, his father's remarriage, his own discovery of love…
Reading recommendations for Vocational Training Cycles
The Intelligent Investor (Benjamin Graham)
The book provides strategies on how to successfully use value investing in the mstock market. It highlights the importance of fundamental research, to understand aspects such as the solvency, profitability, and stability of a company.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad (Robert T. Kiyosaki)
The book promotes the importance of having multiple income streams and not relying solely on one job. Ultimately, the author suggests that the key to achieving wealth is developing an entrepreneurial mindset and learning to manage money wisely.
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari (Robin S. Sharma)
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari is the thought-provoking and moving story of Julian Mantle, a high-powered lawyer whose stressful, unbalanced, and money-obsessed life ultimately leads to a heart attack. This disaster triggers a spiritual crisis in Julian, prompting him to confront life's big questions.
