Coco, la cotorra: An Easy Spanish Reader That Kids Will Love

Coco the Puerto Rican Parrot 

In December 2021, I self-published my first children’s book, Coco, la cotorra puertorriqueña. This book was my love letter to Puerto Rico, El Yunque, the Puerto Rican parrot and bilingualism. Two years later, in September 2023, I self-published the English version: Coco the Puerto Rican Parrot. And, in between those two years, I created a fun bilingual coloring & activity book: Discover El Yunque with Coco and Friends.

As an indie author, I am thrilled that Coco has made its way into the hearts of many homes, schools and libraries, especially in Puerto Rico, where the story is set.

As a Spanish teacher, I shared Coco’s story en español with my Spanish language learners. However, I encountered one challenge: they couldn’t independently read it. They struggled with the vocabulary, sentence structures, and subtle nuances of the Spanish language; elements that typically wouldn’t pose a problem for a native Spanish speaker or an advanced reader.

So, they learned about Coco, la cotorra puertorriqueña, from me. I read the story aloud, translating into English the entire time and explaining what was happening as I went. I was devastated! I felt as if they had been robbed of the joy of reading it themselves.

The following year of having published Coco in 2022, I joined the Elementary Profes Club*, a community for elementary Spanish-language teachers. This community was created and led by the talented elementary Spanish Teachers: Carolina Gómez and Valentina Correa. They introduced me to the wonderful world of teaching Spanish through stories. These stories were comprehensible stories, using high-frequency words, and TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling) and I began using these stories with my own students. The excitement and joy on their faces that they were actually “getting the story” was priceless.

Coco’s New Adventure: An Adapted Story for Young Readers

Then it dawned on me that I could adapt my beloved Coco, la cotorra puertorriqueña into a comprehensible story that my students could actually read and understand. And that’s how Coco, la cotorra (versión adaptada) came to life! It’s an easy Spanish reader written with a focus on comprehensible input, using accessible, repetitive, and contextualized language to make understanding easier.

This book was adapted from my original story to support students learning Spanish as a second language without losing the essence of the original storyline. Its simple structure, use of cognates, and present tense language allow for the integration of comprehensible input strategies in the classroom.

This adaptation is ideal for beginning readers. It has 496 words and a glossary in Spanish to English to support vocabulary learning. This version of Coco, la cotorra (versión adaptada) is also perfect for bilingual families who want to encourage Spanish learning and reading at home, and not just in the classroom.

This story celebrates bilingualism, Puerto Rican culture, and the endangered Puerto Rican parrot.

The Spanish easy reader Coco, la cotorra (versión adaptada) is dedicated to my students who are learning Spanish. They inspired this adapted version and together we are celebrating bilingualism as a true superpower!

Who will benefit? 

I have different types of students and I’m sure you do, too! So who would benefit from “Coco, la cotorra (versión adaptada)” as an easy Spanish reader:

1. Early Spanish Learners (K–2) – Young children just beginning to learn Spanish.

2. Heritage Learners – Students from Spanish-speaking backgrounds who are not fully fluent.

3. Bilingual Learners – Children growing up in bilingual households who need extra practice.

4. Reluctant Readers – Students who struggle with reading comprehension and benefit from simple texts.

5. Beginning Spanish Language Learners (any age) – Individuals just starting their Spanish journey.

6. Special Education Students – Learners who benefit from simple language and clear illustrations.

7. ESL Students with Spanish Background – Students learning English but whose home language is Spanish.

8. Students Interested in Puerto Rican Culture – Learners exploring cultural stories and traditions.

9. Third-Generation Hispanic Students – Children whose grandparents spoke Spanish but whose parents are less fluent.

10. Supplemental Reading for Elementary Spanish Classes – A classroom resource to reinforce basic vocabulary and grammar.

The Puerto Rican Parrot 

To learn more about the Puerto Rican parrot, visit my Spanish post: La cotorra puertorriqueña: recursos educativas y actividades. During my visit to the Río Abajo State Forest in Puerto Rico, I had the chance to meet Tanya M. Martínez, a researcher who authored a paper about the unique dialect developed by parrots in captivity.

I also offer a free educational guide available in both Spanish and English. Plus, you can learn more about my author visits here.

*On another note, sadly, Elementary Profes Club will be closing in June 2025. Thank you, ladies, for your wisdom and knowledge! You changed the way I teach Spanish. ¡Abrazos y éxito!