Top 10 Books to Learn Brazilian Portuguese for Children

Reading is one of the most effective and engaging ways to teach children languages. When children encounter stories they can relate to, or that spark their imagination, they become naturally motivated to engage with the language. They learn the language subconsciously as they work to understand the stories. ​

Below are ten children's books arranged by difficulty level that we've found particularly helpful for teaching Portuguese:

1. Marcelo, Marmelo, Martelo by Ruth Rocha

Marcelo, Marmelo, Martelo book is perfect for beginners learning Portuguese. The story follows a child named Marcelo who questions why we use certain words. For example, he asks why they call a table "table" instead of "chair" (all in Portuguese). 

Ruth Rocha is a best-selling Brazilian children's author, and she crafts a lovely yet simple tale with vibrant illustrations. This is one of the essential books for teaching children Portuguese.

2. Maria Vai Com as Outras by Sylvia Orthof

Maria Vai Com as Outras book is simple yet impactful. The title is actually an idiom meaning someone who doesn't think for themselves and just follows the crowd. The story exemplifies this by following Maria, a sheep who blindly follows her herd, leading her into various troubles. 

Orthof's most popular book, it offers accessible language with some more challenging vocabulary, and delights readers with its humorous illustrations.

3. O Pequeno Principe by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

While originally written in French, O Pequeno Principe classic's simple and timeless plot translates beautifully to all languages. If your child has already read this book in English or another language, reading it in Portuguese helps connect the story to their native tongue. 

The book features beautiful and poetic language that is both accessible and engaging for beginners seeking an enriching challenge.

4. Rose, minha irmã Rosa by Alice Vieira

This author writes many books aimed at children and young adults. Rose, minha irmã Rosa book covers daily vocabulary by centering on the birth of a sibling. This gives children something to relate to as they learn simple language that will be useful in everyday communication. 

On top of learning a language, this book can be a lovely way to introduce children to the idea of having a younger sibling and what it means to no longer be an only child.

5. Chapeuzinho Amarelo by Chico Buarque

Chapeuzinho Amarelo story follows a girl who is afraid of everything, including her own shadow! However, her life turns around when she learns the word for wolf, lobo. This story presents a wonderful opportunity to learn the past and perfect tenses of Portuguese, along with some more complex vocabulary. This will be a wonderful and entertaining story to begin transitioning your child from easier stories to more intermediate ones.

6. O Gato Malhado e a Andorinha Sinhá by Jorge Amado ​

There are some complex, deep ideas featured in this story about forbidden love and the cycles of love. It comes off as a fairly simple, poetic story with accessible language and vocabulary. The added complexity of certain sentence structures can make the language a bit out of reach for some more beginner readers, and the deeper themes and social commentary may take more time and reflection for younger readers to be able to fully comprehend the book.

7. A Bolsa Amarela by Lygia Bojunga

If you are looking to expose your child to some deeper reflection while maintaining relatively accessible language, this book is perfect. Bojunga is known for this unique blend of accessibility and depth. A Bolsa Amarela follows a child named Raquel as she grows up and tries to navigate familial ties, as well as learning who she is as a person. These complex ideas, mixed with more advanced sentence structure, make this book perfect for intermediate learners.

8. Flicts by Ziraldo

​This book uses a lot of figurative language, such as metaphors, that evoke much deeper reflection than a lower-level short story might. It follows a color named “Flicts” that doesn’t feel as though it fits in. This allows the story to play with what it means to belong somewhere whilst simultaneously staying true to yourself. This book provides a wonderful opportunity for those wanting to expand their horizons of Portuguese language.

9. A Terra dos Meninos Pelados by Graciliano Ramos

Ramos is most often categorized as more adult fiction, but the story he wrote just after getting out of prison won him the Prêmio Literatura Infantil. This story follows a boy with physical differences from the rest of his neighborhood, which results in him being an outcast. He creates a world with characters that help him accept and embrace his own identity. 

A Terra dos Meninos Pelados book contains complex but common vocabulary and colloquialisms that will be difficult to understand without a native Portuguese speaker’s assistance, which makes it more targeted for advanced readers.​

10. O Menino do Dedo Verde by Maurício de Sousa

O Menino do Dedo Verde story follows a child named Verde who can make plants grow with just his fingers. There are deeper themes, such as nature and personal responsibility, woven into this tale that make it interesting for more advanced readers. The advanced, descriptive vocabulary is less accessible for intermediate readers and more suitable for advanced children.

Conclusion

Books can be one of the most effective and enjoyable ways to learn a new language, so we hope these suggestions are helpful in your child’s language journey. If you are searching for a more structured method of learning Portuguese, please feel free to contact us at the Music & Language Learning Center. We would be happy to offer you a free consultation to explore how we can help you! ​

Kristine Dizon, PhD

Founder and Head Teacher
Music & Language Learning Center