PagineEl Niño Burro
A free picture book in Spanish by Lindiwe Matshikiza
El Niño Burro is a picture book in Spanish for ages 5–11 by Lindiwe Matshikiza that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Spanish
- Written by
- Lindiwe Matshikiza
- Illustrated by
- Meghan Judge
- Translated by
- Karina Vásquez
- Reading level
- ages 5–11 · kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade · Level 3 · First paragraphs
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
El Niño Burro is a short illustrated picture book in Spanish by Lindiwe Matshikiza, illustrated by Meghan Judge and translated by Karina Vásquez. It is written for ages 5–11 (Grades 2–3) and is graded as Level 3 · First paragraphs, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Spanish. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY 4.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 22 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Una niña pequeña fue la primera en ver una figura misteriosa a lo lejos. Mientras la figura se acercaba, la niña se dio cuenta que era una mujer embarazada a punto de dar a luz. Tímida pero valientemente, la pequeña…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY 4.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “El Niño Burro” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Donkie-kind
- Bemba · Umwana Punda
- Dhopadhola · Nyathi Ma Nyakare
- English · Donkey child
- Jamaican Creole · Dangki Pikni
- Kaonde · Mbongolo Mwana
- Khoekhoegowab · Donki ǀgôab xa
- Kiswahili · Mtoto Punda
- Lukhonzo · Akana K’epunda
- Lunda · Mwana wa Donki
- Luvale · Mwana Chimbulu
- Mauritian Creole · Zanfan-Bourik
- Nyanja · Mwana wa Bulu
- Oshikwanyama · Okaana okandongwina
- Oshindonga · Okanona okandôongi
- Otjiherero · Okasinona
- Somali · Ilmo dameer ah
- Tonga · Kana Kambongolo
- Tswana · Ngwana wa setshwano sa tonki
- Turkana · Ikoku sikiria
- Xhosa · Umbhongolo, Usana Olusisimanga
- Zulu · Umntwana ongajwayelekile
Reading together in Spanish
- Read it aloud first, pointing at the pictures; then let your child “read” the pictures back to you.
- Ask open questions: what happened, how did the character feel, what would you do?
- Growing up with two languages? Talk about the story in whichever language feels easiest — the understanding carries over.
More free books in Spanish
La decisión
Anansi y la sabiduría
Lo que la hermana de Vusi dijo
Contando animales
Dos
¿Por qué los hipopótamos no tienen pelo?
Andiswa, la estrella de fútbol
El día que dejé mi casa para irme a la ciudad
See all 40 free Spanish books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “El Niño Burro” free to read?
Yes. “El Niño Burro” is free to read online in Pagine on any phone, tablet or computer — no payment and nothing to download. It is openly licensed (CC BY 4.0).
What language is “El Niño Burro” in?
It is written in Spanish. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Spanish.
What age is “El Niño Burro” for?
It is best for ages 5–11 (Level 3 · First paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “El Niño Burro” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Turkana, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and more.
Who wrote “El Niño Burro”?
“El Niño Burro” was written by Lindiwe Matshikiza and illustrated by Meghan Judge; the Spanish translation is by Karina Vásquez.
Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.
Get the free app →Credits: El Niño Burro — Written by Lindiwe Matshikiza; Illustrated by Meghan Judge; Translated by Karina Vásquez; Read by Áurea Vericat. Spanish, Level 3. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-dc), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=15028). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026