El cuento del ratn Prez, by Kristy Placido

InEl cuento del ratn Prez, readers are transported to 1890 Madrid, where a boy king embarks on an unexpected journey filled with magic, adventure, and discovery. Alfonso is not a typical boyhe is the king of Spain. But when his baby tooth falls out, he discovers that being a king doesn\’t mean he understands everything.

Alfonso meets the legendary ratn Prez, a professional tooth collector. Prez explains that lost teeth are not just discardedthey are collected, stored in a magical library, and transformed into stories. Eager to help, Alfonso magically shrinks to mouse size and joins Prez on a nighttime mission across the streetsand beneath themin a secret tunnel system.

As they travel to retrieve the tooth of a boy named Gilito, Alfonso sees parts of his kingdom he never imagined. He walks through dangerous streets, escapes a giant cat with the help of clever rat soldiers and a brave dog, and witnesses the humble home of Gilito, a boy who has very little. Deeply moved, Alfonso begins to understand what it means to be kingnot just to rule, but to help.

This charming story is written using only 80 unique words, supported by high-frequency verbs such as ser, estar, tener, querer, poder, ayudar, caminar, correr, comer, ver, decir, and salir. Vocabulary is carefully limited to support comprehension and build confidence in early readers of Spanish.

Rich in cultural references, including Madrid\’s iconic Palacio Real, churros y chocolate, la calle Arenal, and la calle Jacometrezo, this book is ideal for elementary Spanish learners or emergent bilinguals. Themes of empathy, service, curiosity, and wonder guide Alfonso\’s growth from a lonely boy in a palace to a compassionate future ruler who truly wants to help his people.

Level 1 and above

isbn 978-1967430000