why Sparks in Spanish?
¿por qué Sparks en Español?
The Spanish versions of Sparks stories are some of our most popular offerings, as both illustrated audiobooks and screen-free podcasts, for kids of all abilities.
That’s thanks to our fabulous bilingual team of actors and our terrific translator, Dora Arreola of the USF School of Theatre and Dance. Dora knows that stories are come alive through each actor’s voice and body – and she knows translating words gives them not just a new sound but a new personality.
The world is bigger and more beautiful when you can understand more than one language. Signs in a window and phrases on TV suddenly have meaning, and what’s been a blur begins coming into focus.
Every time we travel, I admire the ease of people who grew up speaking two, three or many languages. I know there’s a vivid world around me that I’m missing out on.
During the pandemic, we found a TV streaming service that shares shows from Europe, and started watching Netflix in Spanish, Turkish, Korean and Japanese. It’s a pleasant revelation that mysteries, comedies and thrillers from around the world are both different and familiar.
They look like Hollywood productions, with terrific actors, writers and directors who we’d never heard of because they weren’t speaking English.
Our world felt much bigger.
But as waves of impassioned words pour out around the English subtitles, it’s clear we can get the gist, but miss the flavor and the color and the poetry – and a lot of jokes.
Our Spanish Sparks stories are true to the English words I wrote – but thanks to Dora and our lively actors, with a life and feel that resonates with native Spanish speakers from a wonderfully diverse range of cultures.
And I hope, with people learning Spanish.
As someone who didn’t study Spanish until high school, I know I’ll always struggle to understand folk talking fast and probably never express everything I want to say, in Spanish.
So I’m thrilled that kids are learning Spanish now as babies, toddlers and in kindergarten. The diverse world they’re growing into is bigger and more beautiful than the one I met at school in the ‘70s.
Because speaking Spanish and embracing our connections to the big and beautiful Latinx world, is one thing we can do to make a difference.