While it is a French classic, English translations exist but can sometimes be harder to find than the Spanish or French editions. You can find various versions and formats through the following platforms: Available English Editions Tales of the Rue Broca (Book)
The central character, , is a boy who realizes that the strange residents of Broca Street—like a cat who reads newspapers and a grandmother who flies—are not crazy but magical. The book is widely used in schools because it gently introduces concepts of fantasy versus reality, community, and critical thinking.
“On Broca Street, every lost object ends up finding its owner — not because people look for them, but because things grow lonely.” — Eduardo Galeano, Stories from Broca Street los cuentos de la calle broca en ingles
Absolutely. The English reading level is approximately (ages 7–9). Sentences are simple, and the fantasy elements keep engagement high.
The rights have changed hands over the years. You can contact (who now owns most of Machado's catalog) and specifically ask for the English edition. Occasionally, they will provide PDFs for educational use. While it is a French classic, English translations
Have you found an English copy of Los Cuentos de la Calle Broca? Share your source in the comments below to help fellow readers!
Ana Maria Machado won the (the "Nobel Prize of children's literature") in 2000. Her wordplay is intricate. Reading the official English translation ensures you experience her literary devices as the translator intended, rather than a crude Google Translate version. “On Broca Street, every lost object ends up
| Title (English) | Spanish Title | Summary | |----------------|---------------|---------| | The Walking Coin | La moneda que caminaba | A coin rolls away from a miserly collector, wanting to be spent and loved. | | The Kite of Dreams | El barrilete de los sueños | A boy’s broken kite carries the dreams of all the children on the street. | | The Balloon Seller | El vendedor de globos | A balloon vendor gives away his balloons — they lift the sorrows of the neighborhood. | | The Last Judgment of Broca Street | El juicio final de la calle Broca | A humorous, irreverent take on divine judgment — the street’s residents are judged by a child. |