Children’s Books and Adaptations
Explore the resources we’ve created with young audiences in mind.
Cuentos que son teatro: Diversifying the Classics collaborates with UNAM and UANL in Mexico to create illustrated children’s book adaptations of comedia. These first introductions include a story followed by a short play for kids to stage at home or at school. Short excerpts from the original give young readers a sense of the language and are marked in italics. We hope to pique the curiosity of young readers so that, in time, they may turn to the original sources and discover them in their full richness.
To accompany the books, we are currently developing teaching resources for elementary-school teachers and community theatermakers. This includes lesson plans for putting on productions of the plays in the bilingual classroom, kids’ scripts and guides for theatermakers in both languages, and scripts for adults to perform for kids. Please look through the resources currently available for Fuente Ovejuna and contact us if you have any specific adaptation request.
Supported by Alianza MX.
While we don’t charge royalties, we need to be informed of any use and review any changes to our translations. Any use requires attribution to Diversifying the Classics, under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Credit: [Title of translation], translated by Diversifying the Classics from [Original title of play] by [Original author].
Notification is required prior to use of our translations and other materials.
Contact diversifyingtheclassics.ucla@gmail.com to discuss crediting and consultation for performances and adaptations.
Fuente Ovejuna by Lope de Vega
Adapted by Barbara Fuchs.
Illustrated by Tania Recio.
Once upon a time, there was a small village called Fuente Ovejuna. Life there was very peaceful until a Commander arrived to rule it with great abuses. But very brave people lived in that place, like Laurencia, who was not willing to tolerate such injustice.
La vida es sueño by Calderon de la Barca
Adapted by Gabriela Villanueva and Rachel Kaufman.
Illustrated by Brenda Llanas
La Vida es Sueño is a story about prophecy, kingship, power, and community. Through the tale of Segismundo and Rosaura, the reader asks: where are the borders between freedom and fate? How can we take control of our own, collective destiny?
El animal de Hungría by Lope de Vega
Adapted by Isaac Giménez.
Illustrated by Milenka Illanes Iturri.
In ancient times, a mysterious creature lived in the forests of Hungary, spreading fear among the villagers. On a day like any other, the young Felipe went to bathe in the river and thought he recognized a strange voice calling him. Could it be the feared beast everyone was talking about?
El rey naciendo mujer by Vélez de Guevara.
Adapted by Brenda Saraí Jaramillo.
Illustrated by Cecilia Varela.
Coming soon
Coming soon:
La fuerza de la costumbre by Guillén de Castro
Valor, agravio y mujer by Ana Caro
Los empeños de una casa by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz