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The best translated children's books, and books for multilingual families

Some of the best children's books were not written in English at all. For families with more than one language at home, these are also a good place to start swapping editions.

Pippi Longstocking

Astrid Lindgren

From Sweden. Translated into a remarkable number of languages, so you can likely read it in yours.

Ages 5–10 · ≈ 15 min a sitting · 3 h total

Moominland Midwinter

Tove Jansson

From Finland, written in Swedish by Tove Jansson. No other book sounds like this.

Ages 6–12 · ≈ 20 min a sitting · 3 h total

Press Here

Hervé Tullet

From France, and with so few words that it works in almost any language.

Ages 2–6 · ≈ 4 min aloud

Other moments

You have five minutesFirst day nervesSomething sad happenedScared of monstersCannot sit stillMake them laughReady for chaptersStories in rhymeGirls who go their own way