Most widely translated children's book?

[the.hard.part]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 12:08am

A friend of mine is going to be traveling the world and wants to get a copy of the same book in a bunch of languages, from different countries, for her grandson, any suggestions of a kid's book that would be in a lot of languages?

[musicaltheatrefan3]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 12:09am

The Harry Potter Series is

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 12:10am

I have no idea what the answer is, but you might also want to provide the age and/or reading level of the child, so people know what kinds of books your friend might want to buy.

[the.hard.part]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 12:14am

right now the child is only 6 months old, she wants it to be something he can read as he is older and has the comprehension to read(but she is starting buying now since shes going to some countries that she may not revisit), so it could really be any level from ages 2-10ish.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 12:15am

Charlotte's Web

The Wizard of Oz

Winnie the Pooh

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 12:22am

Goodnight Moon or The Run Away Bunny, or are those too simple?

[winston89]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 2:37am

I would say for someone 6 moths how bout Cat In The Hat? I know it is in a lot of languages and is changed so that it rhymes in whatever language the book is in to make it easier for the kids to read no matter what their native language is. My brother found a copy of it in Yiddish at the National Yiddish Book Center and bought it.

[KrissySim]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 4:00am

Antoine de Saint Exupéry's The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince) ?

a translation list Updated On: 7/22/08 at 04:00 AM

[Weez]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 8:15am

As long as you want educated suggestions rather than one absolute truth (for the first time in his online life, I think mtf3 has the truth right there), give 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' a look. The young reading age will possibly help a six month old a little more than Harry Potter, and it truly is an absolutely timeless classic.

'Winnie the Pooh' is also available in Latin. If that sways you at all. Not sure about the classical language status of 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'...

[KrissySim]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 2:30pm

Here is the translation list for the Potter books.
Potter in translation

[StageManager2]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 2:36pm

Probably any variation of the illustrated Bible storybook.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 11:46pm

Krissy stole my thunder!!! DEFINATELY The Little Prince...I remember reading it as a young adult, and have read it once a year since.

I've read it in English, German, Spanish and Dutch (which due to reading German could understand a lot of it).


Little Prince Book covers

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/22/08 at 11:58pm

I would have said, Harry Potter, The Litle Prince and The Wizard of Oz!

...and perhaps The Arabian Nights!

And I love that they're all from differenc countries.

[mauriposa]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 12:17am

All of my suggestions have been covered, but I just wanted to add that I think that this is such a neat idea! Kudos to your friend for encouraging a broader world viewpoint in her grandson.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 1:48am

Updated On: 1/15/09 at 01:48 AM

[KrissySim]

Posted: 7/24/08 at 2:44pm

I read The Little Prince last night since this thread reawakened my interest in the book. It had been many years since I last read it. I've read it (somewhat) in Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German and last night again in English.

I think this is the one to go for. It is a good book for children but it also has deeper adult themes. I really enjoyed last night's reading. It withstands the test of time.

Another point, it is a small slim book. (less than 115 pages) and multiple copies won't take up a huge amount of space, or weight.

This is a book one will want to keep for a long time.