The Cursed Dress – Teach Kids Spanish with a Bilingual Story
Welcome to the third Spanish story lesson for kids!
About this bilingual story: When a bear girl from a poor family discovers a dazzling pink dress near a garbage bin, everything changes. Bertina refuses to share it with her sister... only to find it’s cursed.
The magical outfit whisks her away into a terrifying circus ruled by a wicked witch who forces enchanted animals to dance forever.
Can her family find her, outsmart the witch, and rescue her before it’s too late?
A fast-paced, heartfelt, and magical tale of jealousy, consequences, bravery, and the power of family love.
Age rating: For all ages.
How bilingual story immersion works: Our bilingual format presents each sentence in English followed immediately by Spanish. This "mirrored" approach makes learning Spanish feel natural rather than like a chore. By simply listening and following along, your child builds Spanish vocabulary and comprehension through immersion.
Listen to the English-Spanish audiobook for free right here, and follow the story in the text below.
This story introduces essential Spanish vocabulary from colors and family members to emotions, clothing, shoes, animals, feelings, and actions. Beyond the language, it weaves in core values like generosity, kindness, and the joy of sharing.
This story was written by Lily Galili, translated and published by LingoLina. Copyright 2026 Lily Galili, LingoLina.com. All rights reserved.
Read along with the written version of this bilingual story below.
The Cursed Dress by Lily Galili.
El vestido maldito por Lily Galili.
Chapter One
Capítulo Uno
Once upon a time, in a tiny town tucked between hills, there lived a very poor bear family.
Érase una vez, en un pequeño pueblo escondido entre colinas, vivía una familia de osos muy pobre.
They were so poor, their two daughters Berla and Bertina had to share a single dress.
Eran tan pobres, que sus dos hijas Berla y Bertina tenían que compartir un solo vestido.
One would wear it to go outside, while the other stayed home in her fur.
Una lo usaba para salir, mientras la otra se quedaba en casa con su pelaje.
Berla wore it one day.
Berla lo usaba un día.
Bertina wore it the next.
Bertina lo usaba al siguiente.
Neither girl was happy.
Ninguna de las dos estaba feliz.
The dress was old, patched, and scratchy.
El vestido era viejo, remendado y áspero.
Their mother, Bettice, always warned them: "Don't tear it!
Su madre, Bettice, siempre les advertía: "¡No lo rasguen!
Don't get it dirty!
¡No lo ensucien!
If it's ruined, you'll have nothing to wear, and neither will your sister!"
Si se arruina, no tendrán nada que ponerse, ¡ni tampoco su hermana!"
One day, Bertina spotted something pink near a garbage bin.
Un día, Bertina vio algo rosa cerca de un cubo de basura.
It shimmered and sparkled.
Brillaba y destellaba.
A beautiful glittery pink dancer's outfit lay on the ground, with stockings and shiny shoes!
¡Un hermoso atuendo de bailarina rosado brillante yacía en el suelo, con medias y zapatos relucientes!
It was the most beautiful dress she'd ever seen.
Era el vestido más hermoso que jamás había visto.
"A gift from a fairy!" she gasped and ran home to try it on.
"¡Un regalo de un hada!" exclamó y corrió a casa para probárselo.
"Ooh! It's beautiful!
"¡Oh! ¡Es hermoso!
Let's share it," Berla cried excitedly, her eyes shining at the sight of the pretty dress.
Vamos a compartirlo," gritó Berla emocionada, sus ojos brillando al ver el bonito vestido.
But her sister didn't want to share.
Pero su hermana no quería compartir.
"I found it," Bertina snapped.
"Yo lo encontré", espetó Bertina.
"You can keep the old dress."
"Puedes quedarte con el viejo vestido."
"That's mean!" Berla said sadly.
"¡Eso es cruel!" dijo Berla tristemente.
"We always share everything!"
"¡Siempre compartimos todo!"
Bertina pulled on the dress, delighted to have such a pretty outfit.
Bertina se puso el vestido, encantada de tener un atuendo tan bonito.
But the moment she tied the pink dancer's shoes, the outfit glowed—and Bertina began to dance uncontrollably!
Pero en el momento en que se ató los zapatos de bailarina rosados, el atuendo brilló—¡y Bertina comenzó a bailar incontrolablemente!
"Help!
"¡Ayuda!
I can't stop dancing!" she screamed.
¡No puedo dejar de bailar!" gritó.
She spun and twirled, then—ZOOM!—
Giró y dio vueltas, luego—¡ZAS!—
...she danced out the door, past her shocked parents, and off down the road!
...bailó fuera de la puerta, pasó junto a sus padres sorprendidos, y se fue por el camino.
Chapter Two
Capítulo Dos
The shoes were enchanted and suddenly made her run very, very fast.
Los zapatos estaban encantados y de repente hicieron que corriera muy, muy rápido.
Off she went, so fast no one could keep up!
Se fue tan rápido que nadie podía seguirle el paso.
Her parents tried to chase her, but within seconds, she had vanished from sight.
Sus padres intentaron perseguirla, pero en cuestión de segundos, había desaparecido de la vista.
They ran and ran, but it was no use.
Corrieron y corrieron, pero fue en vano.
She was gone!
¡Se había ido!
"HEEELP!"
"¡AAAYUDA!"
Bertina screamed, but no one could stop the magic shoes or dress.
gritó Bertina, pero nadie podía detener los zapatos ni el vestido mágico.
She was forced to run and dance and hop through forests, over hills, through towns and villages.
Se vio obligada a correr y bailar y saltar a través de bosques, sobre colinas, por pueblos y aldeas.
She couldn't stop.
No podía parar.
The clothes stuck to her like glue.
La ropa se le pegaba como pegamento.
People jumped out of her way.
La gente se apartó de su camino.
All night long she ran, until she reached a strange circus guarded by big, scowling rhinos.
Corrió toda la noche, hasta que llegó a un circo extraño custodiado por grandes rinocerontes con ceños fruncidos.
A big tent stood in the middle, surrounded by glowing lights.
Una gran carpa se alzaba en el centro, rodeada de luces resplandecientes.
In she went... and there stood animals from all over the world, frozen mid-dance in sparkly suits.
Entró... y allí estaban animales de todo el mundo, congelados a mitad de baile en trajes brillantes.
"Help us," whispered a giraffe.
"Ayúdennos", susurró una jirafa.
"We're cursed!" squawked a hen named Chikonita.
"¡Estamos malditos!" gritó una gallina llamada Chikonita.
"I can't move!
"¡No puedo moverme!
I have to sleep like this all night long!" moaned a monkey in a shiny silver outfit, stuck standing on his head.
¡Tengo que dormir así toda la noche!" se quejó un mono en un traje plateado brillante, atrapado cabeza abajo.
Suddenly, a tall, pale witch stepped into the tent.
De repente, una alta y pálida bruja entró en la carpa.
She smiled wickedly.
Sonrió malvadamente.
"Aha! My final dancer!" she said, and with a snap of her fingers, Bertina froze in a ballerina pose.
"¡Ajá! ¡Mi bailarina final!" dijo, y con un chasquido de sus dedos, Bertina se congeló en una pose de bailarina.
Using her powerful magic, the witch forced the animals to dance, leap, juggle, and flip day and night.
Usando su poderosa magia, la bruja obligó a los animales a bailar, saltar, hacer malabares y voltear día y noche.
The audience clapped and cheered, never knowing they were watching enchanted prisoners.
El público aplaudía y vitoreaba, sin saber que estaban viendo prisioneros encantados.
Late at night, when the shows were finally over, the animals collapsed in a pile, too tired to speak.
A altas horas de la noche, cuando los espectáculos finalmente terminaban, los animales se desplomaban en un montón, demasiado cansados para hablar.
Bertina sobbed quietly, thinking of home.
Bertina sollozaba en silencio, pensando en su hogar.
Her feet ached from dancing for twelve hours each day.
Sus pies dolían de bailar doce horas cada día.
"Why did I ever wear that dress?" she sobbed.
"¿Por qué me puse ese vestido?" sollozaba.
"How I miss my dear sister and parents!"
"¡Cómo extraño a mi querida hermana y a mis padres!"
Meanwhile, her family searched far and wide.
Mientras tanto, su familia buscaba por todos lados.
They followed circus posters from town to town.
Seguían los carteles del circo de pueblo en pueblo.
At last, they caught up.
Por fin, los alcanzaron.
Chapter Three
Capítulo Tres
Bettice, Bertina's mom, peeked into the circus and saw her daughter dancing high on a trapeze.
Bettice, la mamá de Bertina, se asomó al circo y vio a su hija bailando en lo alto de un trapecio.
"Bertina!" she cried after the show, rushing to find her.
"¡Bertina!" gritó después del espectáculo, apresurándose a encontrarla.
But a rhino slammed the door shut.
Pero un rinoceronte cerró la puerta de golpe.
"No visitors."
"No hay visitas."
The witch appeared.
Apareció la bruja.
"She doesn't want you anymore. Go away."
"Ella ya no te quiere. Vete."
"Let me see my daughter!" Bettice begged.
"¡Déjame ver a mi hija!" suplicó Bettice.
But the witch snarled—and had her thrown out.
Pero la bruja gruñó y la echó.
That night, Bertina's father Brumo, dug a tunnel under the electric fence.
Esa noche, Brumo, el padre de Bertina, cavó un túnel bajo la cerca eléctrica.
He and Bettice crawled inside the circus grounds, trying to find their daughter.
Él y Bettice se arrastraron dentro del terreno del circo, tratando de encontrar a su hija.
But they woke the witch!
¡Pero despertaron a la bruja!
Red lights flashed.
Luces rojas parpadearon.
Alarms wailed.
Sonaron las alarmas.
Big bully rhino guards came running.
Grandes rinocerontes guardias vinieron corriendo.
Bettice and Brumo were caught and dragged before the witch.
Bettice y Brumo fueron capturados y arrastrados ante la bruja.
"Shall I turn you into frogs or floor mats?" she sneered, raising her wand.
"¿Debería convertirlos en ranas o en alfombras?" se burló ella, levantando su varita.
"Please! Just let us take our daughter home!" Bettice sobbed.
"¡Por favor! ¡Solo déjanos llevar a nuestra hija a casa!" sollozó Bettice.
"Never!
"¡Nunca!
She makes me a lot of money!
¡Ella me hace ganar mucho dinero!
I'll keep her dancing forever—until she's old and grey and useless!
¡La mantendré bailando para siempre, hasta que sea vieja, canosa e inútil!
Ha ha ha!" laughed the witch.
¡Ja ja ja!" se rió la bruja.
Just then—CRASH!
Justo entonces—¡CRASH!
Chapter Four
Capítulo Cuatro
Bertina's brave sister, Berla, leapt through the tent flap!
¡La valiente hermana de Bertina, Berla, saltó a través de la abertura de la carpa!
With a mighty roar, she snatched the wand from the witch's hand and SNAPPED IT IN HALF!
Con un poderoso rugido, ¡le arrebató la varita de la mano a la bruja y la PARTIÓ POR LA MITAD!
Instantly, the entire source of the witch's power was destroyed.
Instantáneamente, la fuente entera del poder de la bruja fue destruida.
POOF!
¡PUF!
The witch vanished into a puff of ash.
La bruja se desvaneció en una nube de ceniza.
The circus vanished.
El circo desapareció.
The tents disappeared.
Las carpas desaparecieron.
The magic clothes disappeared.
La ropa mágica desapareció.
The rhinos ran for their lives, bellowing in fright without their wicked leader.
Los rinocerontes corrieron por sus vidas, bramando de miedo sin su malvada líder.
And all the enchanted animals were free!
¡Y todos los animales encantados fueron liberados!
Bertina ran into her family's arms, crying with joy.
Bertina corrió a los brazos de su familia, llorando de alegría.
"You saved me!
"¡Me salvaste!
Thank you!
¡Gracias!
I love you so much!
¡Te quiero mucho!
I'm so sorry I was mean and wanted to keep the dress for myself!"
¡Lo siento tanto por ser mala y querer quedarme con el vestido para mí!"
Bertina sobbed.
sollozó Bertina.
They found the witch's treasure chest and shared it with all the freed animals.
Encontraron el cofre del tesoro de la bruja y lo compartieron con todos los animales liberados.
Everyone went on to live happy, peaceful lives.
Todos vivieron vidas felices y pacíficas.
Berla opened a dress shop and made many beautiful dresses for her entire family and for many other animals who came to buy them.
Berla abrió una tienda de vestidos e hizo muchos vestidos hermosos para toda su familia y para muchos otros animales que vinieron a comprarlos.
Bertina?
¿Bertina?
She became the happiest bear in the world—not because of any dress, but because she was home, with the ones who loved her.
Se convirtió en la osa más feliz del mundo, no por un vestido, sino porque estaba en casa, con aquellos que la amaban.
The End.
El Fin.
Spanish Vocabulary List:
- Oso/Osa | Bear
- Vestido | Dress
- Compartir | To share
- Hermana | Sister
- Familia | Family
- Rosa/Rosado | Pink
- Bailar | To dance
- Zapatos | Shoes
- Mágico | Magic/Magical
- Circo | Circus
- Animales | Animals
- Poder | Power
- Libre | Free
- Tienda | Shop
- Cofre | Chest (Trunk)
- Pobre | Poor
- Juntos/Juntas | Together
- Feliz | Happy
- Triste | Sad
- Hambriento | Hungry
- Mucha | A lot of/Much
How to Use These New Spanish Words This Week:
The "Freeze Dance" Game: This is perfect for this story! Play music and have your kids bailar (dance) like Bertina. When the music stops, shout "¡Congelados!" (Frozen!). Tell them they are under the witch's spell until the music starts again. If they wobble or move, they lose the round.
Sharing Practice (Compartir): When it’s time to share a snack or a toy, use the word: "Let's share it. Vamos a compartirlo." Ask them, "¿Quieres compartir con tu hermana?" (Do you want to share with your sister?).
Getting Dressed: Every morning when your child puts on their clothes, name the items. For instance, "Zapatos" for shoes and "Vestido" for a dress (or camisa for shirt). You can even ask, "¿Es un vestido mágico?" to see if they’ll start dancing!
Draw the Story: Direct a drawing session of the Bear Family or the Magic Circus:
- "Draw a pink dress. Dibuja un vestido rosa."
- "Draw a big bear and a small bear. Dibuja un oso grande y un oso pequeño."
- "Draw the magic circus. Dibuja el circo mágico."
The "Emotions" Face: Since the bears go from pobre (poor) and triste (sad) to feliz (happy), have your child draw two faces. One triste and one feliz. Ask them, "¿Cómo está el oso?" (How is the bear?).
Coloring In: Use our coloring sheet (in the activities section) and give bilingual instructions.
Art Instruction Examples:
- Paint the dress pink. Pinta el vestido de color rosa.
- Paint the shoes shiny gold. Pinta los zapatos de color dorado brillante.
- Color the forest green. Pinta el bosque de color verde.
- Paint the bear brown. Pinta el oso de color marrón.
Word Play (The "Funny Choice" Game): Ask questions about the story, such as:
- "What was Bertina wearing? ¿Un vestido o cáscaras de zanahoria?" (A dress or carrot peels?)
- "Who saved the day? ¿La hermana o un rinoceronte?" (The sister or a rhino?)
If they choose the carrot peels, have them draw her wearing a dress made of carrot peels. If they choose the rhino, tell them to draw a dancing rhino in a pink dress. This turns even mistaken answers into laughs and fun.
Word Puzzle: Use the printable word puzzle for this story (in the activities section) to reinforce key Spanish words learned in this story.
The Bear's Tea Party: Gather your child's favorite bears, stuffed animals, or dolls and host a tea party just like the one Berla might have in her new dress shop! As you serve each guest, name the food and drinks in both English and Spanish.
Examples:
"Would you like some tea? ¿Quieres un poco de té?"
"Here is some bread. Aquí tienes pan."
"Let's share the cake. Vamos a compartir el pastel."
"Is the tea hot or cold? ¿El té está caliente o frío?"
Bear's Favorite Food Game: The child pretends they are a hungry bear (un oso hambriento)! Have a tray of 5 different fruits or snacks ready.
Ask the child, "What do bears like best? ¿Qué les gusta más a los osos?"
Your child has to name the snack correctly in Spanish. If they get it right, they get to eat the treat as a reward!
To each them additional food words they don't know, name it in Spanish. For instance, hold up a strawberry and ask, "¿Fresa?"
The child roars like a happy bear: "¡Mmm, sí, me gusta la fresa!" (Mmm, yes, I like the strawberry!) and they win the snack.
Food Vocabulary:
- Manzana | Apple
- Plátano | Banana
- Pera | Pear
- Galleta | Cookie
- Fresa | Strawberry
- Durazno | Peach
- Papaya | Papaya
- Mango | Mango
- Uva | Grape
- Piña | Pineapple
- Naranja | Orange
The Hungry Bear Mealtime Challenge: Before every meal, check in with your little bear. Ask them in English and Spanish: "Are you hungry? ¿Tienes hambre?" To get their food, they have to reply in Spanish: "Yes, I'm hungry! ¡Sí, tengo hambre!"
To make it even more fun, play the "How hungry are you?" game. Ask them, "¿Cuánta hambre tienes?" and they have to growl like a big bear! A quiet growl means they are just a little hungry (and only get a little food), and a loud roar means they are ¡Muy hambriento! (Very hungry!).
Example dialogue options:
Parent: "¿Tienes hambre?" (Are you hungry?)
Child: "¡Sí, tengo mucha hambre!" ("Yes, I'm very hungery!" Literal translation: "Yes, I have much hunger.")
The Growl Game: When you ask, "¿Cuánta hambre tienes?" (How hungry are you?), they can roar and say "¡Mucha!"
What’s next?
You have completed your child's third bilingual Spanish immersion lesson!
If you're ready for a new adventure, continue to the next bilingual story lesson in this course.