The Centipede and the Shoemaker – Free Story for Kids Learning Spanish
Welcome to the fifth story-based Spanish for kids lesson!
About this bilingual story for kids: A giant centipede with 101 tired feet.
A rejected young shoemaker with 50 beautiful but unwanted shoes.
When these two outcasts meet by the river, a magical friendship is born. And together, they achieve the impossible.
Get ready for a charming, quirky, and surprisingly touching story about standing out, sticking to your dreams, and walking your own path, in your own way.
How bilingual story immersion works: Each sentence appears first in English and then in Spanish, making it easy for your child to always understand what’s going on and effortlessly absorb new Spanish words. Simply listen and read to expand your child’s Spanish vocabulary easily and naturally! No studying or flashcards are needed.
On this page, you can listen to the bilingual English-Spanish audiobook for free and read the bilingual story beneath the player.
Your child will learn common Spanish words including animals, sizes, clothing, nature and countryside terms, day and night, colors, friendship, business, money, success, emotions, and expressions. They will also pick up essential action words like walking, running, throwing, buying, and talking.
This is an original story by Lily Galili, translated and published by LingoLina. Copyright 2026 Lily Galili, LingoLina.com. All rights reserved.
Read along with the story below.
The Centipede and the Shoemaker by Lily Galili.
El Ciempiés y el Zapatero por Lily Galili.
There once was a huge centipede monster.
Había una vez un enorme monstruo ciempiés.
Not a bad one, but a very big one.
No uno malo, pero sí uno muy grande.
And he had a hundred and one legs.
Y tenía ciento un patas.
Now, it happened that his mother had fed him a lot of protein.
Pues bien, sucedió que su madre le había alimentado con mucha proteína.
And she'd fed him and fed him until he kept growing and growing and growing until he became really, really huge.
Y le alimentó y alimentó hasta que siguió creciendo y creciendo y creciendo hasta que se volvió realmente, realmente enorme.
So huge, in fact, that there was no longer any room for him in their cozy little cave.
Tan enorme, de hecho, que ya no había espacio para él en su acogedora pequeña cueva.
"Off you go, my adventurous boy," his mother said one day, wiping her eyes with a tiny leaf.
"Vete, mi chico aventurero", dijo su madre un día, secándose los ojos con una diminuta hoja.
"See the world!"
"¡Ve a ver el mundo!"
And so, off went the centipede, thrilled to explore.
Y así, se fue el ciempiés, emocionado por explorar.
He trundled down the human roads through the countryside, marveling at everything he saw.
Avanzó por los caminos humanos a través del campo, maravillándose de todo lo que veía.
But there was a problem.
Pero había un problema.
His feet—all one hundred and one of them—began to hurt.
Sus pies—todos ellos, ciento y uno—comenzaron a doler.
The pebbles, the sticks, and the gravel on the ground poked and pinched with every step.
Las piedras, las ramas y la grava en el suelo le pinchaban y pellizcaban a cada paso.
One day, while hiding in the high bushes bordering a field, the centipede noticed something peculiar about the humans passing by.
Un día, mientras se ocultaba en los altos arbustos que bordeaban un campo, el ciempiés notó algo peculiar en los humanos que pasaban.
They all wore shoes.
Todos llevaban zapatos.
Big shoes, little shoes, shiny shoes, dirty shoes.
Zapatos grandes, zapatos pequeños, zapatos brillantes, zapatos sucios.
Boots, sandals, slippers... shoes of every kind!
Botas, sandalias, pantuflas... ¡zapatos de todo tipo!
He thought to himself, "Huh, I wonder what that's like?"
Se dijo a sí mismo: "Eh, me pregunto cómo será eso".
That night, when everyone was asleep, the centipede crept into the garden of a house on the edge of town.
Esa noche, cuando todos dormían, el ciempiés se escabulló en el jardín de una casa en las afueras del pueblo.
By the doorstep, the farmer had left his boots outside.
Al lado de la puerta, el granjero había dejado sus botas afuera.
Curious, the centipede slipped one of his legs into a boot.
Curioso, el ciempiés deslizó una de sus patas en una bota.
"Ohhh," he said, wriggling his leg.
"Ohhh," dijo, moviendo su pierna.
"This is NICE."
"Esto es AGRADABLE".
He strutted around on one leg with the boot, kicking and tapping the ground.
Se pavoneó sobre una pierna con la bota, pateando y golpeando el suelo.
It felt so wonderful!
¡Se sentía tan maravilloso!
But then...
Pero luego...
one of the farmer's dogs woke up and started barking like mad.
uno de los perros del granjero se despertó y comenzó a ladrar como loco.
The centipede yelped and bolted back into the bushes, leaving behind a trail of frantic footprints and taking the boot with him.
El ciempiés chilló y corrió de vuelta a los arbustos, dejando atrás un rastro de huellas frenéticas y llevándose la bota con él.
The next morning, the farmer discovered the theft.
A la mañana siguiente, el granjero descubrió el robo.
"Who's stolen my boot?" he grumbled, shaking his head.
"¿Quién ha robado mi bota?" gruñó, moviendo la cabeza.
He even scolded the dog.
Incluso regañó al perro.
"What good are you if you can't guard a boot?"
"¿De qué sirve si no puedes proteger una bota?"
But no matter where he searched, he couldn't find the missing shoe.
Pero, no importaba dónde buscara, no podía encontrar el zapato perdido.
He did, however, find some very strange footprints.
Sin embargo, encontró unas huellas muy extrañas.
They were the size of a human's, but there were dozens of them, all in a neat line.
Eran del tamaño de un humano, pero había docenas de ellas, todas en una línea ordenada.
Meanwhile, the centipede had decided that shoes were the answer to all his problems.
Mientras tanto, el ciempiés había decidido que los zapatos eran la solución a todos sus problemas.
And since he felt a teensy bit guilty about stealing, he made a promise to himself: "I'll only take one shoe from each pair.
Y como se sentía un poco culpable por robar, se hizo una promesa a sí mismo: "Sólo tomaré un zapato de cada par.
That way, the humans will still have one left."
De esa manera, los humanos aún tendrán uno."
Soon, the centipede became a very strange thief indeed.
Pronto, el ciempiés se convirtió en un ladrón muy extraño.
He slinked through towns and villages at night, sneaking away with one shoe from every doorstep.
Se escabullía por los pueblos y aldeas por la noche, llevándose un zapato de cada puerta.
People woke up to find single shoes missing, scratching their heads and wondering what sort of one-footed bandit was at work.
La gente se despertaba y encontraba un solo zapato desaparecido, rascándose la cabeza y preguntándose qué tipo de bandido con un pie estaba en acción.
Meanwhile, the centipede's feet were feeling better and better.
Mientras tanto, los pies del ciempiés se sentían cada vez mejor.
Half of his legs were now happily shoed, and he strutted with pride.
La mitad de sus patas ahora estaban felizmente calzadas, y caminaba con orgullo.
One day, the centipede reached a small, peaceful village near a river.
Un día, el ciempiés llegó a una pequeña y tranquila aldea cerca de un río.
It was the kind of place where everyone knew everyone, and life was simple.
Era el tipo de lugar donde todos conocían a todos y la vida era sencilla.
Among the villagers was a young shoemaker called Brio, a creative soul with big dreams.
Entre los aldeanos había un joven zapatero llamado Brio, un alma creativa con grandes sueños.
Unlike his father, who made the same plain clogs and boots for everyone, the Brio loved experimenting.
A diferencia de su padre, que hacía los mismos zuecos y botas sencillas para todos, a Brio le encantaba experimentar.
He dyed leather with berries, painted patterns, and created shoes in vibrant colors like blue, pink, and even striped!
Teñía el cuero con bayas, pintaba patrones y creaba zapatos en colores vibrantes como azul, rosa e incluso a rayas.
"These are works of art!"
"¡Estas son obras de arte!"
he said proudly, displaying his fifty unique creations in his tiny shop.
decía orgulloso, mostrando sus cincuenta creaciones únicas en su pequeña tienda.
But the villagers were not impressed.
Pero los aldeanos no estaban impresionados.
"What nonsense is this?" they cried.
"¿Qué tontería es esta?" gritaban.
"Who would wear a blue shoe?
"¿Quién usaría un zapato azul?
And look at these silly designs!
¡Y mira estos diseños tan tontos!
Circles?
¿Círculos?
Flowers?
¿Flores?
Ridiculous!"
¡Ridículo!"
The young shoemaker's heart sank.
El corazón del joven zapatero se hundió.
Even his father scolded him.
Incluso su padre lo regañó.
"You've wasted good leather!
"¡Has desperdiciado buen cuero!
Make normal shoes, or you'll never earn a penny!"
Haz zapatos normales o nunca ganarás un centavo."
Desperate and disheartened, Brio finally gathered all his colorful shoes and carried them to the river.
Desesperado y desalentado, Brio finalmente reunió todos sus zapatos coloridos y los llevó al río.
With tears in his eyes, he tossed them in.
Con lágrimas en los ojos, los lanzó.
"What's the point?" he muttered.
"¿Cuál es el sentido?" murmuró.
But just then, a huge head popped up from the bushes across the river.
Pero justo entonces, una gran cabeza apareció entre los arbustos al otro lado del río.
The young man froze, staring at the largest centipede he'd ever seen.
El joven se quedó inmóvil, mirando al mayor ciempiés que había visto jamás.
"Oh my," said the centipede, eyes wide.
"Oh, vaya", dijo el ciempiés, con los ojos muy abiertos.
"These are the most beautiful shoes I've ever seen!
"¡Estos son los zapatos más hermosos que he visto!
Why did you throw them away?"
¿Por qué los tiraste?"
"Y-you like them?" stammered Brio, too shocked to run.
"¿T-te gustan?" tartamudeó Brio, demasiado sorprendido para correr.
"Like them?" cried the centipede, plucking the shoes quickly out of the water.
"¿Gustarme?" exclamó el ciempiés, sacando rápidamente los zapatos del agua.
"I LOVE them!
"¡Me ENCANTAN!
Look at this one!
¡Mira este!
And this one!
¡Y este!
Ooh, this one has little beads!"
¡Oh, este tiene pequeñas cuentas!"
Brio's heart swelled with pride as the centipede showered his shoes with compliments.
El corazón de Brio se hinchó de orgullo mientras el ciempiés elogiaba sus zapatos.
"Since you don't want them, can I keep them?"
"Ya que no los quieres, ¿puedo quedármelos?"
asked the centipede, looking hopeful.
preguntó el ciempiés, con aire esperanzado.
"Of course," said Brio.
"Por supuesto", dijo Brio.
"But...
"Pero...
do you have enough feet for all of them?"
¿tienes suficientes pies para todos ellos?"
The centipede chuckled.
El ciempiés soltó una risita.
"Oh, I've got plenty of feet!"
"¡Oh, tengo muchos pies!"
He happily put on all fifty shoes and strutted around, clicking and clacking with delight.
Se puso felizmente los cincuenta zapatos y caminó vistosamente, haciendo clic y clac con deleite.
From that day on, the centipede became the young shoemaker's biggest fan.
Desde ese día, el ciempiés se convirtió en el mayor admirador del joven zapatero.
He traveled to distant towns and cities, showing off his beautiful shoes and telling everyone about the talented young shoemaker in the little village by the river.
Viajaba a pueblos y ciudades lejanas, mostrando sus hermosos zapatos y contando a todos sobre el talentoso joven zapatero del pequeño pueblo junto al río.
Soon, word spread, and orders began pouring in from all over the land.
Pronto, corrió la voz y comenzaron a llegar pedidos de todas partes del país.
People from the big cities loved unique, extravagant fashion and went crazy for Brio's creative shoes.
La gente de las grandes ciudades adoraba la moda única y extravagante, y se volvieron locos por los creativos zapatos de Brio.
Brio's business flourished, and he became famous for his extraordinary designs.
El negocio de Brio floreció, y se hizo famoso por sus extraordinarios diseños.
As for the centipede?
¿Y el ciempiés?
He lived a life of adventure, wandering the world in his dazzling shoes.
Vivió una vida de aventuras, deambulando por el mundo con sus deslumbrantes zapatos.
Brio made him more shoes than he could ever wear.
Brio le hizo más zapatos de los que jamás podría usar.
Wherever the Centipede went, he carried a sign that read, "Brio's Amazing Boots".
Dondequiera que el ciempiés iba, llevaba un cartel que decía, "Las Asombrosas Botas de Brio".
People marveled at the stylish centipede and flocked to buy shoes from the boy who dared to dream.
La gente admiraba al estiloso ciempiés y acudía en masa para comprar zapatos del chico que se atrevió a soñar.
And so, Brio the shoemaker and the centipede both lived happily ever after, proving that sometimes, all it takes is one unusual friend to change your life forever.
Y así, Brio el zapatero y el ciempiés vivieron felices para siempre, demostrando que a veces, todo lo que se necesita es un amigo inusual para cambiar tu vida para siempre.
The End.
El Fin.
Spanish Vocabulary List:
- Ciempiés | Centipede
- Zapatero | Shoemaker
- Zapatos | Shoes
- Patas | Legs/Feet (of an animal)
- Pies | Human feet
- Joven | Young
- Sueños | Dreams
- Éxito | Success
- Dinero | Money
- Desesperado | Hopeless (Desperate)
- Famoso | Famous
- Negocio | Business
- Diseños | Designs
- Talentoso | Talented
- Botas | Boots
- Grande | Big
- Pequeño | Little
- Campo | Countryside
- Piedras | Stones
- Camino | Road/Path
- Río | River
- Cuero | Leather
- Azul | Blue
- Rosa | Pink
- Colores | Colors
- Rayas | Stripes
- Círculos | Circles
- Flores | Flowers
- Orgulloso | Proud
- Famoso | Famous
How to Use These New Spanish Words This Week:
The Shoe Pile (Zapatos): Gather a bunch of different shoes from your family and put them in a pile. Have your child sort them while saying the Spanish word: "Zapato grande" (Big shoe), "Zapato pequeño" (Little shoe), "Bota" (Boot), or "Sandalia" (Sandal).
Counting the "Ciempiés" Legs: While your child is walking, count their steps in Spanish. Since the centipede has so many, try to see how high you can go! "Uno, dos, tres..."
Color & Pattern Hunt: Look at the shoes in your house. Point to the details and name them in Spanish: "Azul" (Blue), "Rosa" (Pink), "Rayas" (Stripes), or "Círculos" (Circles). Ask them, "¿Te gusta este zapato?" (Do you like this shoe?).
The "Shoe Thief" Game: While your child is "sleeping," hide one shoe from several pairs around the room (just like the centipede did!). This could be their real shoes or if they have dolls, their dolls' shoes.
When they wake up, tell them: "¡El ciempiés robó los zapatos!" They have to find the missing shoes and match them back to their partners.
Design Your Own "Brio" Shoes: Print out a drawing of a plain shoe or use an old white sneaker/sock. Let your child decorate it with flores (flowers), rayas (stripes), and círculos (circles). Encourage them to use as many colores as possible!
Coloring in: Use the printable coloring sheet found in the activities section and instruct them in English and Spanish on how to color it in.
Art Instruction Examples:
- Paint the centipede green. Pinta el ciempiés de color verde.
- Color the shoes blue and pink. Pinta los zapatos de color azul y rosa.
- Draw ten small circles. Dibuja diez círculos pequeños.
- Paint the river blue. Pinta el río de color azul.
Paper Cutout Dolls: Draw a long, wiggly centipede and cut it out. Then, create a set of tiny cutout shoes (zapatos) and glue them onto his many feet (patas). You can even make them different colors just like Brio’s designs!
Craft a "Giant" Centipede: Use a long cardboard roll (like from paper towels) or roll up a piece of thick felt to create the body. Poke holes along the sides and attach a dozen legs made of thick rope or felt strips. Paint the body green or glue green felt over it. For the head, use a round piece of green fabric or cardboard, and glue on (or paint) big eyes and a friendly, feliz (happy) mouth.
What’s next?
Your child has completed the fifth Spanish lesson in this bilingual story immersion course!
This story is a beautiful way to learn that being "unusual" is actually a superpower, teamwork is dreamwork, and don't ever give up on your dreams.
Whenever you're ready for the next adventure, visit the next story lesson.