Introduction

Can you imagine what it is like to live in a flowerpot and confuse one animal with another? Our chatty little plants Basil, Rosemary and the sisters think they know some stuff, but when it comes to animals they know nothing. One wild idea leads to another and gets them into big trouble. This story is for children and others wanting to read a dual language text in English and Spanish with illustrations. Reading this fun bilingual story will help you learn Spanish.

Reading a bilingual book for just ten minutes each day is a very efficient use of your time for improving your language skills.

This dual language book is for bilingual children and Spanish language students with a basic - intermediate knowledge, who want to revise a dual language text in English and Spanish. The book is in two sections. In the first part, for ease of understanding the two languages are displayed together mostly one or two sentences at a time. Showing the languages together helps compare words and common expressions easily. The second part, the Spanish only version allows intermediate students to test their understanding. We hope you enjoy the stories.

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Life of Basil — La vida de Albahaca

The first thing in his life that Basil remembered was cold air. A little girl put Basil's pot down on the front door step.

La primera cosa que Albahaca recordaba de su vida era el aire frío. Una niña posó el tiesto de Albahaca en el escalón de la puerta principal.

Next to the front door he saw a big flowerpot. It was bright blue and on it was painted a picture of an orange cat.

What a scary animal! thought Basil.

Al lado de la puerta, Albahaca vio una gran maceta. Era azul brillante y sobre ella había pintado un dibujo de un gato naranja.

—¡Qué animal tan aterrador! —pensó Albahaca.

This is your new home little basil plant, said the girl.

She gave Basil some water. Then she took a wooden lollypop stick out of her pocket and loosened the soil.

—Este es tu nuevo hogar, plantita de Albahaca —dijo la niña.

Dio a Albahaca un poco de agua. Después sacó del bolsillo un palo de madera de una piruleta y aflojó la tierra.

Help! thought Basil. What's happening?

The soil below Basil was moving. Then something warm squashed his top leaves.

—¡Ayuda! —pensó Albahaca—. ¿Qué está pasando?

La tierra bajo Albahaca se estaba moviendo. Entonces algo cálido aplastó sus hojas superiores.

Help! Help! shouted Basil loudly.

The little girl heard nothing. Suddenly Basil was lifted out of his pot and lowered, root first, into a new hole.

—¡Ayuda! ¡Ayuda! —gritó Albahaca.

La niña no oyó nada. De repente Albahaca fue sacado de su maceta y metido, con la raíz por delante, en un nuevo agujero.

She pushed new soil round Basil's roots and gave him some more water. Then she went inside and closed the front door behind her.

La niña apretó tierra nueva alrededor de las raíces de Albahaca y le dio un poco más de agua. Después entró cerrando la puerta principal tras ella.

Basil was cold. He bent over feeling scared and alone.

Hey! Seedling! shouted two voices. What's your name?

Basil looked up and saw two plants with bright blue and yellow flowers.

Albahaca tenía frío. Se acurrucó sintiéndose asustado y solo.

—¡Eh! ¡Plantita! —gritaron dos voces—. ¿Cómo te llamas?

Albahaca miró hacia arriba y vio dos plantas con flores de color azul brillante y amarillas.

Who are you? asked Basil shyly.

We're the Pansy Sisters, said the Pansy