When I showed
The BEGINNERS Package
to my mom, she said, "¿Estás loca?"
ARTISTS SAY...
About the stories
I am a history buff, and a have a penchant for Peruvian, Incan and Pre-Incan history, although any will do.
As a writer, I am constitutionally incapable of writing anything other than historical fiction or memoir (although that could fit into the historical fiction category, if you think about it🤣).
In my stories you'll find well-researched and little-known Peruvian, Incan, Pre-Incan and European history, adventure, humor, magic, and of course, drama, lots of it.
I have an MA in Latin American Studies from NYU and another MA in Creative Writing and Publishing from Western Colorado University. The latter because there came a time when I promised myself that there was nothing I wouldn't do to realize my goal of founding a publishing house that created the best research-based and story-based materials for language acquisition on the planet.
I'm still living that promise.
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Where do you run when the good guys want you dead?
Will a ruthless mercenary, a hapless American traitor, and a dead man’s cryptic clue hold the key to Sam’s survival? As the noose tightens around her neck, Sam must uncover a brutal and deadly conspiracy before she becomes its next victim.
Is Special Agent Sam Jameson in love with a traitor?
Why do the DC Metro police seem to want her dead? And why has she suddenly been cut out of the loop by her bosses at Homeland? Do the damning links between Brock and a shadowy figure named Arturo Dibiaso mean that she's been living with a spy and a traitor?
The Novice Low "AVENTURAS" Septology
A STRANGE ABILITY, A CRAZY UNCLE...
WHAT COULD THE FUTURE POSSIBLY HOLD FOR SEVEN-YEAR-OLD ANTONIA?
Each book focuses on one of seven common verbs in the target language.
ALL BOOKS in the ENTIRE SERIES are fully illustrated, have comprehensive glossaries and are suitable for middle school, high school and adult learners. The series is written in Latin American Spanish and the Audiobooks narrated by a native speaker from Lima, Peru.
Genre: Action & Adventure, Historical Fiction, Time Travel, Humor
Unique Word Counts: 35-90 words per book
Total Word Counts: 500-800 words per book
NOTE: Antonia, the main character, often chooses to refer to "us" as "nosotras" (in Spanish) when females are in equal or greater amount in a group.
When referring to multiple others, she often uses "ellas" (Spanish) or "elles" (French), when females are in equal or greater amount in the group being described.
The Novice Mid "BRUJAS" Trilogy
WHEN ANTONIA AND HER FRIENDS GET WORD THAT THEIR BEST FRIEND LUCÍA IS MOVING,
THEY MOVE HEAVEN AND EARTH TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH HER.
WHAT BEGINS AS AN INNOCENT TRIP SOON BECOMES A DANGEROUS QUEST,
AS THE NINE-YEAR-OLDS REALIZE THAT THE HOLY SPANISH INQUISITION MIGHT NOT BE SO HOLY AFTER ALL.
Genre: Action & Adventure, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Detective
Unique Word Counts: ~300 words per book
Total Word Counts: ~2,500 words per book
The Novice High "CAMAQUEN" Trilogy
ALL IS WELL IN EL COLEGIO DON QUIJOTE DE LA MANCHA, WHERE ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD ANTONIA AND HER FRIENDS HAVE STUDIED SINCE THEY WERE SEVEN.
THAT IS, UNTIL BLASCO BREAKS THE RULES AND TOUCHES A HUACA, ONE OF THE SACRED INCAN OBJECTS THAT DON QUIXOTE SAFEGUARDS.
BUT HUACAS HAVE CAMAQUEN—LIFE ENERGY—AND STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN WHEN ONE TOUCHES THEM.
UH-OH. TO SOLVE BLASCO’S LITTLE PROBLEM, IT SEEMS THEY MUST GO TO PERU, AND GET THERE IN TIME FOR THE INTI RAYMI, THE INCAN FESTIVAL TO THE SUN GOD.
Genre: Action & Adventure, Historical Fiction, Ancient Civilizations (Inca Empire), Mystery
Unique Word Counts: ~350 words per book
Total Word Counts: ~4100 words per book
The Intermediate Low "PACTOS" Trilogy
ANOTHER GREAT DAY IN EL COLEGIO DON QUIJOTE DE LA MANCHA, WHERE THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD ANTONIA AND HER FRIENDS HAVE STUDIED SINCE THEY WERE SEVEN. THAT IS, UNTIL A YELLOW-EYED WOMAN DELIVERS A LETTER FROM THE DUCHESS OF ALBA. SHE INVITES THEM TO THE INAUGURATION OF A MUSEUM AT HER PALACE, AND “ASKS” DON QUIXOTE TO “DONATE” ALL THE SACRED INCAN OBJECTS THEY SAFEGUARD TO HER VENTURE. THAT HURTS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY SAFEGUARD A PAINTING THAT HOLDS THE LAST HOPE FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE INCAN EMPIRE.
IN 1571 TÚPAC AMARU BECAME THE LAST INCA OF VILCABAMBA, GOT A PORTRAIT OF HIMSELF PAINTED AND MADE A PACT WITH THEIR SUN GOD, INTI, VIA A GOLDEN DISC MADE IN HIS IMAGE.
IF A PERSON IN THE FUTURE CAME ALONG WORTHY OF RESTORING THE EMPIRE, THEY COULD UNLOCK THE SPELL INTI PUT ON THE PAINTING, BECOME YOUNGER, AND SPEARHEAD THE RESTORATION. BUT THE SPELL OF YOUTH CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED IN THE PRESENCE OF BOTH THE PAINTING AND THE DISC, WHICH WAS STOLEN RIGHT AFTER THE PACT AND HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN AGAIN.
IT’S 1597 NOW, AND OFF THEY GO TO THE PALACE. WHAT AWAITS THEM? THEY FEEL HOPE WHEN THEY MEET A POTENTIAL CONTENDER FOR THE INCAN EMPIRE RESTORATION, BUT DREAD TAKES OVER AS THEY UNCOVER THE DUCHESS’ OWN BLOOD-CURDLING PACT THAT COULD GET THEM ALL KILLED AND RUIN THE INCAS’ ONLY CHANCE. WILL MAGIC BE ENOUGH TO SAVE THEM AND HELP RESTORE THE INCAN EMPIRE? WHAT ABOUT TRICKERY? HOW ABOUT A PROPHECY?
Genre: Action & Adventure, Historical Fiction, Ancient Civilizations (Inca Empire), Mystery
Unique Word Counts: ~490 words per book
Total Word Counts: ~8000 words per book
(It might be a valid question, honestly...)
Double-click to edit this text
The first three I learned due to immersion, the fourth because I had a facility for it, skipped levels and got to the classes where they were reading books for native speakers.
The last four I studied to no avail.
I carried around the textbooks I had been given in those classes for YEARS, convinced there was something wrong with me.
Years after learning the research, I had a moment of glory when I threw all those textbooks away.
I couldn't find appropriate materials to learn from for any of those languages except German.
I bought every story for German language acquisition I could find on Amazon and read them all. They mostly sucked, except for ones by an author named Angelika Bohn. I gobbled those.
About a year later I found myself in a REAL CONVERSATION with a REAL GERMAN PERSON and was like...WAIT....I CAN UNDERSTAND AND SPEAK GERMAN?!??!
I GUESS THE RESEARCH IS TRUE!
😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
🇩🇪🍻🍺🥨🤩WUNDERBAR!!!!🤩🥨🍺🍻🇩🇪
And so, I wanted to save you even more money.
Much more. :)
LADIES & GENTLEMEN...
“My son is understanding and retaining what he is learning in his lessons, feeling positive about his experience and excited about speaking Spanish with Quijote y Yo materials! We have been so happy with the results!”
What people are saying...
"Never have I used materials that 1) my students liked so much 2) led to this degree of language acquisition."
"These books, along with the Communication Guides and Audio materials, prove to masterfully stimulate the language-learning part of my brain AND allow me to enjoy doing it!!!"
"My students absolutely loved this story. The artwork and input it offers is amazing for language acquisition."
And...I'm done.
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21 digital
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PAPERBACKS
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21 digital
products
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PAPERBACKS
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21 digital
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“It’s been fun to watch our son grow and blossom in his language skills over the last year. We hope that you have the same experience as we did with the Quijote y Yo series.”
“I had high hopes for my high school daughter learning Spanish with Quijote y Yo— it has exceeded my expectations.”
The Intermediate Mid "ASESINAS" Trilogy
LAST YEAR OF SCHOOL IN EL COLEGIO DON QUIJOTE DE LA MANCHA, WHERE FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD ANTONIA AND HER FRIENDS HAVE STUDIED SINCE THEY WERE SEVEN. OH NO! DON QUIXOTE GIVES THEM A CLEAR CHOICE: THEY CAN KEEP LEARNING IN HIS LIVING ROOM, OR THEY CAN TRAVEL.
IT’S THE HARSH WINTER OF 1599, AND LUCÍA ISN’T KEEN ON FREEZING, BLASCO RAN AWAY FROM HOME TWO YEARS AGO, SO THEIR QUARTET IS RUINED, AND THEY KNOW THAT TRAVELLING WITH DON QUIXOTE EQUALS TROUBLE EVERY TIME. SO, THE CHOICE IS CLEAR.
FIRST STOP: TOLEDO. SANSÓN’S PENCHANT FOR ART IS ABOUT TO GET SATISFIED! OFF THEY GALLOP TO AN EXHIBITION FEATURING THREE PAINTERS WHO AREN’T SPANISH YET HAVE A CONNECTION TO THE COUNTRY. THEY’RE EAGER TO SEE PAINTINGS BY EL GRECO, SOFONISBA ANGUISSOLA AND LAVINIA FONTANA, BUT NO SOONER DO THEY ARRIVE THAN PEOPLE START DROPPING LIKE WOUNDED BULLFIGHTERS.
THEY COULD MOVE ON TO ITALY TO QUENCH LUCÍA’S THIRST FOR SCIENCE—OR ENGLAND, SO ANTONIA CAN GET HER LITERATURE FIX—BUT THIS BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE AS THEY MAKE AN UNEXPECTED FRIENDSHIP THAT BOTH COMPLETES THEIR QUARTET AGAIN AND PUTS THEM ALL IN MORTAL DANGER.
TO TOP IT OFF, THEY REALIZE A LEGEND ASSOCIATED TO ONE OF EL GRECO’S PAINTINGS IS PUTTING QUIXOTE AT FATAL RISK—NOW THEY REALLY MUST SOLVE THE CASE. WHAT STARTED OUT AS THEIR LAST SCHOOL TRIP SOON BECOMES A LETHAL MASQUERADE INVOLVING ROYALTY, THE POPE, DISTINCTIVE GENETICS, LOVE AND BETRAYAL, MAKING THEM QUESTION JUST WHAT EXACTLY IS ON EXHIBITION, AND WHETHER ANY NUMBER OF MASKS CAN HIDE ONE’S GREATEST FEARS.
Genre: Murder Mystery, Action & Adventure, Historical Fiction
Unique Word Counts: ~650 words per book
Total Word Counts: ~16,000 words per book
“An AMAZING resource!!! My son is getting tutored with these materials and we have been so happy with the results! He has taken Spanish in high school for 2 years and was still struggling with the basics, now that he is working from the Quijote y Yo series he is making steady and impressive progress!”
PARENTS SAY
“I HIGHLY recommend this book series for learning Spanish. My kids, aged 8 and 11, were initially reluctant to practice the language, but they ended up loving these books! I'm eagerly awaiting more from this series—it's truly a great resource for making Spanish learning fun and engaging for children.”
You see, it's so entertaining and historically well researched that not only middle and high schoolers enjoy it, but adults too, even ones like
DUNE-writer Kevin J. Anderson
and, if anyone knows a good story, it's him.
Wow. Ok. But how will my child understand everything?
You ask.
There are COMPREHENSIVE GLOSSARIES in all the books.
They're also PROFESSIONALLY ILLUSTRATED:
Impressive...but...how will they learn the pronunciation?
All the packages—Ebooks or Paperbacks— come with AUDIOBOOKS narrated by a native speaker.
That's easy then—all my child needs to do is read books in the target language! 😁
Right you are! Then why aren't they doing so? They can't start at Allende, folks—if they could, they'd already be doing it.
WHAT THEY NEED IS A GRADED BRIDGE.
You see, the DATA has to be complex—embedded in a web of meaning that has a chance of being memorable.
NOTHING CAN DO THIS LIKE STORIES.
Middle schoolers with the Novice Low "Aventuras" Septology
Oh, and everything has been learner tested.
High schooler with the Novice High and Intermediate Low Trilogies
I have personally spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars studying languages at some of the world's most prestigious institutions...TO NO AVAIL. Which, you ask?
You see, I'm one of those rare humans who believes that if a human studies a language, they should acquire it. Hey, call me LOCA, but Quijote y Yo materials are learner tested, and I've seen the results.
Spanish
English
Portuguese
French
Mandarin
Russian
German
Quechua
This is DUNE writer Kevin J. Anderson.
He's a superfan! 😄
I speak the first four due to IMMERSION. The last four I studied to no avail. It would be decades until I encountered the research and understood that there was nothing wrong with me—that it was in fact a mixture of non-research-based materials and methodologies.
Act fast or I might be in an institution before you click buy and then this deal will go VAMOOSE
$335 DOLLAR VALUE FOR $29.99
About the Author
As a child, the only two things Constanza Ontaneda ever replied when asked "what she wanted to be" was either writer OR businesswoman. She thought those two careers were distinct, separate and even at odds with each other. She never thought they could be inextricably intertwined.
In her life she's only never stopped doing two things: reading books and studying languages. She also thought those two things were distinct, separate and even at odds with each other. Now she knows they are inextricably intertwined.
Enthralled by language acquisition from a young age, she collected languages wherever she went, even while studying Apparel Design at Cornell University. She always verbalized "hoping to have a career where all these languages could be put to good use." Ah...little did she know what was coming.
While she still has a penchant for anything to do with the sartorial, she believes becoming a World Language Educator was the best thing that ever happened to her. She became the type of teacher who plans unofficial field trips to the otherwise forbidden backends of the Museum of Natural History just because her neighbor is a sculptor there. She became the type of teacher who made a difference, in and out of the classroom, and it healed her in the process.
"We've tried everything and noticed this summer she really enjoyed and learned so much more reading books. Unfortunately, there are only a handful of books that help teach! And yours are the only ones with guides to help even more!! So I was really excited to see your series and can't wait to get started. Thank you so much for creating such a unique series!!"
7
EBOOKS
+
21 digital
products
7
PAPERBACKS
+
21 digital
products
7
EBOOKS
+
21 digital
products
7
EBOOKS
+
21 digital
products
"My kids are learning Spanish MUCH FASTER than I did using traditional classroom methods!"
Scroll down to check out this exclusive one-time offer.
Your child will learn Spanish with
Antonia and Don Quijote
in this laugh-out-loud historical fiction series that gets progressively more complex.
Once they read the first book, they're going to want the rest of the series.
It's also 100% RESEARCH-BASED.
Awesome! But my child is SERIOUSLY an absolute beginner. How can they just start reading books?
The Beginners Package includes:
7 Communication Guides
and their corresponding
7 Audio Communication Guides.
Psst...FYI...those 14 products are worth
$251.86
FOR FREE
Most interesting...but...
what is a
Communication Guide?
Downloadable pdfs that can be used digitally, printed or projected and contain state-of-the art
Pre-reading
Reading &
Post-reading Tasks
To ensure learner comprehension, there is an English Translation below EVERYTHING.
The Audio Communication Guides train learners in native-like pronunciation.
AND NOW...
A ONE-TIME BONKERS
DEAL
WITH The BEGINNERS Package YOU GET:
➡️ The ENTIRE Novice Low Repertoire:
✅ 7 Communication Guides for FREE
✅ 7 Audio Communication Guides for FREE
✅ 7 Ebooks (2 Free)
✅ 7 Audiobooks for FREE
and you'll have started your child's Spanish Language-Learning Journey!!!
FYI...
That is a
$335
dollar value
I wanted YOUR CHILD to get access to the most comprehensive, research-based and entertaining bridge to Spanish proficiency on the market
For a RIDICULOUS price
I know the frustation of studying a language with no results, so I wanted to give your child access to research-based, fun materials,
AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE
THEY GET TO START LEARNING SPANISH FOR REALS
FOR LESS THAN 30 BUCKS.
👉 EACH BOOK IS BASED ON ONE OF 7 COMMON VERBS IN THE TARGET LANGUAGE
👉 THEY GET INTRODUCED TO CHARACTERS THAT THEY WILL GROW WITH IN AGE AS THEY GROW IN LINGUISTIC ABILITY WITH SUBSEQUENT TRILOGIES
Hi there! My name is Constanza Ontaneda and I'm a decade+ World Language Educator who has taught elementary, middle, high school and adults and was hired to chair and transform the World Language Department at a school in Times Square from 34 years of grammar drills, memorization, textbooks, tests and exposure to random words and phrases—which DO NOT lead to language acquisition—into a 100% research-based program. And I did it! What have you been up to lately? 🤣
Amazing. I'm pretty much sold, but...why should I trust you?
Don't trust me. Trust the research. And...
Brilliant!...but...how is it research-based?
Simple:
Linguist Stephen Krashen's Theory is true—Comprehensible Linguistic Input is the only DATA the brain can turn into a complex representation of the language that a human being can then retrieve from in order to communicate.