Rafael Pombo

Hello! My name is Rafael Pombo, and I love to write stories and poems for children just like you. I was born on November 7th, 1833, in a beautiful city called Bogotá, which is in the country of Colombia. When I was a little boy, my favorite thing to do was read books. I would sit for hours, letting my imagination run wild. I dreamed up amazing adventures with brave heroes and funny animals. Reading felt like opening a door to a magical world, and I knew that one day, I wanted to create those worlds for other people to enjoy.

When I grew up, I went on a big adventure of my own. In 1855, I traveled far from home to a country called the United States. Living in a new place gave me so many new ideas. I thought about all the children back home and wanted to give them something special to read. So, in 1867, I started writing my most famous children's stories. Have you ever heard of a tadpole who goes for a walk? That was my story, 'El Renacuajo Paseador'. I also wrote about a silly old lady in a story called 'La Pobre Viejecita'. She had everything but still complained. I wanted to create characters that would make children laugh and think. My goal was to write fun tales that families could read together and enjoy.

After my travels, I returned home to my beloved Colombia in 1872. I was so happy to be back and even happier to share the stories and poems I had written. The children of Colombia loved them. They read about the tadpole and the silly old lady, and my books became very popular all over the country. My fables were read in schools and at home. Then, something wonderful happened in 1905. The people of my country decided to give me a very special honor. They placed a crown made of laurel leaves on my head and named me the National Poet of Colombia. It made me feel so proud and joyful to know my words meant so much to everyone.

I wrote stories and poems for many, many years, filling pages with rhymes and adventures. I lived to be 78 years old. Even today, my fables are still read by children in Colombia and all around the world. I hope that my words continue to fill your imagination with laughter and fun, and that my stories keep making you smile for a long, long time.