Interest in the cultural dimension of translation arises from the recognition that both the original and the translation are not simply samples of linguistic material but are embedded in a network of both source and target cultural signs. Indeed, decoding these cultural signs can be more problematic for the translator than the semantic or syntactic difficulties of a text. If the translation is then intended for children, the complexity increases. This paper explores culture-bound problems in translating children's literature. The main focus is on the description of translations, establishing where important shifts occur and analysing them in order to determine the relationship between source text and target text, the meaning acquired by the translated text, and its reception in the target culture. The data consists of Spanish translations of contemporary British children's fantasy fiction. The comparison of texts is based on the translators' handling of the reworked concept of 'cultural intertextuality'. Attention is drawn to the translators' choice of strategies, determining whether the overall import of the text has been modified and how relevant changes might have influenced the target audience.