65 Latinx Picture Books to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month for Kids

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Celebrate National Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month for kids to honor the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans beginning September 15 and continuing to October 15 since 1989. Read picture books to honor this month. It’s an opportunity, just like Black History Month or Asian American Pacific Islander Month, to intentionally celebrate and learn more about the Hispanic and Latinx cultures from 21 Spanish-speaking countries.

If you’re a teacher, librarian, or parent of an elementary school-age kid or preschool-age child, what activities can you do to celebrate your own culture or teach your children more about the rich cultures of Spanish-speaking countries? Here’s a list of ideas to get you started.

1. Start with a Book

Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month Picture Books

Use the book list below to get started sharing stories about characters who have Latine heritage and some of these stories include words in Spanish.

Don’t worry if you’re not a Spanish speaker; just do your best phonetically. You can always look up pronunciation on apps like SpanishDict.

2. Watch a movie or TV show in Spanish or with Spanish-speaking characters.

3. Play music in Spanish.

4. Play games that teach Spanish words.

5. Learn about Hispanic and Latinx artists.

6. Make a meal from a Spanish-speaking country.
Try a Mexican-flavored family-favorite recipe from EveryDayLatina.

7. Read aloud middle grade books with Latinx and Hispanic main characters

Latinx Picture Books to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month for Kids

Latinx Picture Books for Hispanic Heritage Month for Kids

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    Ten Little Birds Diez Pajaritos by 123 Andres, illustrated by Sara Palacios
    I really love the Spanish version of this dual language book, as it’s lyrical and fun to read out loud. Starting with ten birds on a roof, subtract two each time a cat tries to get them, and figure out how many are left afterward. When all the birds have flown away, they’ll come back for you to count, starting with one up to ten.

    Cerca / Close by Juan Felipe Herrera, illustrated by Blanca Gomez
    A young girl shows us her world, specifically what things are close to other things. She does this by connecting things together. “The door is close to the apple tree. The daisies are close to the apple tree.” What will be close to the apple tree? The horses! Read it in Spanish or English or both! “Mi amigo esta cerca de mi. My friend is close to me.” Earthy colors, an important concept (close), and enchanting illustrations.

    Lejos / Far by Juan Felipe Herrera, illustrated by Blanca Gomez
    Like the book Cerca / Closethis bilingual English Spanish book shows things in a young boy’s world that are far apart from each other. “The lemon tree is far from my house. My house is far from the city.” It’s a lovely story that develops the concept while showing geographical features and a kid that the readers can relate to.

    Picture Books for Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month
    Pin Pon (Canticos) by Susie Jaramillo
    Depending on the way you hold this bilingual English-Spanish children’s book, you’ll read this catchy song in either English or Spanish about a darling little cardboard boy named Pin Pon who cleans and eats and goes to bed just like a regular boy. As you learn about manners and hygiene, lift the flaps to see more to the story and nouns. Watch the Pin Pon video and hear the song in Spanish on NickJr. (So cute, right?)

    Sing with Me, Canta Conmigo by Jose-Luis Orozco, illustrated by Sara Palacios
    Read and sing along with your preschoolers to favorite familiar children’s songs from the United States in both English and Spanish. Use these songs all year round and for Hispanic Heritage Month for kids because music helps children learn all sorts of things, languages included. Exciting, cheerful illustrations from the talented Sara Palacios.

    little sunny sunshine / sol solecito

    Little Sunny Sunshine / Sol Solecito by Canticos and Susie Jaramillo
    Learn the days of the week in English and Spanish with this darling lyrical book asking the sun to warm you up– every day of the week — illustrated with the adorable Canticos chicks.

    Marta! Big & Small by Jen Arena, illustrated by Angela Dominguez
    Beautiful illustrations accompany this book showcasing adjective opposites about Marta and her animal friends. Loud / Quiet. Fast / Slow. Lovely!

    Picture Books for Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month
    Federico and the Wolf
    by Rebecca J. Gomez, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri
    A boy named Federico rides his bike to the marketplace to buy ingredients for his abuelo’s pico de gallo. In the woods, a wolf asks for spare food. Rico declines and continues on to his abuelo’s tienda. Of course, instead of the abuelo, it’s el lobo in disguise. Quick-thinking Rico tosses chili powder into the wolf’s snout and a habanero into his mouth. El lobo runs away and Rico saves his Abuelo. A spicy retelling of Red Riding Hood!

    I Am La Chiva! The Colorful Bus of the Andes written by Karol Hernandez, illustrated by Lorena Alvarez Gomez
    The bus in the Andes narrates the rhyming text describing the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and activities of the passengers traveling to the market for the day. The story illuminates this warm community of helpful people who sing together, travel together, repair the bus’s tire together, and commune together at the market, illustrated in lovely, warm illustrations.

    Squawk of Spanish written by Gabriella Aldeman, illustrated by Romina Galotta
    In this tenderhearted, relatable story about learning a new language, Max feels embarrassed speaking Spanish because he can’t roll his rs or pronounce the Spanish words right. When cooking with Abuela and her parrot Lorito, Abuela and Lorito tell Max that he can do it. Then, one day, when Lorito isn’t there, Max tries to say the recipe’s words in Spanish, just like Lorito usually does. He learns that he can do it — even if it’s not perfect! This is a great story about trying your best which is better than not trying or attempting perfection.

    The Ofrenda That We Built written by Jolene Gutierrez and Shaian Gutierrez, illustrated by Gabby Zapata
    If you like cumulative stories, you’ll love this beautiful story of a family’s Dia de los Muertos traditions. The family starts with an ofrenda (altar), then adds embroidered cloth, cut paper, candles, copal, bells, marigold petals, tamales, sweet bread, and more. All to remember and honor their beloved abuelo. The illustrations are BEYOND AMAZING, so full of life and love and colors. The illustrations are BEYOND AMAZING, so full of life and love and colors. I love everything about this book!

    Más. ¡Menos! written and illustrated by Rhode Montijo
    Neon colors pop off the page in this new Día de los Muertos Skeletown book about the Spanish words more and less. Which is less and which is more when it’s fall leaves or yarn for a sweater? Watch what happens when the dog gets ahold of the yarn and drags it through town with the skeleton kids running after it. Playful fun!


    My Two Border Towns
    by David Bowles, illustrated by Erika Meza
    Lyrical writing and vibrant illustrations about a boy and his father’s trip to El Otro Lado; a border town on the Mexico side that mirrors their own little town on the U.S. side. It’s a wonderful day of traveling the streets, stopping for savory food, chatting with friendly vendors, playing with primos, and buying a checklist of items including medicine. Before they leave the Other Side, they stop at the refugee encampment and share a bag of supplies with some new friends.

    No More Señora Mimí written by Meg Medina, illustrated by Brittany Chiccese
    This is the heartfelt story of a sweet girl named Ana who is excited that abeula is coming to live with her. But soon Ana realizes that abeula’s arrival means no more señora Mimí. Señora Mimí reassures Ana that they will always be neighbors, and Ana and her abeula are always welcome for visits. Emotional writing with lots of sensory images from the talented Meg Medina, plus gorgeous, warm illustrations, makes this an outstanding, must-own, must-read picture book for your schools, homes, and libraries.


    El Chupacabras
    by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Chas McCreery
    Wacky and fun, written in sentences that mix English and Spanish and Spanish and English, this modern folktale explores the chupacabra in a way that isn’t scary. A farmer and daughter discover the goatsucker (chupacabra) has sucked one of their precious goats. So, the father asks the flower seller for help. She gives him magic powder that can make a herd of gigantic goats! Now, they do need the chupacabra’s help!

    Sofia Valdez, Future Prez by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts
    When Sofia’s abuela gets hurt by a mountain of trash, Sofia wants it to be removed and replaced with safe, beautiful community spaces. Her neighbors like the idea and want benches, fountains, place spaces, a pond, and more. But who will do the work? She’s only a kid. She bravely asks for the city’s help at a city hall meeting and soon, her efforts encourage others to help transform their neighborhood.


    Paletero Man
    by Lucky Diaz, illustrated by Micah Player
    In this exceptionally written and colorfully illustrated story, follow a boy taking a savory trip around the neighborhood searching for Paletero José and a refreshing Mexican frozen treat. As he searches, a familiar refrain repeats, “Can you hear his call? Paletas for one! Paletas for all!” When he finally finds Paletero José, the boy realizes his money is gone! But his neighborhood friends help –and to honor their kindness, José makes all the paletas free for all. I LOVE the Spanish words, the value of community and kindness, and the joyful illustrations.


    Abueltia and I Make Flan
    by Adriana Hernandez Bergstrom
    Anita breaks Abeula’s special flan dish–and she feels guilty but doesn’t say anything while she’s helping her grandparents mix and cook and share the stories of their past. Anita finally confesses what happened, and her abuela is happy to know the truth and isn’t mad. “A plate is a plate but YOU are irreplaceable.You’ll love the story’s relatable topic, the mix of both languages, the Cuban culture, and the love that bursts through the relationships.


    My Town Mi Pueblo
    by Nicholas Solis, illustrated by Luisa Uribe
    Written in English and in Spanish, the same meaning for each page mirrors the cousin’s experience of sharing their love for their hometowns and visiting each other in the other country, Mexico or the U.S. Lovely and meaningful; we see the kids’ love for their community and family.

    Benita and the Night Creatures written by Mariana Llanos, illustrated by Cocretto
    With a book-loving main character plus cool Peruvian monsters, this is a warm-hearted story you won’t want to miss. Benita reads her books at night. So when Cuco tries to scare her—and he doesn’t succeed, he invites more monster friends to scare her. Even still, Benita is not scared; she’s annoyed. “CAN’T YOU SEE I’M READING!” she shouts. And Benita teaches the monsters about books and their wonderful stories. Then, they all curl up together to read a good book.


    9 Kilometers by Claudio Aguilera, illustrated by Gabriela Lyon, translated by Lawrence Shimel
    As the young boy walks to school through forests and on roads, over a river, and by a soccer field, he muses about 9 kilometers…how big it is and how many steps it is. He counts butterflies, ponders how fast snails can travel, and reflects on slow walks and fast walks. Eventually, the boy arrives at school. The back matter shares eight other countries where students walk to school and various birds that live in southern Chile. Exceptional!

    A Flicker of Hope: A Story of Migration written by Cynthia Harmony, illustrated by Devon Holzwarth
    Readers will love this parallel story of Lucia’s dad’s migration north to work on a farm alongside the monarcas’ (monarchs) migration north. Side by side we see their journeys by land and air. Back at home, Lucia waits for the monarcas and for Papá to return until one day on el Dia de los Muertos, it happens–autumn, the butterflies, and Papá return home to fill her heart.


    Rafa Counts on Papá
    by Joe Cepeda
    A sweet story of a boy and his papá who both love counting and measuring almost as much as they love each other.


    Song of Frutas
    by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Sara Palacios
    Celebrate Cuban culture and a loving grandparent relationship in this lyrical story about a little girl’s visit with her fruit-selling Abuelo. When the little girl visits her Abuelo, she helps him sell frutas. They fill baskets lowered down on ropes. Like them, other vendors sing melodies and rhymes about their foods, tamales, yerbas, and dulces, so Abuelo must sing even louder. As her trip wraps up on New Year’s Eve, the girl eats twelve grapes at midnight, making a wish for each month, especially wishing for more visits and open borders.


    The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred by Samantha Vamos, illustrated by Rafael Lopez
    Inspired by This is the House that Jack Built, Vamos writes a cumulative tale about making arroz con leche (rice pudding.) Throughout the story, she introduces nouns in Spanish, which, because of her format, repeat as she adds on.  A fun and celebratory read aloud picture book!


    El Cucuy Is Scared, Too!
    by Donna Barba Higuera, illustrated by Juliana Perdomo
    Ramón isn’t scared of El Cucuy anymore (the boogieman) because he’s more worried about his first day of school. And El Cucuy feels the same — he misses their old home and the desert. Ramon reassures El Cucuy that they’ll both get used to it and make new friends and that El Cucuy is strong and brave; they both are. It’s a sweet story of friendship with colorful, vibrant illustrations.


    Pacho Nacho
    by Silvia Lopez, illustrated by Pablo Pino
    This hilarious story begs to be read aloud. It’s about a family with two sons. The oldest son has a VERY long name that his parents insist everyone use, Pacho-Nacho-Nico-Tico-Melo-Felo-Kiko-Rico. This name appeased the family, who suggested all the names, but when he falls into the river, it takes so long for his brother Juan to say his name and get help that the parents decided to shorten his name. Based on an old Japanese folktale, you’ll love the retelling set in Mexico interspersed with Spanish words.

    The Mango Tree La Mata de Mango by Edel Rodriguez, illustrated by Edel Rodriguez
    This is the wordless story of friendship, separation, and new beginnings about a boy and his friend who play in a mango tree. The illustrations are vibrant, graphic, emotional, and exquisite. A storm rips the boy and his mango tree into the sea. The boy travels on stormy oceans until he arrives at a new place with unfamiliar people. So the boy shares his mangos with the new people and sends a mango back to his friend. The story is an allegory for the illustrator’s life when he was taken away from his home in Cuba.


    Plátanos Are Love by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris, illustrated by Mariyah Rahman
    When Esme goes to the market with Abuela, she picks out plátanos. When they return home to cook, Abeula cooks a receta for breakfast of plátanos verdes and slices and fries tostones. Abuela shares how plátanos are important to their family heritage, that plátanos are love and to share. Esme tells her little sister how they need to ripen to black to be sweeter and ready to share in more recipes. Written in a mix of English and Spanish, this is a beautiful celebration of family, culture, and food!

    More Hispanic Heritage Month Latinx Latine Picture Books

    Picture Books for Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month
    The Piñata That the Farm Maiden Hung
    by Samantha R. Vamos, illustrated by Sebastia Serra
    You’ll have a blast reading this cheerful, lyrical bilingual story! The farm maiden hangs the piñata. Who is it for? How did it get to be ready? Watch how the farmer, his family, and the animals help prepare the piñata and the birthday party festivities. Spanish words are in bolded capital letters and supported with lively illustrations so readers can infer what each word means. The repetition will help reinforce each new word.


    Between Us and Abulea A Family Story From the Border
    by Mitali Perkins, illustrated by Sara Palacios
    This small moment focuses on the trip to the U.S./Mexico border that a Latine family takes in order to reunite for las posadas. They arrive at the border fence where you’ll see the fence, see the regular people, and see the kids and their mama talking to their abuela between the fence slats. In a sweet resolution, when the boy can’t give his abuela his drawing, the little girl helps make it into a kite to fly it over the top of the fence.

    Picture Books for Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month
    IslandBorn
    by Junot Díaz, illustrated by Leo Espinosa
    Lola’s longs to remember the island of her birthplace for a school assignment. She left the island as a baby, so she can’t remember.  Lola interviews her family and friends, listening to their snap-shot, detailed stories of the island’s bats, music, agua de coco, heat, and the Devil Monster. Through their stories, she creates her own tapestry of island memories that will always be in her heart. Stunning illustrations explode in colorful exuberance on every page of this picture book.


    Three Pockets Full
    by Cindy L. Rodriquez, illustrated by Begonia Fernandez Corabalan
    Beto refuses to wear a traditional guayabera to the wedding. He writes his mami letters (she writes him back) with all his excuses and reasons. Up until the end, we think this story is about not wanting to wear the shirt, but it’s really about the mom getting remarried and Beto missing his dad. It’s funny and poignant, with a sweet, gentle ending.


    The Coquies Still Sings:  A Story of Home, Hope and Rebuilding
    by Karina Nicole Gonzalez, illustrations by Krystal Quiles
    A singing frog lives in their mango tree. But when a hurricane destroys Elana’s home and many other homes, the frog is gone, and so are many other things. Elana helps her family and friends rebuild. Months later, her home looks different, green buds sprout on the mango tree, and she hears a frog’s song CO-QUI, CO-QUI. The song brings joy and a feeling of home.


    Run, Little Chaski! An Inka Trail Adventure
    by Mariana Llanos, illustrated by Mariana Ruiz Johnson
    Set in ancient Peru, a young Inka boy named Chaski gets to be the newest messenger for the queen. His task is to run fast and deliver a khipu to the temple. Run, run, Little Chaski! Along the way, he stops to help animals in need — and tries to run even faster because of the delay. At the end, he realizes he doesn’t have the khipu! Luckily, his animal friends bring it to him, and the King explains that by helping the animals, Chaski has passed the test and has earned the name Big Hearted. Gorgeous, colorful illustrations!

    An Ofrenda for Perro written by Judith Valdes B, illustrated by Carlos Velez Aguilera
    Benito grew up with Perro at his side. But one day, Perro dies, and Benito misses his friend. His mama and papa ask him to help prepare for the Day of the Dead by picking marigolds and buying candles. At the ofrenda, Benito remembers his beloved dog and discovers that he will always carry memories of Perro wherever he goes!

    Our Roof is Blue written by Sara E. Echenique, illustrated by Ashley Vargas
    A scary, loud hurricane blows the roof off the family’s house. The trauma takes the brother’s voice away with it. Afterward, the caring sister and little brother pretend play deep-sea diving and searching for treasures. The girl says, “We’ll find your voice soon, I promise. Te lo prometo.” When the family has a new roof, they get to pick the color of their bedroom’s ceiling. But Antonio still doesn’t speak…until he finally says, “Azul.” This moment is so heartwarming! We cheer for Antonio and his loving, patient sister. Would you love to read this story set in Puerto Rico about a hurricane, family, patience, selective mutism, and love?


    A Crown for Corina by Laekan Zea Kemp, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri
    On Corina’s birthday, she gets to pick out flowers from Abuela’s garden that tell her story— who she is and where she came from. Carina picks bluebonnets to remind her of her conejo’s tail, and a sunflower for Mama, coneflowers for her Abuela’s hat…then she puts them together into her crown, la corona. Exhuberant, color-filled illustrations!


    Imagine!
    by Raúl Colón
    A celebration of New York City and the magic of artwork! The illustrations say everything in this wordless picture book…When a skateboarding boy visits the Museum of Modern Art, the paintings come to life. Painted people and animals step out of their frames to exuberantly explore New York City with the boy. They visit a roller coaster, the Statue of Liberty, a hot dog stand, Central Park, and then return to the museum and their canvases. The boy finds an empty building wall where he paints a large mural about his joyful day. Colon’s richly textured, earth-colored illustrations sparkle with energy.

    Picture Books for Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month
    Isabel and Her Colores Go to School
     
    by Alexandra Alessandri, illustrated by Courtney Dawson
    Isabel doesn’t want to go to school. She experiences languages in COLORES –her native language of Spanish feels like pink, yellow, and purple, while the INGLES she’s learning seem like stormy blues and blizzard whites. And at school, the colors swirl all around her as she tries to follow along even when she doesn’t understand. Ultimately, Isabel uses her COLORES to bridge the language barrier and make a new friend. 


    Bird House by Blanca Gomez
    Simply told and illustrated, this is a warm-hearted grandmother-granddaughter story showing how the abuela helps the little girl learn about caring for nature. A girl and her abuela rescue and nurse an injured bird. When the bird is healthy again, the abuela explains to the girl that they need to let it be free. Later in the spring, the bird visits but doesn’t stay because it’s not theirs to keep.


    Green Is a Chile Pepper A Book of Colors
     
    by Roseanne Greenfield Thong, illustrated by John Parra
    Oh, I adore this picture book so much! The illustrations, the small poems of colors, I love it all. We read about orange marigolds for the Day of the Dead, yellow masa for tamales and tortillas, pink adornos, brown churros, and more special unique Mexican cultural elements.



    Round Is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes
    by Roseanne Greenfield Thong, illustrated by John Parra
    Round are sombreros. Round is the moon. Round are the trumpets that blare out a tune” begins this colorful Latine-flavored shape book. As we journey through the day, we find the shapes all around us. “Triangles are crunchy chips for guacamole and other dips.” I absolutely love this book. I’m so glad to see a book of shapes that stands out from the crowd and celebrates Latin culture.


    One is a Piñata A Book of Numbers
     by Roseanne Greenfield Thong, illustrated by John Parra
    Count Spanish objects and words in rhyming text. If you don’t know, use the illustrations and context clues to figure out what the words mean. “Four are bolillos just waiting to dip in four cups of chocolate but first take a sip.” For kids that do speak both English and Spanish, this book celebrates bilingualism and culture! It’s fun, festive, and affirming and perfect for Hispanic Heritage Month.

    Areli is a Dreamer by Areli Morales, illustrated by Luisa Uribe
    Areli Morales grows up in Mexico with her abuela until age six when she leaves Mexico to join her parents and brother where they live and work in New York. Life in New York takes some getting used to — but she learns English and becomes comfortable in her new home with a big future filled with possibilities. An inspiring personal narrative story based on the author’s life.

    I Got a Chicken For My Birthday by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Sarah Horne
    SUCH a funny storyA little girl asks Abuela Lola for tickets to an amusement park for her birthday. Much to her surprise, Abuela Lola gets her a chicken instead!! Weird. And it’s a chicken who is too busy to eat, too busy to lay eggs and steals her dog and cat. But don’t worry. The new chicken is actually a genius. Stunning illustrations throughout. (And I predict you’ll want a chicken like this for your birthday, too.)

     

    Picture Books for Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month
    Across the Bay
    by Carlos Aponte
    Based on the author/illustrator’s childhood, this is a tender story about little Carlitos, who leaves his family’s home to travel across the bay to San Juan and search for his father. His experiences give readers the flavors of Puerto Rico with the old men playing dominoes, a parade with singing and guitars, and kite flying near the castle. Tired from his unproductive search, a park ranger reminds Carlitos that his father will be forever in his memory whether he’s found or not. And Carlitos goes back home to his mama, abuela, and cat. Whimsical, colorful illustrations create a festive yet gentle ambiance.

    I Love You Mucho Mucho by Rachel Más Davidson
    Rosie visits her Abuela, but she forgets that Abuela doesn’t speak English. How will they communicate? First, they start with food. Then they do art together and take a walk. Abuela says a word in Spanish and Rosie says the word in English, or vice versa. No matter what, their love is a language of its own that doesn’t need words.

    Hair / Pelitos by Sandra Cisneros
    I love this descriptive bilingual book that uses the senses to celebrate the different kinds of hair in her family.

    Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
    Alma Sofia Esperanza Jose Pura Candela thinks her name is too long …until her father explains about each person she was named for — like Esperanza, Alma’s great-grandmother who hoped to travel. This helps Alma make a personal connection to each person she’s named for. With Esperanza, she says, “The world is so big! I want to go see it, Daddy!” Names are important. This story would be a wonderful way to talk with your child about not just your child’s name but the names in your family, too. Soft, muted colors give this story a nostalgic atmosphere.


    Dreamers
    by Yuyi Morales
    The narration takes you on an immigration journey of a mom and child together, going to a new place to live, celebrating their loving bond, and how books helped them develop their voices in a new country. Exquisite illustrations!

    La Frontera El Viaje con papa My Journey with Papa by Debora Mills, Alfredo Alva, Claudia Navarro
    Based on a true story, this bilingual story is about Alfred and his papa who leave their Mexican village to find work. They meet a “coyote” who is supposed to take them to the United States but they’re abandoned and must cross by themselves. Their journey is hard. Eventually, they arrive in Texas. Alfred begins school and learns English, but he still misses his mother and siblings very much. After many years, he is reunited with his whole family.


    Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market
    by Raul the Third
    We like that this book is written in a mix of Spanish and English words and labels objects in Spanish. If you don’t mind that the pages are crowded with illustrations and smallish text, you can follow along with Little Lobo and his dog Bernabe delivering supplies to vendors in the market.

    Martina: The Beautiful Cockroach / Martina, la hermosa cucaracha by Berta de Llano, illustrated by Jaime Rivera Contreras
    Doña Julia wanted to help Martina find a suitable groom. So she devised a tricky test for prospective suitors. Anyone who would drink the disgusting tembleque with added salt would show that they really liked being with Martina. Eventually, she meets Perez, a kind mouse, who passes the test and they get married in a big ceremony. A wise and entertaining Puerto Rican folktale in English and Spanish.


    From My Window by Otavio Junior, illustrated by Vanina Starkoff
    This slice of life in Brazil is filled with amazing illustrations! Read about what a boy sees, dreams, and does from his favela window, like talking to friends, seeing people patching roofs, and imagining soccer (football) games.


    Rudas: Niño’s Horrendous Hermanitas by Yuyi Morales
    A companion book to Niño Wrestles the Worldthis is a new action-packed wrestling adventure about the Niño’s badly behaved (rudas) little sisters. Farting, biting, fighting, . . . how will these rude sisters be defeated? Maybe their brother can distract them with a book!? You’ll read lots of Spanish words throughout whose meanings, if not inferred, are explained on the jacket covers. Vibrant artwork makes the antics of these sisters that much more exciting.


    Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match by Monica Brown, illustrated by Sara Palacios
    You’ll adore Marisol because she’s a spunky girl with a unique Peruvian-Scottish-American background. To her, this means that she doesn’t match. She doesn’t fit into a box or to a label and– that’s okay! A fun story about self-acceptance!


    Too Many Tamales
    by Gary Soto, illustrated by Ed Martinez
    Christmas Eve is for family and tamales. But this time, when they’re preparing the tamales, Maria accidentally buries her mother’s diamond ring in the batch of tamales. Now, what will she do?


    Feliz New Year, Ava Gabriela!
    by Alexandra Alessandri, illustrated by Addy Rivera Sonda
    Ava Gabriela’s shyness makes the words stick in her throat. Mama says, “What you’re ready, your voice will come out and play.” Her large extended family is welcoming and understanding that Ava Gabriel doesn’t speak much, they invite her to join them in preparing for the new year with decorations and food. At night, the family has a wonderful celebration of dancing, food, and fun. A perfect celebration of being yourself and of Latin culture.


    Family Poems for Every Day of the Week / Poemas Familiares para cada dia de la semana
    by Francisco X. Alcaron, illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez
    Poems celebrate the days of the week as well as a Latine cultural experience based on the author’s own life. Sunday is the day for family. Monday is named for the moon. Wednesday celebrates Mercury and is for the farmer’s market. Vibrant folkloric illustrations catch your eye as the poems travel through the week.

    Picture Books for Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month
    Imagine
    by Juan Felipe Herrera, illustrated by Lauren Castillo
    Lyrical text matched with beautiful illustrations transports readers into the atmospheric world of a young boy whose life is filled with nature, moving, and hard work, eventually leading him to become the poet Laurette of the United States. What an inspiring accomplishment, especially since English was his second language! As the boy shares about his childhood, each page ends with the repetition of “imagine”. What a great way for children to reflect on their own future possibilities.


    Abuela by Arthur Dorros
    Abeula and Rosalba fly over New York City, seeing the sites and sounds from above with Spanish words peppered throughout.

    Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreno Played the Piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Rafael Lopez
    As a little girl, Teresa started playing the piano in her home country of Venezuela. She moved with her family to the United States during the Civil War where she used music to bring hope to people, even President Abraham Lincoln, earning the nickname “Piano Girl”. Evocative imagery in the writing paired with Lopez’s gorgeous, colorful illustrations make this a lovely sensory experience.

    Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuh
    Mexican artist Don Lupe published short funny poems about skeletons and drew lithographs and skeleton etchings or engravings. His calaveras (skeleton pictures) showed all people types of people and usually had a message, political or social, and which are now iconic images for el Dia de Los Muertos. The artwork and graphic layouts perfectly complement this informative history.

    Danza! Amalia Hernández and El Ballet Folklórico de México by Duncan Tonatiuh
    Tonatiuh shares the story of a dedicated ballet dancer who discovers the beauty of folkloric dances from the different regions of Mexico. She learns them all, sharing them with the world in performances by her dance company, El Ballet Folklórico. Gorgeous folkloric illustrations enhance each page’s details; I love these so much that I want to frame them all. This is a wonderful tribute to one of my favorite performing companies and the dancer visionary who made it all happen. Added to: Best Biographies for Women’s History Month

     
    Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month Picture Books
     
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    Middle-Grade Books for with Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month

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    5 Comments

    1. So pleased you included Pacho Nacho! It’s a favorite with the kids every time I do a read- aloud. Thank you!

      1. That is a complicated request. I don’t have the authority to judge if someone is Latinx, and what that definition even is. Do they have heritage I don’t know about? Are they living in a Latin American country? Are they 2nd generation? Are they married to a Latinx person? Labeling gets complicated very quickly.
        I decided not to do this because am in the business of recommending books with representation. I am not in the business of evaluating a person’s heritage or cultural background.