September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month! Here is a list of fifteen books for all ages to celebrate and learn more about people and cultures from Hispanic countries.
Picture Books
With Lots of Love by Jenny Torres Sanchez
Rocio has moved from Central America to the United States, and she is missing home. She misses her grandmother’s cooking and the piñatas her grandmother makes, but most of all she misses her grandmother. One morning, she wakes up to a birthday package that brings her a little taste of home and her grandmother’s love. This heartwarming book allows readers to relate to the heartache of moving to a new country while learning small pieces of Central American culture through Rocio’s eyes.
¡Mistaco! by Eliza Kinkz
This book follows Izzy, the self-proclaimed president of mistakes, as she is upset after making a huge mistake at school. After sharing with her Lito about her mishap, he encourages her to put her mistakes into tortillas – allowing her and her family to forgive themselves and laugh about their mistakes. This book is a fun celebration of Hispanic heritage and includes Spanglish as a way to honor the author’s dual identity.
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
This beautiful book describes the journey the author took
with her young son in 1994, traveling from Mexico to the United States. This
memoir depicts the hardship and hope that accompany becoming immigrants and
starting a life in a new country.
¡Fiesta!: A Festival of Colors by Duncan Tonatiuh
This book is a vibrant and fun introduction to colors in
both Spanish and English as author Duncan Tonatiuh depicts a street festival
and various Mexican traditions that you might see there.
Nonfiction
Phenomenal AOC: The Roots and Rise of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezby Anika Aldamuy Denise
This inspirational biography tells the story of Alexandria
Ocasio-Cortez, a Puerto Rican woman who became the youngest congresswoman in
United States history. Beautiful bright pictures capture readers’ attention
while recounting a story of hard work, community, family, and determination.
Book of Questions: Selections by Pablo Neruda; translated by Sara Lissa Paulson
This is a striking poem of thought-provoking questions
presented with both Neruda’s original Spanish and Paulson’s translation accompanied by beautiful illustration by Paloma Valdivia, whose family is from the same
coastal region of Chile as Neruda.
Best Believe: The Tres Hermanas, a Sisterhood for the CommonGood by NoNieqa Ramos
This nonfiction picture book follows three sisters from
Puerto Rico who moved to the Bronx and helped shape their community through
activism and community service. This inspirational tale uses the refrain “you
best believe” to create rhythm in the text and appeal to the reader directly.
Frida Kahlo: She Painted Her World in Self-Portraits by Amy Guglielmo
This illustrated biography includes both vibrant imagery and
illustrations that grab your attention. The text is inspirational, describing
how Frida Kahlo celebrated her heritage and honored and persevered through her
disabilities. This book includes artistic prompts, direct quotes from Frida
Kahlo, and a selection of her works at the end.
Graphic Novels
Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega
Marlene, a young Dominican American girl, hates going to the
salon, but according to her mother, having “good hair” is essential. This
graphic novel follows Marlene as she learns to love her curly hair. The story
tackles themes of internalized racism, anti-blackness, bullying, grief, and
self-acceptance.
Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martín
This graphic memoir follows Pedro, a first-generation
Mexican American who is growing up in the 1970s. His family is undertaking the
long road trip to Jalisco to bring Pedro’s grandfather to live with them in the
United States. This is a family-centered exploration of culture and identity as
Pedro revels in the opportunity to learn more about his grandfather and Mexican
heritage.
Doña Quixote: Rise of the Knight by Rex Ogle
Lucia has known all her life that she wants to be a knight
like her Abuelo, and when she finds her Abuelo’s armor in the attic, she starts
seeing paranormal creatures. This fun, adventure-filled graphic novel follows
Lucia on her path to becoming a knight as she encounters figures from Mexican
lore and struggles with balancing life as a knight with school, family, and
friends.
Chapter Books
Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega
When Lucely Luna and her best friend Syd accidentally awaken malevolent forces, they must go on a ghost-filled, family-centric adventure to save their city. This book seamlessly incorporates Spanish and Lucely’s Dominican-American heritage.
Cuba in My Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas
Set in 1961 after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, this book
follows twelve-year-old Cumba, whose family sends him to live in Florida to
keep him safe. In Florida, Cumba struggles with a new language, a new city, and
overwhelming homesickness. Evenly split between life in Cuba and Florida, this
historical-fiction middle-grade story beautifully depicts life in Cuba along
with strong emotional themes of love, friendship, and family.
Sing It Like Celia by Mónica Mancillas
When twelve-year-old Salva’s mom disappears, she is forced
to leave her familiar school and choir to live with her absentee investigative
journalist father whose assignment follows the detention and deportation of an
undocumented woman. Salva blends popular music with salsa beats and makes new
friends through her music. This heartfelt story explores friendship, mental
health, and community.
A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation by Pablo Cartaya
Gonzalo lost his father, and now his mother is making him
spend the summer on a book tour with his estranged grandfather, Alberto. While
their great road trip brings them from California to Florida, Gonzalo learns
about his grandfather’s life in Cuba, and they bond over their art and grief.
I hope this list helps you find a new book!
- Alyssa