Hispanic Heritage Month Book Recommendations

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

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