Books to Share with Children for Hispanic Heritage Month

By Aime Casillas, Children's Librarian
October 9, 2020

The first time I saw Mexican American people in illustrations and I became aware that I was seeing myself was when I was 8 years old. It was a short story by Carmen Lomas Garza and we were reading it at school. The colors were warm and comforting, and jumped from my textbook instantly. The people I saw were familiar, doing familiar things. That remained my only point of reference to the Latinx literary canon until I was a teenager and read Sandra Cisneros, recommended by my older sister. 

In those years, I did not have access to those titles, better yet, I did not know they existed. That does not mean that they did not exist. I just didn’t have the words to say that I wanted to read those stories and to look at those visuals. I didn't realize that my eyes wanted to see those images until I saw them and then I didn’t see them again for a long while.

Literature is built by everyone and belongs to everyone—everyone has a story to tell in their own words and language. Not only are there magnificent books in English available at the library, there are also amazing works in Spanish that are part of the collection. The Mejores Libros para Pequeños committee was created last year to highlight this literature  and to make sure the titles are accessible to any who may wish to find them. I was able to form part of that original committee and co-chair it now with Teresa Silva, who contributed to this blog with some of the titles listed below. 

As the Latinx literary canon grows and expands to include more stories, it is made richer by the fact that those stories are written from lived experience. There is an authenticity to the works now available to children, a true and meaningful representation that I am happy to read and to share: 

Board Books for Toddlers

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Los pollitos= Little Chickies by Susie Jaramillo

Susie Jaramillo has taken traditional Latin American songs and created a series of song books. The text is bilingual, which means that you can give a spin to the old classics. Also of note is Sol solecito and Los elefantitos

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Lotería: First words/Primeras Palabras by Patty Rodriguez

The publisher Lil’ Libros puts out high-quality storytelling in the form of board books. The text is accompanied by vibrant illustrations referencing the beloved game.

Picture Books for Young Children

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Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal 

Alma has a very long name and she doesn’t know why! Her father sits her down and gives her the full and rich family history.

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Where are you from? / ¿De dónde eres? by Yamile Saied Mendez

People keep asking a young girl where she’s really from. Her grandfather gives her some insights as to where that might be, and it’s not exactly a spot on the map. (Also chosen as one of the Mejores Libros para Pequeños 2019.)

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A Gift from Abuela by Cecilia Ruiz

Abuela puts away some money now and then in her jar for a special occasion. When that money ends up losing its value, Niña makes sure to comfort her Abuela.

 

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Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales

The Calavera comes for Grandma on the day of her birthday. She lives to see another year by counting up the chores she needs to do for her party and making Calavera wait and wait!

 

Picture Books for Older Readers

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Grandma’s Records by Eric Velasquez

A young boy visits his grandmother in East Harlem and she tells him the story of all her records and how she used to experience that music.

 

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My Papi Has a Motorcycle / Mi papi tiene una moto by Isabel Quintero

An ode to a neighborhood and a father-daughter relationship. (Also chosen as one of the Mejores Libros para Pequeños 2019.)

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Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré / Sembrando historias: Pura Belpré: Bibliotecaria y narradora de cuentos by Anika Denise

When Pura Belpré moves from Puerto Rico to New York City, she notices that her rich culture and stories would be a welcome contribution to her new community. (Also chosen as one of the Mejores Libros para Pequeños 2019.)

 

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My Shoes and I: Crossing Three Borders by René Colato Laínez

A young boy’s mother sends him new sneakers to wear on his long trip from El Salvador to the United States. As he and his father travel, the shoes get completely worn, but they make it safely to the other side.

Non-Fiction

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Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family's Fight for Desegregationby Duncan Tonatiuh 

A comprehensive story about the court case Mendez v. Westminster (1947).

 

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My Name is Gabriela: The Life of Gabriela Mistralby Monica Brown

Beautifully illustrated, this accessible biography of Gabriela Mistral showcases how important words were to her and how much she wanted others to love them as well.

Middle Grade Fiction

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Mañanalandby Pam Muñoz Ryan

Mañanaland reads like a fairy tale where everyone’s names are in Spanish. At the same time, it feels like it takes place in a faraway land and in a contemporary setting. Maximiliano’s main concern is getting onto the town’s soccer team, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He hopes that this notoriety will reach his mother’s ears and she’ll think he’s a worthy boy. He has never met his mother and he finds out she is the talk of the town. What does it mean to hold tomorrow in your hand? Maximiliano is about to find out some truths about being present in his life and what his place is in building a new story.

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The Fresh New Face of Griseldaby Jennifer Torres

After her family loses their home and moves in with her grandmother, Griselda tries to avoid any real conversations with her good friends—she does not want the topic to come up! Instead she spends her summer before 6th grade riding around with her older sister while she is out selling makeup. When Griselda sees an announcement for the Fresh New Face contest from the makeup company, she takes the opportunity to step up and try to help her family. This novel is full of heart and hope and it conveys the difference between obligation and responsibility.

 

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They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid’s Poemsby David Bowles 

A 12-year-old nicknamed Güero starts writing poetry at school and uses it to express his feelings about his friends, his family, and his place along the border.

Have trouble reading standard print? Many of these titles are available in formats for patrons with print disabilities.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!