11 Picture Books Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated between September 15 and October 15. It honors the many Latinos who have greatly contributed, influenced, and enriched our culture and society. To honor those contributions, here are 11 inspiring and colorful children’s books that celebrate Latino voices and culture.
Alma and How She Got Her Name(opens in new window)
Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela thinks that six names is way too many! But as she learns more about how her names connect her to her family, Alma becomes very proud of all her names.
Islandborn(opens in new window)
This book is a celebration of creativity, diversity, and imagination. Every kid in Lola’s school is from somewhere else, but Lola left The Island when she was a baby — and can’t remember it! Her family’s memories help her to imagine though.
La Princesa and the Pea(opens in new window)
This book is a Latino twist on the classic fairy tale! It’s a charming bilingual retelling with gorgeous art inspired by Peru.
Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale(opens in new window)
This award-winning retelling of a Cuban folktale will make you look at cockroaches differently! This is a delightful read that will introduce your family to a new fairy tale. “I like this book because it represents my Cuban culture.” — Lucy, 8 years old
Sofi and the Magic, Musical Mural / Sofi y el magico mural musical(opens in new window)
“[In the book] a young girl is transported from the Bronx to el Viejo San Juan, and listens and dances to very happy music. We hope that once it is safe to travel we can take a trip to Puerto Rico so that Santi can meet his great-grandfather so he can play el cuatro (Puerto Rican guitar) for him.” — Orlando, Parent of 1-year-old
Carmela Full of Wishes(opens in new window)
From the award-winning author and illustrator of Last Stop on Market Street, comes this new book about family and hope. Carmela is finally old enough to run errands around the neighborhood with her brother. But when she can make only one wish on a lone dandelion in the sidewalk… what should she wish for?
The Life of / La Vida De Selena(opens in new window)
“This book is super cute and does a really nice job capturing the essence of Selena’s life. [My daughter] loves listening along and looking at the beautiful illustration.” — Madelaine, Parent of 2-month-old
Where Are You From? / ¿De dónde eres?(opens in new window)
When a little girl is asked a simple question, she can’t seem to find the right answer. With help from her abuelo, she gets a better answer than she expected. With themes of identity and home, this book is a must for anyone who has ever felt like they don’t belong.
Counting With / Contando Con Frida(opens in new window)
“[My son] loves this book because the colorful pictures help keep him engaged while teaching him to count in both English and Spanish.” -Marco, Parent of 3-year-old
Funny Bones: Posada and his Day of the Dead Caleveras(opens in new window)
Discover the story behind José Guadalupe Posada’s iconic Día de Muertos skeletons in this fascinating picture book!
“The book boils down to the idea that we all have this shared experience in our human lives- mortality. But, it’s done with great humor. Not fear.” — Jen, Parent of 7-year-old
Dreamers(opens in new window)
The author and illustrator created this book to tell the story of her move to the United States with her infant son. This beautifully illustrated memoir is a story about family, resilience, and dreams.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, we all dream.” — Nic, 7 years old
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