Fiction
The Color of Your Skin by Desiree Acevedo
Vega and her friend Alex wonder why the pencil in the box is called “skin color” when it doesn't match either of them. This question leads them on a beautiful journey of exploring the diverse array of skin colors they see in the world. Together, they discover how to bring all of them into their art.
I Love Saturdays y Domingos by Alma Flor Ada
A young girl enjoys the similarities and the differences between her English-speaking and Spanish-speaking grandparents.
Across the Bay by Carlos Aponte
Carlitos lives in a happy home with his mother, his abuela, and Coco the cat. Life in his hometown is cozy as can be, but the call of the capital city pulls Carlitos across the bay in search of his father.
Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt De La Pena
Carmela, finally old enough to run errands with her brother, tries to think of the perfect birthday wish, while his wish seems to be that she stayed home.
Islandborn by Junot Diaz
Lola was just a baby when her family left the Island, so when she has to draw it for a school assignment she asks her family, friends, and neighbors about their memories of her homeland… and in the process, comes up with a new way to understand her own heritage.
La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya
Enjoy a rhyming twist on a classic fairy tale in which a queen places a pea under a young lady’s mattress to see if she is truly a princess. This book incorporates Spanish words and includes a glossary.
Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle
Follow a young Cuban girl in the 1930s as she strives to become a drummer, despite being continually reminded that only boys play the drums, and that there's never been a female drummer in Cuba. This title includes notes about Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, who inspired the story, and Anacaona, the all-girl dance band she formed with her sisters.
A Crown for Corina by Laekan Zea Kemp
Corina’s Abuela helps her select flowers that mean something to Corina from the garden for her Mexican flower crown that she will wear on her birthday, and explains the symbolic meaning of a birthday crown.
Pepe and the Parade: a Celebration of Hispanic Heritage by Tracey Kyle
Pepe, who is Mexican American, enjoys participating in a festival celebrating his heritage and that of his family and friends, who are from Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and many other countries. This book includes author's notes about Hispanic American History month and the difference between the terms Hispanic and Latino.
Where Are You From? By Yamile Saied Mendez
When a young girl is asked where she's from – where she's really from – she's no longer as she was. She decides to turn to her dear abuelo for some help with this ever-persistent question. But he doesn't quite give her the answer she expects.
Gracias by Pat Mora
A young multiracial boy celebrates family, friendship, and fun by telling about some of the everyday things for which he is thankful.
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
In this illustrated picture book autobiography, award-winning author Yuyi Morales tells her own immigration story.
Just in Case: A Tricksters Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book by Yuyi Morales
As Senor Calavera prepares for Grandma Beetle’s birthday he finds an alphabetical assortment of unusual presents, but with the help of Zelmiro the Ghost, he finds the best gift of all.
Nino Wrestles the World by Yuyi Morales
Lucha Libre champion Niño has no trouble fending off monstrous opponents, but when his little sisters awaken from their naps, he is in for a no-holds-barred wrestling match that will truly test his skills.
Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
When Alma Sofia Esperanza Jose Pura Candela asks her father why she has so many names, she hears the story of her name and learns about her grandparents.
My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero
When Daisy Ramona zooms around her neighborhood with her papi on his motorcycle, she sees the people and places she’s always knew. She also sees a community that is rapidly changing around her.
If Dominican Were a Color by Sili Recio
Illustrations and easy-to-read text portray the Dominican Republic in all of its hues, from the cinnamon in cocoa to the blue black seen only in dreams.
Brick by Brick by Heidi Woodward Sheffield
As a little boy watches his father, a bricklayer, work hard to build the city, both dream of building a house of their own.
What can you do with a Paleta? by Carmen Tafolla
A young Mexican American girl celebrates the paleta, an icy fruit popsicle, and the many roles it plays in her lively barrio.
Round is a Tortilla: a Book of Shapes by Roseanne Thong
A little girl discovers things that are round, square and rectangular in her Hispanic American neighborhood.
Grandma’s Records by Eric Velasquez
Eric spends the summer with his grandmother in Spanish Harlem and learns about her favorite salsa records.
Nonfiction
Three Golden Oranges by Alma Flor Ada
Acting on the advice of the old woman on the cliff by the sea, three brothers who wish to find brides go in search of three golden oranges.
Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tontiuh
Years before the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling Brown v. Board of Education, Sylvia Mendez, an 8-year-old girl of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage, played an instrumental role in Mendez v. Westminster, the landmark desegregation case of 1946 in California.
Adelita: a Mexican Cinderella Story by Tomie dePaola
After the death of her mother and father, Adelita is badly mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters until she finds her own true love at a grand fiesta.
Cuckoo: a Mexican Folktale by Lois Ehlert
A traditional Mayan tale which reveals how the cuckoo lost her beautiful feathers.
Animal Talk: Mexican Folk Art, Animal Sounds in English and Spanish by Cynthia Weill
Animals living in one country don't always talk the same language as animals from somewhere else. A rooster, for instance says cock-a-doodle-doo in English-speaking countries, but ki-kiri-ki in Spanish-speaking countries. Emerging readers will delight in identifying the animals depicted on each new page. The bilingual text invites parent and child into an interactive reading experience for acting out animal sounds in English and Spanish.
Imagine by Juan Felipe Herrera
This lyrical coming-of-age story in picture-book form begs to be shared. Written by the master wordsmith himself, this work details Herrera's life as a young boy spending time outside and then as an adolescent learning to craft poetry, before ultimately receiving the honor of U.S. Poet Laureate as an adult.
Biographies
Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa by Veronica Chambers
The accomplished children's book author gives young readers a lyrical glimpse into Celia's childhood and her inspiring rise to worldwide fame and recognition. First-time illustrator Julie Maren truly captures the movement and the vibrancy of the Latina legend and the sizzling sights and sounds of her legacy.
My Name is Gabito: The Life of Gabriel García Márquez by Monica Brown
Learn about young Gabriel García Márquez's life in this bilingual picture book. Brown also provides children with a simple introduction to magical realism by showing how young Gabriel’s surroundings and imagination merged in fantastic ways, fostering his creativity and building the foundation for the legendary characters and stories he would later create. Beautiful illustrations complement the lyrical text.
Harvesting Hope: the Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull
This is a biography of Cesar Chavez, from age 10 when he and his family lived happily on their Arizona ranch, to age 38 when he led a peaceful protest against California migrant workers’ miserable working conditions.
Areli is a Dreamer: A True Story by Areli Morales
In the first picture book written by a DACA dreamer, Areli Morales tells her own powerful and vibrant immigration story of moving from a quiet town in Mexico to the bustling and noisy metropolis of New York City.
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpre by Anika Denise
From the author of Monster Truck and Starring Carmen comes a gorgeous and lyrical story about Pura Belpre, a Puerto Rican librarian who changed the world.
Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx = la Juez que Crecio en el Bronx by Jonah Winters
This is the inspiring and timely story of Sonia Sotomayor, who rose up from a childhood of poverty and prejudice to become the first Latino to be nominated to the US Supreme Court. Justice Sotomayor didn't have a lot growing up in the South Bronx, but she had what she needed – her mother's love, a will to learn, and her own determination.
Libros en Español
Pio Peep!: Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes por Alma Flor Ada
This is a collection of more than two dozen nursery rhymes in Spanish, from Spain and Latin America, with English translations.
Marisol McDonald no Combina = Marisol McDonald doesn’t Match por Monica Brow
Marisol McDonald, a biracial, nonconformist, soccer-playing pirate-princess with brown skin and red hair, celebrates her uniqueness.
Sharuko: el Arqueologo Peruano Julio C. Tello = Peruvian Archaeologist Julio C. Tello por Monica Brown
Una biografía ilustrada de Julio C. Tello, considerado el fundador de la arqueología peruana moderna y quien llegó a ser el científico social indígena más distinguido del siglo XX.
Arroz con Leche por Lulu Delacre
En este delicioso libro, el poeta Jorge Arguita nos brinda su receta preferida de arroz con leche. Esta receta es al mismo tiempo fácil de preparar y toda una experiencia poética para todos los sentidos y la imaginación.
Rafi y Rosi: ¡Carnaval! por Lulu Delacre
Two tree frogs, mischievous Rafi and his younger sister Rosi, enjoy the events of Puerto Rico's Carnival season. The book includes additional factual information and activities about the topics covered in the story.
Siesta por Ginger Foglesong Guy
A blue backpack. Una mochila azul. Empty! A brother and sister, un hermano y una hermana, and their little bear, un osito. Sleepy! But there are so many things to gather...
Mango, Abuela y Yo por Meg Medina
La abuela de Mia viene a vivir con Mia y sus padres. Cuando Mia eomparte con ella su cuento favorito a la hora de dormir, descubre que la abuela no entiende inglés. Mia la ayuda con el inglés y a la vez ella aprende algunas palabras en español. Pero la abuela no conoce suficientes palabras en inglés para compartir las historias de familia con su nieta. Un dia, Mia ve un loro en una tienda de mascotas y descubre la manera de ayudar a su abuela.
La Frontera : el Viaje con Papá = My Journey with Papa por Deborah Mills
Alfredo y su papá deben cruzar la frontera en un viaje difícil de México a los Estados Unidos. ¿Encontrarán el nuevo hogar que están buscando en el otro lado? Basándose en hechos reales, esta historia cobra vida gracias a la ilustradora Mexicana Claudia Navarro, y está repleta de notas al final del texto para iniciar conversaciones sobre inmigración.
Kiki Koki: la Leyenda Encantada Del Coqui por Ed Rodriguez
Un cuento mágico en español,Kiki Koki narra la historia de un Indio Taino pequeño quien es muy vago para ayudar a su tribu en la preparación del Festival de la Luna. Para castigar a Kiki Koki, la Diosa de la Luna lo convierte en un una rana de árbol. Para regresar a su forma humana, el tendrá que rescatar sus nuevos amigos rana de los piratas peligrosos. En el proceso, Kiki Koki aprenderá que la amistad conlleva valentía, dedicación, y trabajo duro. A los niños y las niñas les encantara este cuento divertido con ilustraciones vibrantes, mensaje conmovedor y héroe adorable.
