5 picture books & 5 chapter books to celebrate Hispanic heritage

I grew up in a very Dominican household, where the music was blasting every Saturday morning while we cleaned, and then los tres golpes were served for lunch at midday. I also grew up sharing a love for reading with my older sister. We used to sit in our shared room, each of us on our twin beds, and silently read our books. As I’ve grown up and have continued to read, I’ve realized that I had never once read a story about a young girl like myself. It wasn’t until my Sophomore year of college that I read my first book about a Afro-Latina girl growing up in Harlem with strict Dominican parents. Now, my story doesn’t exactly mirror hers, having grown up in New Jersey with only mildly-strict parents, but it felt good to see myself somewhat represented in a genuine way. It made me think not only about how important representation is in books, but also how important it is for children to be exposed to that representation early on in their lives.

What is Hispanic Heritage Month?

September 15 starts a month-long cultural celebration, known as Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month is from September 15 toOctober 15, and it is a celebration of Hispanic and Latino/a history and culture. Although Hispanic and Latino/a culture is something that should be and is celebrated all year round, the reason it is celebrated between these specific dates is because many Central American countries celebrate their independence within this timeframe. 

Countries such as Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua all celebrate their independence on September 15. Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16, although many people think they celebrate it on Cinco De Mayo. Chile celebrates its independence on September 16, while Belize celebrates it on September 21. 

Originally, the celebration of Hispanic heritage was only a week long, starting in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson. Twenty years later, under the presidency of Ronald Reagan in 1988, it was changed to an entire month-long celebration to honor the strength and resolution of the Hispanic community in the United States. 

Why is it so important?

Whether one identifies as Hispanic or Latino/a, Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate how the Hispanic/Latino community has positively impacted our country. According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2022 the Hispanic population of the U.S. was 63.7 million, which is 19.1% of the population. The Hispanic community has made great contributions to our nation in many different ways. Hispanic Heritage Month is to not only celebrate this specific community built up of medical professionals, lawyers, business owners, chefs, artists, politicians, and much more; but it is also to honor the Hispanic Heritage and educate others on it as well.

As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, we encourage you to continue celebrating the Hispanic and Latino/a community throughout the year by reading these books with your kids.

Picture Books

Angélica and la Güira by Angie Cruz & illustrated by Luz Batista

A young girl named Angelica harnesses the power of music to bridge the distance between the Dominican Republic and Washington Heights in this jubilant picture book debut by Angie Cruz, bestselling and award-winning author of Dominicana. When Angelica has to leave the shores of the Dominican Republic at the end of the Summer, she is devastated, until her grandfather gives her a gift before she leaves: a güira. An instrument that is very common in a Dominican household, although no one around Angelica seems to be in favor of it. One hot day, Angelica decides to show everyone in her neighborhood, not only her musical skills, but the power of la güira and how it can bring a community together. This book is also available in Spanish.

My Two Border Towns by David Bowles & illustrated by Erika Meza

This is a debut picture book by an award-winning author about a young boy who lives along the U.S.-Mexico border with his family. The boy often takes trips to what he calls The Other Side/El Otro Lado with his father, which is just down the road from his school. To get to El Otro Lado, the young boy and his father have to take a trek in his father’s truck, and along the way they make many different stops for things such as food, a sweet treat, medicine from the pharmacy, and they make a visit to his Tio Mateo at his jewelry store. 

At the end of every trip to El Otro Lado, the young boy and his father make a very important stop to check-in with friends and community members who are seeking asylum, and drop off supplies to them. This is an amazing story about a young boy and the weekend trips that he and his father take, not only to get errands done, but also to show how they care for their community and the people who are facing certain struggles in their lives. The watercolor illustrations paint a beautiful picture of a fraction of the life of this young boy. This book is also available in Spanish.

Squawk of Spanish by Gabriella Aldeman & illustrated by Romina Galotta

This is the story of a young boy named Max, who isn’t confident with his Spanish. He struggles especially with rolling his R’s, and gets teased by his cousins because of it. Max loves spending his weekends with his abuela, who mainly only speaks Spanish, and her parrot Lorito, who helps translate in order for Max and Abuela to communicate with each other. One day, Lorito goes missing, so Max and Abuela have to figure out how to communicate with each other on their own. Although Max’s Spanish isn’t perfect, and Abuela speaks very little English, they try their best to communicate throughout the day. This book is great for fans of Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina!

Islandborn by Junot Diaz & illustrated by Leo Espinosa

Junot Diaz is a Dominican-American New York Times bestseller and Pulitzer Prize winner, and Islandborn is his debut novel that taps into his Dominican-American roots. Lola is a young girl who immigrated from The Dominican Republic at a very very young age, and when her teacher asks the students to draw a picture of where their families immigrated from, she is not looking forward to it. All of her classmates are excited about this project, but Lola can’t remember the island where she was born because she left when she was just a baby. 

With the help of her family and friends, and their own memories, Lola lets her imagination run wild and take her on a journey back to The Island. As she is drawn into the heart of her family’s story, Lola starts to understand the truth of the words her abuela told her: “Just because you don’t remember a place doesn’t mean it’s not you.” This story has beautiful illustrations which won the 2019 Pura Belpré Honor Book for Illustration award. This story is also a way for young readers to learn how to connect with their families and heritage, even if they are unfamiliar with the country that their family comes from.

Across the Bay by Carlos Aponte

This story is set in Puerto Rico, and is about a young boy named Carlitos who lives at home with his mother, his abuela, and their cat Coco. Carlitos lives a very cozy life in his hometown, but the call of the capital city pulls Carlitos across the bay in search of his father who lives in San Juan. The story follows Carlitos as he makes the journey filled with beautiful views, mischievous cats, and magicians. It tells a tale of love, family, and discovering the true meaning of home. This story is also a recipient of the Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor.

Chapter Books

Juana & Lucas (Series) by Juana Medina

Based on author-illustrator Juana Medina’s own childhood in Colombia, this illustrated series about Juana and her best amigo, her dog Lucas, will delight young readers.

Fans of Judy Moody and Clarice Bean will love Juana, the spunky young Colombian girl who stars in this playful, abundantly illustrated series. Juana loves many things: drawing, living in Bogotá, Colombia, and especially her dog, Lucas, the best amigo ever. She does not love wearing her itchy school uniform, solving math problems, or learning English. Why is it so important to learn a language that makes so little sense? Hilarious, energetic, and utterly relatable, Juana will win over los corazones (the hearts) of readers everywhere.

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya

Save the restaurant. Save the town. Get the girl. Make Abuela proud. Can thirteen-year-old Arturo Zamora do it all or is he in for a BIG, EPIC FAIL?

For Arturo, summertime in Miami means playing basketball until dark, sipping mango smoothies, and keeping cool under banyan trees. And maybe a few shifts as junior lunchtime dishwasher at Abuela’s restaurant. Maybe. But this summer also includes Carmen, a poetry enthusiast who moves into Arturo’s apartment complex and turns his stomach into a deep fryer. He almost doesn’t notice the smarmy land developer who rolls into town and threatens to change it. Arturo refuses to let his family and community go down without a fight, and as he schemes with Carmen, Arturo discovers the power of poetry and protest through untold family stories and the work of José Martí.

Funny and poignant, The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora is the vibrant story of a family, a striking portrait of a town, and one boy’s quest to save both. Another Pura Belpré Author Honor Book from 2018.

Who Was Cesar Chavez? by Dana Meachen Rau

This story allows young readers to learn about Cesar Chavez, a young boy who began picking crops when he was only twelve years old. Cofounder of the National Farm Workers Association. A labor leader and the most famous Latino American civil rights activist

When he was young, Cesar and his Mexican American family toiled in the fields as migrant farm workers. He knew all too well the hardships farm workers faced. His public-relations approach to unionism and aggressive but nonviolent tactics made the farm workers’ struggle a moral cause with nationwide support. Along with Dolores Huerta, he co-founded the National Farmworkers Association. His dedication to his work earned him numerous friends and supporters, including Robert Kennedy and Jesse Jackson.

Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres

A deliciously charming and heartwarming novel, all wrapped up in a warm tortilla.

Tacos. Burritos. Guacamole. Estefania “Stef” Soto is itching to shake off the onion-and-cilantro embrace of Tia Perla, her family’s taco truck. She wants nothing more than for Papi to get a normal job and for the taco truck to be a distant memory. Then maybe everyone at school will stop calling her the Taco Queen.

But when her family’s livelihood is threatened, and it looks like her wish will finally come true, Stef surprises everyone (including herself) by becoming the truck’s unlikely champion. In this fun and heartfelt novel, Stef will discover what matters most and ultimately embrace her identity, even if it includes old Tia Perla.

Rooting for Rafael Rosales by Kurtis Scaletta

Rafael has dreams. Every chance he gets he plays in the street games trying to build his skills, get noticed by scouts, and—someday—play Major League Baseball. Maya has worries. The bees are dying all over the world, and the company her father works for is responsible, making products that harm the environment. 

Follow Rafael and Maya in a story that shifts back and forth in time and place, from Rafael’s neighborhood in the Dominican Republic to present-day Minnesota, where Maya and her sister are following Rafael’s first year in the minor leagues. In their own ways, Maya and Rafael search for hope, face difficult choices, and learn a secret—the same secret—that forever changes how they see the world.