Hispanic Heritage Books: Middle Grade & Young Adult

Hispanic Heritage month continues until October 15, and this is my third post in a series of three with book recommendations. Don’t let the fact that these books were written for tweens or teens fool you: they are intense, and cover important themes.

While we’re taking about books, I have exciting news: my friend Dora Rodriguez, about whom I’ve written before on this blog, is opening a community library in the small border town of Sásabe, Sonora, Mexico. I’ve been collecting Spanish-language books to donate to the library. In case you want to join me in supporting this important work, I’ve made a wish list here: amzn.to/3sYH1Nz. Used books are fine if they’re in very good condition.

Learn more about Dora here: http://bit.ly/3EI5lpl and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHTzRi4aSNA.

And now, I give you my middle grade and young adult book recommendations for Hispanic Heritage month. Happy reading!

La Tierra de las Grullas/Land of the Cranes, by Aida Salazar

No Somos de Aqui/We Are Not from Here, by Jenny Torres Sanchez

Borderless, by Jennifer De Leon

El Soñador/The Dreamer, by Pam Muñoz Ryan and Peter Sís

Esperanza Renace/Esperanza Rising, by Pam Muñoz Ryan

The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano, by Margarita Engle, art by Sean Qualls (in verse)

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, by Erika L. Sánchez

Unearthed: A Jessica Cruz Story, by Lilliam Rivera, art by Steph C. (graphic novel)

Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide, by Isabel Quintero, illustrations by Zeke Peña, photographs by Graciela Iturbide (graphic biography)

The Poet X, by Elizabeth Acevedo (in verse)

Hispanic Heritage Books: Children

Hispanic Heritage month runs from September 15—October 15 in the U.S. This year I have so many book recommendations that I’ll be splitting them up into three categories: Children’s books, Middle Grade & Young Adult books, and Adult books. This is the first in a series of three posts, so stay tuned for more reading recos!

While we’re taking about books, I have exciting news: my friend Dora Rodriguez, about whom I’ve written before on this blog, is opening a community library in the small border town of Sásabe, Sonora, Mexico. I’ve been collecting Spanish-language books to donate to the library; in case you want to join me in supporting this important work, I’ve made a wish list of books I don’t yet have. Check it out here: amzn.to/3sYH1Nz. Used books are fine if they’re in very good condition.

Learn more about Dora here: http://bit.ly/3EI5lpl and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHTzRi4aSNA.

And now, I give you my children’s book recommendations for Hispanic Heritage month. Happy reading!

Until Someone Listens: A Story about Borders, Family, and One Girl’s Mission, by Estela Juarez with Lisette Norman, illustrated by Teresa Martínez

Hija/Little One, by Ariel Andrés Almada and Sonja Wimmer

Los Deseos de Carmela/Carmela Full of Wishes, by Matt De La Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson

Esperando el Biblioburro/Waiting for the Biblioburro, by Monica Brown, illustrated by John Parra

El Caballero que no Tenía Caballo, by J.S. Pinillos, illustrated by Ana Sáez del Arco

Dragones y Tacos, by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

Es Nochebuena/’Twas Nochebuena, by Roseanne Greenfield Thong, illustrated by Sara Palacios

My Name Is / Me Llamo Gabriela: The Life of / La Vida de Gabriela Mistral, by Monica Brown, illustrated by John Parra

Diego Rivera: His World and Ours, by Duncan Tonatiuh

The Story of Frida Kahlo: A Biography Book for New Readers, by Susan B. Katz

Poems to Dream Together/Poemas para Soñar Juntos, by Francisco X. Alarcón, illustrated by Paula Barragan

Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems/Jitomates Risueños y otros poemas de primavera, by Francisco X. Alarcón, illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez

Iguanas in the Snow and Other Winter Poems/Iguanas en la Nieve y otros poems de invierno, by Francisco X. Alarcón, illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez

Angels Ride Bikes and Other Fall Poems/Los Angeles Andan en Bicicletas y otros poemas de otoño, by Francisco X. Alarcón, illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez

Books for Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15—October 15. Before the entire month gets away from me, here are some recommended books to help you explore hispanic heritage. Happy reading!

Books for Grown-Ups:

Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya

The Five Wounds, by Valdez Quade

Olga Dies Dreaming, by Xochitl Gonzalez

Woman Hollering Creek and other stories, by Sandra Cisneros

Middle-Grade/YA Books:

Latinitas: Celebrating 40 Big Dreamers, by Juliet Menéndez

Spare Parts: Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and the Battle for the American Dream, by Joshua Davis

Illustrated Children’s Books:

A Song of Frutas, by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Sara Palacios

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

Areli Es Una Dreamer: Una Historia Real, by Areli Morales, illustrations by Luisa Uribe (also available in English)

Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln, by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Rafael López

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music, by Margarita Engle, illustrations by Rafael López

Es Nochebuena, by Roseanne Greenfield Thong, illustrated by Sara Palacios (also available in English)

I Wish You Knew, by Jackie Azúa, illustrated by Magdalena Mora

Island Born, by Junot Díaz, illustrated by Leo Espinosa

May Your Life Be Deliciosa, by Michael Genhart, illustrated by Loris Lora

Maya’s Blanket / La Manta de Maya, by Monica Brown, illustrated by David Diaz, Spanish translation by Adriana Domínguez (in English and Spanish)

Mi Casa Is My Home, by Laurenne Sala, pictures by Zara González Hoang

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré, by Anika Aldamuy Denise, illustrations by Poala Escobar

What Will You Be? by Camille Saied Méndez, illustrated by Kate Alizadeh

Illustrated Children’s Books: Latinx Culture

Some of the best stories, wisdom, and artwork can be found in illustrated children’s books, and I have a considerable collection. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15—October 15), this post will highlight illustrated children’s books about Latinx culture, specifically holidays.

Hispanic Holidays, by Faith Winchester

A children’s reference book suitable for a classroom or school library, Hispanic Holidays describes the origins and celebrations of Cinco de Mayo, Easter, Corpus Christi, Saint John’s Day, Day of the Dead, Las Posadas, Three Kings’ Day, and Our Lady of Guadalupe. The book includes fast facts, directions for making cascarones, a pronunciation guide, glossary, recommended reading, and an index. Not all the details are exactly correct and because the descriptions of each holiday are short, they by necessity can’t cover everything about each holiday. The book gives a reasonably good overview of these holidays, but there may be better books on the subject.

Pablo’s Tree, by Pat Mora, illustrated by Cecily Lang

Pablo’s Tree tells a beautiful story of a boy and his grandfather’s celebration of the boy’s birthday. The tradition is special to their family, and is not meant to be universal to Latinx culture. An especially meaningful story for adoptive families.

• 

• 

Día de los Muertos, by Hannah Eliot, illustrated by Jorge Gutierrez

Día De Los Muertos, by Roseann Greenfield Thong, illustrated by Carles Ballesteros

Día de los Muertos is perhaps the hispanic holiday that is least understood by Anglos. Thanks to the Pixar movie Coco, Día de los Muertos is recently gaining appreciation among non-Latinx, as they realize that the holiday is a celebration to embrace both life and death, a time to honor and remember loved ones, and a reminder to enjoy life. The book by Eliot scatters some Spanish words and their English equivalents into the text, while the book by Greenfield Thong includes some Spanish words in the text without English equivalents, and instead includes a glossary at the back of the book. Both books do a good job of explaining the various traditions of this holiday, and include fun, colorful illustrations. I highly recommend them both.

Too Many Tamales, by Gary Soto, illustrated by Ed Martinez

A beautifully illustrated book, Too Many Tamales tells a funny, dramatic story set on Christmas Eve. The story includes several hispanic traditions, but the principles are universal. Recommend.

The Legend of the Poinsettia, retold and illustrated by Tomie dePaola

Have you ever wondered how the poinsettia became a symbol of Christmas? Tomie de Paola beautifully tells and illustrates the Mexican legend of the Christmas flower in this book. The author’s note provides additional information about the poinsettia flower. Highly recommend.

The Night of Las Posadas, written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola

Another beauty by Tomie de Paola, The Night of Las Posadas portrays one of my own personal favorite Christmas customs, complete with a Christmas miracle. Las Posadas is traditionally celebrated in Spain, Mexico, and other parts of Latin America and the U.S. southwest. Highly recommend.

N Is for Navidad, by Susan Middleton Elya & Merry Banks, illustrated by Joe Cepeda

N Is for Navidad is a fun, rhyming book that introduces a new Spanish word for each letter of the alphabet, spanning the time from Christmas preparations and Las Posadas through Three Kings’ Day. You’ll be introduced to a hispanic custom for every featured word. The author’s note brings further explanations, and the glossary expounds on all the words introduced, plus several more. Highly recommend.

A Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas, by Pat Mora, illustrated by Magaly Morales

Enjoy this traditional Christmas carol with a Latin twist. The illustrations are gorgeous, and beautifully portray each of the gifts. With the repetition inherent in this song the reader will be more likely to learn twelve new words in Spanish, plus the numbers 1—12, complete with pronunciation. The book includes a glossary and pronunciation guide, author’s note, illustrator’s note, and music and lyrics to the song. Highly recommend.