There's a Book for That: Latine & Hispanic Heritage Month, Kids Edition
As we continue to celebrate Latine & Hispanic Heritage Month visit I Am La Cultura and join us in honoring Latine and Hispanic authors, creators, illustrators, and trailblazers. This week we recommend the following acclaimed books for young readers:
A simmering tale of magic, adventure, and the extraordinary bond between a brother and sister who’d journey to the ends of the Earth to save each other. From the acclaimed author of Lotería comes a heartfelt story rooted in Mexican magical realism.
Here is the inspirational story of Major League Baseball player Roberto Clemente—not Bob—who endured years of racism and discrimination to become one of the greatest baseball players of all time. MLB.com journalist Nathalie Alonso and award-winning illustrator Rudy Gutierrez show the emotional highs and lows of Roberto Clemente’s career as he fought racism—from fans, reporters, and other figures in the sport—to become one of the greatest baseball players of all time. With English and Spanish words intermingled in the text, this book will inspire young readers as they learn about Clemente’s contributions to Black, Latino, and American history.
Adela wants nothing more than to be a part of her family’s mariachi band, but when she tries the different instruments, everything comes out wrong. La trompeta fizzles, la vihuela squeaks, and trying to dance makes Adela fall on her face. From watching her family, Adela knows that practice makes perfect, but can she find a way to be part of the band in the meantime? Click here for the Spanish edition.
A young girl 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. Angélica and la Güira lovingly explores music and community, the wisdom and guidance of our elders, and the joy and freedom of dancing in the street. No matter where we are, music brings us closer to home. Don’t miss the Spanish-language edition of this book, Angélica y la güira.
Meet the remarkable librarian, Luis Soriano, in this paperback, bilingual picture book that celebrates spreading the joys of reading. Inspired by the heroic efforts of real-life librarian Luis Soriano, award-winning picture book creators Monica Brown and John Parra introduce readers to the mobile library that journeys over mountains and through valleys to bring literacy and culture to rural Colombia, and to the children who wait for the BiblioBurro.
Abuelita teaches Carmencita that you can’t rush mango-eating: it takes five steps to appreciate the gift and feel the love. Inspired by her own childhood in Venezuela, Paola Santos’s mango-sweet story is a grounding, life-affirming take on gratitude for nature’s gifts and connection with family and culture. Juliana Perdomo’s cheery artwork brings Carmencita, Abuelita, and their mango tree to life with all the warmth of golden fruit under the sun. Click here for the Spanish edition.
A vivid historical fiction account of the community activism behind San Diego’s Chicano Park—home to the largest outdoor mural collection in the U.S.—and just one example of the Mexican American community’s rich history of resistance and resilience. Also available in Spanish/también disponible en español: El barrio se levanta
A family joins the music of the Texas desert night in this tale of tradition and memory from Pura Belpré Honor author Laekan Zea Kemp. Desert Song hums and chimes with all the music a front porch and the desert beyond can hold. The masterfully stirring text dances through Beatriz Gutierrez Hernandez’s enchanting and dynamic artwork. Readers will be left with the soothing sense that when creativity flourishes, the past is never out of reach, and the bonds that matter never break.
Readers of Lucky Broken Girl, Hurricane Child, and The House on Mango Street, will love this debut middle grade novel about finding sanctuary with friends who understand the enormous changes life can throw at you when you’re 11. What Elisa, Lucia, and Alice see–and judge–of each other from the outside is drastically different from how each girl feels inside. Narrated by each girl in alternating chapters, City Girls captures the vulnerability of being a middle schooler and the relief and joy of finding friendship where you least expect it.
A heartwarming tale of a girl waiting for her beloved Papá to return when the monarchs fly south to their home in Mexico. Told through the parallel stories of the butterflies’ journey and Lucía’s migrant farmer father, Cynthia Harmony’s A Flicker of Hope is a love letter to the power of families and nature, both of which know no borders.
For more on these and more titles for younger readers visit the collection Latine & Hispanic Heritage Month, Young Readers
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