Oct. 7, 2024 – September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic American Heritage Month, and Cedar Rapids Public Library Materials librarian Kim Martens-Tyo selected 20 children's books to celebrate.
From stories of families to celebrations of communities to biographies of real people, these picture books by and about Latino and Hispanic Americans can be read all year long.
Scroll through the list below and click the covers to put the books on hold in our catalog today.
"Where are You From?" by Yamile Saied Méndez (2019)
This resonant picture book tells the story of one girl who constantly gets asked a simple question that doesn’t have a simple answer.
"Round is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes" by Roseanne Thong (2013)
A little girl discovers things that are round, square, and rectangular in her Hispanic American neighborhood.
"Gustavo, the Shy Ghost" by Favia Z Drago (2020)
A shy ghost who can walk through walls and glow in the dark pursues a secret love for playing the violin while trying to bond with monster friends who cannot see him, before the Day of the Dead inspires him to share something he loves.
"Señorita Mariposa" by Mister G (2021)
Illustrations and easy-to-read text in English and Spanish follow monarch butterflies on their journey from Canada to Mexico. Includes author's note on how to help protect monarch butterflies.
"Islandborn" by Junot Díaz (2018)
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 of understanding her own heritage.
"Love" by Matt de la Peña (2018)
Illustrations and easy-to-read text celebrate the bonds of love that connect us all.
"My Papi Has a Motorcycle" by Isabel Quintero (2019)
When Daisy Ramona zooms around her neighborhood with her papi on his motorcycle, she sees the people and places she's always known. She also sees a community that is rapidly changing around her.
"Across the Bay" by Carlos Aponte (2019)
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. Jolly piragüeros, mischievous cats, and costumed musicians color this tale of love, family, and the true meaning of home
"Carmela Full of Wishes" by Matt de la Peña (2018)
Carmela, finally old enough to run errands with her brother, tries to think of the perfect wish, while his wish seems to be that she stayed home.
"Last Stop on Market Street" by Matt de la Peña (2015)
Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn't he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty – and fun – in their routine and the world around them.
"Mango, Abuela, and Me" by Meg Medina (2015)
Mia’s abuela has left her sunny house with parrots and palm trees to live with Mia and her parents in the city. The night she arrives, Mia tries to share her favorite book with Abuela before they go to sleep and discovers that Abuela can’t read the words inside. So while they cook, Mia helps Abuela learn English (“Dough. Masa”), and Mia learns some Spanish too, but it’s still hard for Abuela to learn the words she needs to tell Mia all her stories. Then Mia sees a parrot in the pet-shop window and has the perfecto idea for how to help them all communicate a little better.
"Esperanza Caramelo: A Nochebuena Story" by Karla Valenti (2023)
In a bakery on the eve of Nochebuena, sugar figurines come to life, and a cake catastrophe is averted.
"Cantora: Mercedes Sosa, the Voice of Latin America" by Melisa Fernández Nitsche (2023)
A picture book about Latin American folk singer Mercedes Sosa. Mercedes performed the world over, sharing stories through song. But not everyone loved her singing: a military dictatorship ruled over Argentina, and they saw the power of her voice. Even from exile, Mercedes Sosa was a beacon of freedom for her people, and when she returned to her homeland, she persisted in her work: to be the voice of the voiceless.
"Desert Song" by Laekan Zea Kemp (2024)
A family sings and plays music on a desert evening, in harmony with the nearby wildlife and the ancestors above.
"My Two Border Towns" by David Bowles (2021)
A boy and his father cross the United States-Mexico border every other Saturday, visiting their favorite places, spending time with family and friends, and sharing in the responsibility of community care.
"Mother of Sharks" by Melissa Cristina Márquez (2023)
At la Playita del Condado in Puerto Rico, Meli meets a crab, Jaiba, who takes her on a dreamlike underwater adventure, teaches her about the importance of shark conservation, and reveals Meli's ultimate destiny – to become the Mother of Sharks.
"The Piñata that the Farm Maiden Hung" by Samantha R. Vamos (2019)
Using the building verse of "The House that Jack Built," a farm girl creates a piñata of papier mâché with the help of a boy and the animals on the farm. Includes a glossary of Spanish words, and a step-by-step guide to building your own piñata.
"Barrio Rising: The Protest that Built Chicano Park" by María Dolores Águila (2024)
Community members, primarily of Mexican-American descent, band together and protest the construction of a police station on designated parkland and transform it into a vibrant cultural hub adorned with colorful murals that celebrate their heritage. Includes background on Chicano Park in San Diego California
"Areli is a Dreamer: A True Story" by Areli Morales (2021)
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.
"Angels Ride Bikes and Other Fall Poems – Los Angeles Andan en Bicicleta y Otros Poemas de Otoño" by Francisco X. Alarcón (2022)
A bilingual collection of poems in which the renowned Mexican American poet revisits and celebrates his childhood memories of fall in the city and growing up in Los Angeles.