Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15th to October 15th. Celebrate with your family by sharing some of these great titles for youth!
Vision: My Story of Strength by Precious Perez
Youth Nonfiction J 303.484 P
A young activist opens a window into her journey to become a professional musician and leader for the disabled community.
Areli is a Dreamer by Areli Morales
Youth Nonfiction J 325.73 M
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.
Bravo!: Poems About Amazing Hispanics by Margarita Engle
Youth Nonfiction J 811.6 E
Bold, graphic portraits and beautiful poems present famous and lesser-known Latinos from varied backgrounds who have faced life’s challenges in creative ways.
Nuestra América: 30 inspiring Latinas/ latinos who have shaped the United States by Sabrina Vourvoulias
Youth Nonfiction J 920.009 V
Breaking barriers one word, one record, one brush stroke at a time! Nuestra América highlights the inspiring stories of thirty Latinas and Latinos throughout history and their incredible contributions to the cultural, social, and political character of the United States.
Pura’s Cuentos by Annette Bay Pimentel
Youth Nonfiction J 920.009 V
In this fictional biography, Pura Belpré breaks the rules of storytime by telling unpublished stories from her homeland of Puerto Rico.
Sing With Me by Diana López
Youth Biography QUINTANILLA
A picture book biography celebrating the life and legacy of Selena Quintanilla, one of the most influential musicians of all time.
Turning Pages by Sonia Sotomayor
Youth Biography SOTOMAYOR
As the first Latine Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor has inspired young people around the world to reach for their dreams. But what inspired her? For young Sonia, the answer was books! They were her mirrors, her maps, her friends, and her teachers. They helped her to connect with her family in New York and in Puerto Rico, to deal with her diabetes diagnosis, to cope with her father’s death, to uncover the secrets of the world, and to dream of a future for herself in which anything was possible.
Juana & Lucas by Juana Medina
Youth Early Chapter Books JUANA
A spunky young girl from Colombia loves playing with her canine best friend and resists boring school activities, especially learning English, until her family tells her that a special trip is planned to an English-speaking place.
Lola Levine by Monica Brown
Youth Early Chapter Books LOLA LEVINE
Second-grader Lola has a wonderful family, a great teacher, and the best friend ever, Josh, and they all help her feel better after she is teased and forbidden to play team sports at recess for having accidentally hurt classmate Juan during a soccer game.
Perla Garcia by Rodolfo Alvarado
Youth Early Chapter Books PERLA GARCIA
A full moon is rising over el Barrio de Guadalupe, and near the arroyo, the stream, children have heard and seen La Llorona, and some even claim that she chased them. But, was it La Llorona or their imagination? It is a mystery custom made for Perla Garcia and Valiente, the greatest mystery busters in the history of el Barrio de Guadalupe!
Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros
Youth Fiction CISNEROS
Best friends Isaac and Marco face various challenges in sixth grade, such as Isaac getting better grades, Marco winning a spot on the basketball team, and both seeing their efforts make a change in their respective family lives. They hope their friendship and support for one another will be enough to help them from falling short.
Santiago’s Road Home by Alexandra Diaz
Youth Fiction DIAZ
Fleeing abusive relatives and extreme poverty in Mexico, young Santiago endures being detained by ICE while crossing the border into the United States.
Sal & Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
Youth Fiction HERNANDEZ
In order to heal after his mother’s death, thirteen-year-old Sal learns to reach into time and space to retrieve things–and people–from other universes.
The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
Youth Fiction HIGUERA
There lived a girl named Petra Peña, who wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller, like her abuelita. But Petra’s world is ending. Earth has been destroyed by a comet, and only a few hundred scientists and their children – among them Petra and her family – have been chosen to journey to a new planet. They are the ones who must carry on the human race.
Coming Up Cuban by Sonia Manzano
Youth Fiction MANZANO
Manzano examines the impact of the 1959 Cuban Revolution on four children from very different walks of life. In the wake of a new regime in Cuba, Ana, Miguel, Zulema, and Juan learn to find a place for themselves in a world forever changed. In a tumultuous moment of history, we see the lasting effects of a revolution in Havana, the countryside, Miami, and New York. Through these snapshot stories, we are reminded that regardless of any tumultuous times, we are all forever connected in our humanity.
Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar
Youth Fiction SALAZAR
Nine-year-old Betita and her parents fled Mexico after her uncle was killed by the cartels, and settled in Los Angeles seeking political asylum and safety in what her father calls Aztlan, the land of the cranes; but now they have been swept up by by the government’s Immigration Customs Enforcement, her father deported back to Mexico, and Betita and her mother confined in a family detention camp–Betita finds heart in her imagination and the picture poems her father taught her, but each day threatens to further tear her family apart.
Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos
Youth Graphic Novels CAS
A wordless graphic novel in which twelve-year-old Marisol must adapt to a new life in 1960s Brooklyn after her parents send her to the United States from Cuba to keep her safe during Castro’s regime.
Mexikid by Pedro Martín
Youth Graphic Novels MAR
Pedro Martin has grown up hearing stories about his abuelito—his legendary crime-fighting, grandfather who was once a part of the Mexican Revolution! But that doesn’t mean Pedro is excited at the news that Abuelito is coming to live with their family. After all, Pedro has 8 brothers and sisters and the house is crowded enough! Still, Pedro piles into the Winnebago with his family for a road trip to Mexico to bring Abuelito home, and what follows is the trip of a lifetime, one filled with laughs and heartache. Along the way, Pedro finally connects with his abuelito and learns what it means to grow up and find his grito.
Frizzy by Claribel Ortega
Youth Graphic Novels ORT
A middle grade graphic novel about Marlene, a young girl who stops straightening her hair and embraces her natural curls. Marlene loves three things: books, her cool Tia Ruby, and hanging out with her best friend Camila. But according to her mother, Paola, the only thing she needs to focus on is school and “growing up.” That means straightening her hair every weekend so she can have “presentable,” “good” hair. But Marlene hates being in the salon and doesn’t understand why her curls are not considered pretty by those around her. With a few hiccups, a dash of embarrassment, and the much-needed help of Camila and Tia Ruby, she slowly starts a journey to learn to appreciate and proudly wear her curly hair.
My Two Border Towns by David Bowles
Youth Picture Books BOW
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.
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
Youth Picture Books DEL
A young boy rides the bus across town with his grandmother and learns to appreciate the beauty in everyday things.
El Cucuy is Scared Too! by Donna Barba Higuera
Youth Picture Books HIG
Ramón is worried about his first day at a new school, but it helps to remind El Cucuy, the monster who lives in his cactus pot, of how brave and strong they both are.
Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez
Youth Picture Books MAR
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.
If Dominican Were a Color by Sili Recio
Youth Picture Books REC
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.