Sept 15- Oct. 15 is Latinx/ Hispanic Heritage Month ~ and while it’s important to read and share Latinx and Hispanic stories all year long, this is a month dedicated to celebrating and amplifying Latinx/ Hispanic voices. I’m celebrating with the best way I know how: by sharing all the best children’s book recs, bookish crafts, and interactive read alouds that feature the Latinx and Hispanic community.

Books

Below you’ll see a few collections of books I’ve curated in honor of Latinx Heritage Month. Click on the collection images, or Click Here for the full list of titles to add to your own libraries! If you continue scrolling, you’ll see a featured selection of some of mai favorite new releases and older classics that I love~ separated into fiction and nonfiction categories.

Happy Reading, Friends! And let me know if there are any of your own favs I must add to the collection!

Fiction

May Your Life be Deliciosa by Michael Genhart , Illustrated by Loris Lora

“Each year on Christmas Eve, Rosie’s abuela, mamá, tía, sister, and cousins all gather together in Abuela’s kitchen to make tamales—cleaning corn husks, chopping onions and garlic, roasting chilis, kneading cornmeal dough, seasoning the filling, and folding it all—and tell stories. Rosie learns from her abuela not only how to make a delicious tamale, but how to make a delicious life, one filled with love, plenty of spice, and family.”

Run, Little Chaski! An Inka Trail Adventure by Mariana Llanos, Illustrated by Mariana Ruiz Johnson

“Will Little Chaski reach the king before the sun goes down? Discover the messenger system used by the Inka in this heartwarming adventure.” Includes bright, vibrant illustrations, and Quechua words are used throughout with a glossary included at the end. Back matter is also provided that shares information of the culture and history of the Inka. Plus, littles will enjoy learning about all of the Andean animals!

My Two Border Towns by David Bowles, Illustrated by Erika Meza

Shares the vibrancy of life on the US-Mexico border. Read about a boy’s life on the U.S.-Mexico border, visiting his favorite places on The Other Side with his father. “Their outings always include a meal at their favorite restaurant, a visit with Tío Mateo at his jewelry store, a cold treat from the paletero, and a pharmacy pickup. On their final and most important stop, they check in with friends seeking asylum and drop off much-needed supplies.”

Jaguars and Butterflies by Catherine Russler, Illustrated by Ely Ely

“A self-empowerment resource for girls of Mexican heritage… this book presents an enchanting world of art and poetry that encourages girls to value and center themselves. Each colorful page is a celebration of strength and diversity that highlights cultures, art, and geography in Mexico.”

Dinner on Domingos by Alexandra Katona, Illustrated by Claudia Navarro

“Warm memories wash over a first-generation Latinx American girl as she experiences a typical Sunday night dinner at her Abuelita’s house. As Alejandra thinks about all the good times her family has had there, she decides that she wants to be brave and try speaking Spanish with Abuelita so that they can deepen their bond” COMING Oct. 11, 2021

From My Window by Otavio Junior, Illustrated by Vanina Starkoff

“This #OwnVoices picture book from Brazil offers a first-hand view of what children growing up in the favelas of Rio de Janiero see everyday. A vibrant and diverse celebration of urban community living, brought to life by unique, colorful illustrations that juxtapose brick buildings with lush jungle plants.”

Pepe and the Parade by Tracey Kyle, Illustrated by Mirelle Ortega

This bilingual read includes Spanish words throughout the narrative, complete with a glossary at the end and an author’s educational note. “Pepe wakes up energized to attend his first Hispanic Day parade. With new food to taste, music to dance to, and a parade to watch, Pepe couldn’t be more excited to celebrate and share his Hispanic heritage. Many of Pepe’s friends also attend the festival, celebrating their own Hispanic ties. Mexican, Dominican, Panamanian, Colombian, Honduran, Nicaraguan, Chilean, Puerto Rican, Salvadoran, Guatemalan, and Cuban cultures are all represented in the parade.”

Anita and the Dragons by Hannah Carmona, Illustrated by Anna Cunha

A beautifully illustrated, tender story about immigration and leaving one’s home country. “Anita watches the dragons high above her as she hops from one cement roof to another in her village in the Dominican Republic. But being the valiant princesa she is, she never lets them scare her. Will she be brave enough to enter the belly of the beast and take flight to new adventures?”

Bright Star by Yuyi Morales

“This is the story of a fawn making her way through a border landscape teaming with flora and fauna native to the region. A gentle but empowering voice encourages her to face her fears when she comes across an obstacle in the form of an insurmountable barrier…Touches on the stories of children whose safety is threatened due to the immigration crisis in the US.”

Nonfiction

Areli is a Dreamer by Areli Morales, Illustrated by Luisa Uribe

“This is a moving story–one that resonates with millions of immigrants who make up the fabric of our country–about one girl living in two worlds, a girl whose DACA application was eventually approved and who is now living her American dream.”

Queen of Tejano Music: Selena by Silvia Lopez, Illustrated by Paola Escobar

“Born and raised in Texas, Selena didn’t know how to speak Spanish, but with the help of her dad, she learned to sing it. With songs written and composed by her older brother and the fun dance steps Selena created, her band, Selena Y Los Dinos, rose to stardom! A true trailblazer, her success in Tejano music and her crossover into mainstream American music opened the door for other Latinx entertainers, and she became an inspiration for Latina girls everywhere.”

Latinitas: Celebrating 40 Big Dreams by Juliet Menendez

This collection of 40 short biographies from all over Latin America and across the United States features women from “Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to singer Selena Quintanilla to NASA’s first virtual reality engineer, Evelyn Miralles. This is a book for aspiring artists, scientists, activists, and more. These women followed their dreams―and just might encourage you to follow yours!”

A Girl Named Rosita by Anika Aldamuy Denise, Illustrated by Leo Espinosa

This beautifully illustrated biography  “tells the story of Rita Moreno, the Puerto Rican superstar best known for her Oscar-winning performance in the original West Side Story film.”

Crafts

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Click here for Craft Template and Directions

Perfect art/craft activity to accompany the children’s book, “Dreamers” by Yuyi Morales, a story about refugees, immigration, family, and keeping hope alive through dreams

Read aloud the story “Dreamers,” and then encourage students to create an *I am a DREAMER* Butterfly craft to reflect, record, and share about their dreams for themselves, their future, their family, and the world. Differentiated templates are provided.

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Click Here for Craft Template and Directions

A fun book craft to accompany the children’s book, “Carmela Full of Wishes” by Matt de la Pena and Christian Robinson~ A story about showing up, speaking up, not giving up, and finding strength in unlikely places.

Read aloud the story “Carmela Full of Wishes,” and then encourage students to create their own *My Dandelion Wishes* Craft to record their wishes for themselves, their community, and their loved ones.

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Or check out both crafts in this Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month mini bundle!

Interactive Read Alouds

Plus, read along with MaiStoryBook YouTube for interactive, shared-reading read aloud adventures where I ask questions throughout the story, point out main themes and ideas, and introduce vocabulary to keep little learns engaged and participating throughout the story. I’ve curated a collection of Latinx Interactive Read aloud videos for you to read along and learn with me this month.

Click here to read along with MaiStoryBook’s Latinx/ Hispanic Heritage Month Playlist, or click on the image-link below to read along to the individual titles.

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I hope you found some reading recommendations to add to your own shelves and share with your littles. Please comment below and share any other Latinx Titles  to add to this themed collection.

*~Also, I’d love to  see and hear about your own reading adventures you are having to share inclusive and diverse experiences and stories with your children, so please share your story times below in the comments –Tag me on Instagram @MaiStoryBookLibrary or FaceBook , find me on TikTok, or contact me via email . I’d love to hear from you!~*

Plus, checkout out MaiStoryBook’s Interactive Read Aloud Video Playlist of Diverse Reads here.

*~Until Next Time, Happy Reading~*

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