Children's Book Suggestions | Hispanic Heritage Month 2024

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

These are a few of our favorite books by Hispanic/Latine authors from the past 12 months, but there are many more in the library catalog! You can also search by the name of the country or nationality. A few of the most common regions represented in children's literature are Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama, El Salvador, Colombia, Chile, and Peru.

Other Oregon City Library book lists include last year's Children's Book Suggestions | Hispanic Heritage Month 2023 list and our Finding Diverse Books presentations from 2019-2024.

Bilingual and Spanish-language readers can also browse the online catalog for children's books in Spanish. Use the "Subjects" list on the left side of the page to narrow down your preferred format (picture book, graphic novel, etc.) or topic (humor, animals, etc.)

Updated August 10, 2024
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County)Oregon City Public Library
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La noche before Three Kings Day
Colón-Bagley, Sheila
Paper Book
Inspired by Clement Clarke Moore's "The Night Before Christmas," La Noche Before Three Kings Day is a perfect holiday tale.   It's almost Three Kings Day, and while the grownups prepare a large meal, the kids prepare their shoe boxes for los Reyes to arrive later that night. Will...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

The perfect place
de la Peña, Matt
Paper Book
From the Newbery Medal-winning author of Last Stop on Market Street comes this moving picture book about the perils of perfectionism. Lucas goes to the perfect school in the perfect neighborhood. And when he gets perfect grades, he feels like he fits right in. ...
Night stories : folktales from Latin America : a toon graphic
Liniers
Paper Book
Classic Latin American folktales get an update in this new collection by celebrated author Liniers! New York Times bestselling author and Eisner Award winner Liniers brings his exuberant cartooning style and irrepressible sense of humor to the spooky folktales of his...

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

Spanish language version available

The ofrenda that we built
Gutiérrez, Jolene
Paper Book
"A rich, rhythmic ode celebrating Día de Muertos." --School Library Journal,Starred Review  Learn about and celebrate the Day of the Dead! With warmth and energy, this spirited picture book is a joyful ode to family traditions and the memory of...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Desert song
Kemp, Laekan Zea
Paper Book
A family joins the music of the Texas desert night in this tale of tradition and memory from Pura Belpre Honor author Laekan Zea Kemp. It starts with a soft tapping, Uncle Eduardo drumming his hands against his dusty jeans. As the...
Plátanos go with everything
Norman, Lissette
Paper Book
Paletero Man meets Fry Bread in this vibrant and cheerful ode to plátanos, the star of Dominican cuisine, written by award-winning poet Lissette Norman, illustrated by Sara Palacios, and translated by Kianny N. Antigua. Plátanos are Yesenia's favorite food....

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Miguel must fight!
Ofelia, Jamie
Paper Book
★ "A thrilling mini-adventure" --Kirkus Reviews, starred review  ★ "A positive message of creativity over warfare" --Shelf Awareness, starred review In this charming Spanish language story, a young...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Martina has too many tías
Otheguy, Emma
Paper Book
A quiet girl overwhelmed by her rambunctious family finds a magical land of solitude only to discover what truly makes a home a home in this lively and magical bilingual picture book that reimagines the beloved Caribbean folktale "La Cucaracha Martina." Martina does not like...
A maleta full of treasures
Sylvester, Natalia
Paper Book
From an award-winning author and illustrator, a warm, gentle ode to cherished visits from grandparents and the people and places that make us who we are even if we haven't met them yet. It's been three years since Abuela's last visit, and Dulce revels in every tiny detail-from...
Grow up, Luchy Zapata
Alessandri, Alexandra
Paper Book
A funny, relatable middle school drama about two Colombian American girls who have always been BFFs--until sixth grade turns everything upside down. Luchy Zapata is starting middle school, and she's muy excited. She and her two best friends, Cami and Mateo, will finally be...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

¡Fiesta! : a festival of colors
Tonatiuh, Duncan
Paper Book
From award-winning and beloved author-illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh comes this celebratory bilingual concept picture book. This book of colors features a street fiesta with green avocados, yellow tortillas, purple dance dresses, and brown charro pants. The book includes a double gatefold finale reveal...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

?Vamos! Let's Celebrate Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos: A Halloween and Day of the Dead Celebration
Raul the Third
Paper Book
A Junior Library Guild Selection! A Common Sense Selection! A School Library Journal Best Book! From New York Times bestselling, three-time Pura Belpré Award-winning author-illustrator Raúl the Third, ¡Vamos! Let's Celebrate Halloween and Día de los Muertos follows Little...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Abuelo, the sea, and me
Williams, Ismaee
Paper Book
Abuelo, the Sea, and Me is a tender, heartwarming picture book that vividly explores intergenerational connections, family history, and the immigrant experience. When this grandchild visits her abuelo, he takes her to the ocean. In summer, they kick off their shoes and...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Reina Ramos : tour guide
Otheguy, Emma
Paper Book
Reina Ramos is a tour guide in this Level Two I Can Read story. Perfect for social emotional learning. Features Spanish vocabulary! Reina Ramos is the creation of Emma Otheguy, a children's author who writes about Latin identity. The Reina I Can Read stories have engaging...
Daughter of the light-footed people : the story of indigenous marathon champion Lorena Ramírez
Cabot, Belen Medina
Paper Book
Meet Lorena Ramírez, an Indigenous Rarámuri athlete from Mexico who is internationally known for winning ultramarathons in her traditional skirts and rubber sandals, in this nonfiction picture book. From the copper canyons of Mexico, her swift footsteps echo....

Nonfiction (Age 4-8)

Christopher Columbus and the Taino people
Messner, Kate
Paper Book
Myths! Lies! Secrets! Uncover the hidden truth about Christopher Columbus, and learn all about the Taino people. Perfect for fans of the I Survived books and Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales. In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed across the ocean and discovered America. Right? WRONG!...

Nonfiction (Age 9-12)

The circuit : graphic novel
Rostan, Andrew
Paper Book
Poignantly told from a young boy's perspective, the popular and award-winning memoir centered on a Mexican family working California's fields is now a powerful graphic novel that will appeal to readers of Illegal and They Called Us Enemy.  An honest and evocative account...

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

Across so many seas
Behar, Ruth
Paper Book
"As lyrical as it is epic, Across So Many Seas reminds us that while the past may be another country, it's also a living, breathing song of sadness and joy that helps define who we are." --Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee Spanning over 500...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Spanish language version available

Sincerely Sicily
Burgess, Tamika
Paper Book
From debut author Tamika Burgess comes the captivating and empowering story of Sicily Jordan--a Black Panamanian fashionista who rocks her braids with pride--who learns to use her voice and take pride in who she is while confronting prejudice in the most unexpected of places. ...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Aniana del Mar jumps in
Méndez, Jasminne
Paper Book
Pura Belpre Author Honor Award ** Four starred reviews!** A powerful and expertly told novel in verse about a twelve-year-old Dominican American swimmer who is diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis by an award-winning poet. Aniana del Mar belongs in the water like...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Spanish language version available

Ultraviolet
Salazar, Aida
Paper Book
Sometimes life explodes in technicolor. In the spirit of Judy Blume, award-winning author Aida Salazar tells it like it is about puberty, hormones, and first love in this hilarious, heartwarming, and highly relatable coming-of-age story. Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds, Kwame...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Vega's piece of the sky
Torres, Jennifer
Paper Book
A meteorite comes crashing down on the lives of three middle schoolers changing everything they know about family, friendships, and community in this charming and heartfelt novel with a light STEM touch. The space rock is just the latest thing to land, uninvited, in...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Curveball
Cartaya, Pablo
Paper Book
Roller Girl meets Cardboard Kingdom in this original, contemporary graphic novel from award-winning author Pablo Cartaya and New York Times best-selling illustrator Miguel Díaz Rivas. Baseball is Elena Rueda's entire life: She may be the only girl on her team...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)


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