2023 Books for Kids: Latine & Hispanic Heritage Month

Updated September 7, 2023
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Plátanos go with everything
Norman, Lissette
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....
Our roof is blue
Echenique, Sara E.
This heartfelt story of resilience follows two siblings as they work to recover and rebuild after Hurricane Irma destroys their home in Puerto Rico. Before an intense hurricane hits their home in Puerto Rico, Antonio told his sister vibrant stories each night. During the storm,...
La guitarrista
Diaz, Lucky
From the creators of Paletero Man--Latin Grammy-winning musician Lucky Diaz and celebrated artist Micah Player--comes a story about a tenacious girl who achieves her wildest dreams with a little help from her community and a broken guitar....
Spanish is the language of my family
Genhart, Michael
An intergenerational story of family ties, cultural pride, and spelling bee victory following a young boy who bonds with his beloved abuela over a love of Spanish. As a boy prepares for his school's Spanish spelling bee, he asks his grandmother for help with some of the words he...
Mariana and her familia
Mancillas, Mo?nica
A heartwarming picture book about a young girl on her first trip to visit family in Mexico, who learns there is no language barrier when it comes to love--from debut author Mónica Mancillas and rising star illustrator Erika Meza. Perfect for fans of Where Are You From and Mango,...
Plaatanos go with everything
Norman, Lissette
With the English and Spanish text side by side on the page, this bilingual edition of the vibrant picture book celebrating the strength of community and the versatility of plátanos is ideal for bilingual readers as well as Spanish speakers learning English and vice versa. A 2024 Bank...
Baking with mi abuelita
Mora, Julissa
Family traditions are special, especially when they include baking a "delicioso" cake with your abuelita! This Step 2 Reader includes some words in Spanish! It's Papi's birthday! Which means it's time to get in the kitchen and bake the traditional family cake -- Tres Leches!...
Aniana del Mar jumps in
Méndez, Jasminne
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...
Abuela's super capa
Siqueira, Ana
A heartwarming bilingual picture book about a young boy who learns to accept that Abuela needs to retire her super capa.  Saturdays are superhero days. Equipped with their milkshakes and capas, Luis and his abuela can turn anything into an adventure. But when Abuela gets sick,...
Something Like Home
Arango, Andrea Beatriz.
A moving novel in verse in which a lost dog helps a lonely girl find a way home to her family . . . only for them to find family in each other along the way. From the Newbery Honor Award-winning author of Iveliz Explains It All. "Trust me: this book will touch your heart." -...
Felice and the wailing woman
López, Diana
The twelve-year-old daughter of La Llorona vows to free her mother and reverse the curses that have plagued the magical town of Tres Leches in this delightfully sweet and spellbinding adventure by beloved author Diana L pez. When Felice learns that she's the daughter of La...
Frizzy
Ortega, Claribel A.
Winner of the 2023 Pura Belpré Award for Children's Text Winner of the 2023 Eisner for Best Publication for Kids October 2022 Indie Bestseller New York Times-bestselling author Claribel A. Ortega and star debut artist Rose Bousamra's Frizzy is about...
A crown for Corina
Kemp, Laekan Zea
A charming story about a girl who learns a beloved family tradition and the symbolism behind the Mexican flower crown, from two Pura Belpré award-winning creators. Today is Corina's birthday, and she's excited to wear the biggest crown with the most beautiful flowers...
Reina Ramos works it out!
Otheguy, Emma
"A sparkling tale starring a resilient young protagonist" --Kirkus (starred review) Reina Ramos Works It Out is a Level Two I Can Read story about Reina Ramos, a loyal friend whose high-spirited antics sometimes cause chaos, but who always finds a way to make things right. Perfect for...
Doodles from the Boogie Down
Rodriguez, Stephanie
A young Dominican girl navigates middle school, her strict mother, shifting friendships, and her dream of being an artist in this debut coming-of-age graphic novel inspired by the author's tween years. Eighth grade in New York City means one thing- It's time to start applying to...
Barely floating
Rivera, Lilliam
A dazzling story full of heart about how one twelve-year-old channels her rage into synchronized swimming dreams from The Education of Margot Sanchez author Lilliam Rivera. Natalia De La Cruz Rivera y Santiago, also known as Nat, was swimming neighborhood kids out of their...
A seed in the sun
Salazar, Aida
**Four starred reviews!** A farm-working girl with big dreams meets activist Dolores Huerta and joins the 1965 protest for workers' rights in this tender-hearted novel in verse, perfect for fans of Rita Williams-Garcia and Pam Muñoz Ryan. Lula Viramontes aches to one...
Pla?tanos are love
Reynoso-Morris, Alyssa
A delicious picture book about the ways plantains shape Latinx culture, community, and family, told through a young girl's experiences in the kitchen with her abuela. Abuela says, "plátanos are love." I thought they were food. But Abuela says they feed us in more...

Check out our 2020 list with books featuring Latinx characters!

Books for children in celebration of National Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month.

Books for children in celebration of National Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month.

Puppy love
Soto, Gary
A sweetly humorous middle grade novel packed with action, basketball, and a dash of magical realism about friendship and family, first crushes, and belonging, from acclaimed author Gary Soto. Thirteen-year-old Jordan Mendoza has a huge crush on his classmate, Sierra, but he's never going...

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