Children's Book Suggestions | Hispanic Heritage Month 2026

A few of our favorite books by Hispanic/Latine authors published in 2025. For more book ideas, view our lists from past years (2023, 2024, and 2025), browse the library catalog in English or Spanish, and search by country or nationality (Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, etc.)

More great books are honored annually with the Pura Belpré Award.

Updated January 30, 2026
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) Oregon City Public Library
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When sun rises
Salazar, Aida
Derived from Mexican Indigenous wisdom, this is the third title in a series of poetic board books centering around establishing an authentic, heartfelt connection with nature. Using Mexican concepts, this poignantly lyrical series invites young children to pay witness to nature...

Board Book (Age 0-2)

The interpreter
Abtahi, Olivia
Paper Book
A sharp and heartfelt picture book about a young soccer-loving girl who's an interpreter for her Spanish-speaking parents. Some kids have one job- to be a kid! Cecilia has two. When she isn't on the soccer field scoring goals, she's accompanying her parents to all kinds of grown...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Menudo Sunday : a Spanglish counting book
Águila, María Dolores
Paletero Man meets Besos for Baby in this Spanish-English counting picture book that's bursting with all the love, laughter, and chaos found at a large family gathering. Sundays are the best- that's when a little girl and her mama, abuelitos, tias and primos...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Tíos and Primos
Alcántara, Jacqueline
Paper Book
A little girl meets more relatives than she can count-but how will she communicate with them if she can't speak their language? It's a little girl's first trip to her papa's homeland, and she's wowed by all the amazing sights and sounds-and especially by the size of her enormous...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Perla and the pirate
Allende, Isabel
In the second children's book written by critically acclaimed, New York Times-bestselling superstar Isabel Allende, Perla, the mighty dog, saves her human brother, Nico Rico, after he gets lost on the way home from school. Perla is a mighty dog who has two superpowers-...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Frida Kahlo's flower crown
Armendia-Sánchez, Nydia
Paper Book
A lyrical and inspiring picture book about the life of Frida Kahlo--told through the language of flowers--and how she blossomed into a celebrated, beloved artist Like a seed / Frida sprouted / And burst through the earth where / the coyotl once foraged.

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

My abuela is a bruja
Cuevas, Mayra
From an award-winning author comes a vibrant and heartwarming story of the bond between grandmother and grandchild, with a touch of Puerto Rican magic! A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year! A Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature's...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Fix-it familia
Diaz, Lucky
From the creators of Paletero Man and La Guitarrista--Latin Grammy-winning musician Lucky Diaz and celebrated artist Micah Player--comes a rollicking and rhyming story about a boy and his family who have all the right tools to help their community. No job is too big, no task...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

My Daddy Speaks English, Mama Habla Espanol
Rodriguez Dolce, Mariane
A fun rhyming picture book that celebrates bilingual households. Early en la mañana, Mamà drinks café. Mi hermana drinks juice, And Daddy drinks té. Written with a combination of English and Spanish words that reflects the speech of a bilingual...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Dream for the land
Kemp, Laekan Zea
Paper Book
In this lyrical picture book about the importance of caring for our Earth, a child and her father wish for a brighter, greener future for the parched land around their home. When a girl finds a horned toad among the rain-starved squash, tomatoes, and poblanos on her family's...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Home is a heartbeat
Kemp, Laekan Zea
Paper Book
From Pura Belpré Honor-winning author Laekan Zea Kemp comes a beautiful ode to family and multigenerational homes. Everyone has their special place in the house. Abuela cooks in the kitchen. Mami reads by the window. Tía Imelda watches telenovelas in the...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

¡Mistaco! : a tale of tragedy y tortillas
Kinkz, Eliza
* "[W]ith magnificently scrawled artwork, Kinkz offers a story that blends deep empathy, raucous candor, and a useful ritual for dealing with shame." --Publishers Weekly, starred review A chaotically funny debut picture book about a girl who's had a terrible day full of...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Pilgrim codex
Mansour Manzur, Vivian
For fans of Duncan Tonatiuh and Yuyi Morales' Dreamers, a one-of-a-kind picture book about one immigrant family's journey north, illustrated in the vein of an ancient codex and drawing upon Mesoamerican mythology. We, the Vargas Ramírez family, come from a...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Dreaming of a quinceañera
Méndez, Yamile Saied
Perfect for fans of The Proudest Blue and Alma and How She Got Her Name -- a warm tale about celebrating sisterly love, family, and quinceañeras by Pura Belpré winner, Yamile Saied Méndez! Two sisters, Ellie and Isabella, have been dreaming of Isabella's quinceañera...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Little rebels
Morales, Yuyi
Do you know a little rebel? Do you want to be a rebel, too? A powerful new picture book from Caldecott Honoree Yuyi Morales, creator of Dreamers and Bright Star. A New York Times-NYPL Best Illustrated Children's Book! Little rebels have a way of...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Sundust
Peña, Zeke
A 2026 Randolph Caldecott Honor In his striking author-illustrator debut, the award-winning illustrator of My Papi Has a Motorcycle offers an immersive and fantastical desert adventure, where the sun reigns over the vast landscape and shapes all that it touches. ...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

My home is in my backpack
Perrella, Eugenia
Paper Book
A Chicago Public Library Best Picture Book of 2025 Clara and her family are forced to leave everything behind in this poignant but hopeful story of forced migration, told through the eyes of a young refugee. "We all carry our special homes with us - in our backpacks and pockets, and...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Diego Fuego the firefighting dragon
Rozo, Allison
In this hilarious and heartwarming picture book, a young dragon learns to celebrate the unique icy powers that set him apart from his fire-breathing family and becomes a hero! Diego Fuego lives on the southernmost tip of South America in Tierra del Fuego with his dragon family....

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Tia Sofia and the Giant Tortilla
Cocotzin Ruiz, Felicia
Luna and her little brother, Sol, are back for another adventure --this time with a GIANT tortilla! "A giant tortilla opens the door to a celebration of imagination, family, and cultural heritage....A solid choice."--School Library Journal After their aunt Sofía...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Sticky Hermana
Siqueira, Ana
Having a sister who wants to do everything together is a pain! But in the end, big and little sisters always find a way to make up. A fun read-aloud picture book with some Spanish words that's full of humor and heart and perfect for 3-7-year-olds with a younger or older sibling....

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Vera La Valiente Is Scared
Siqueira, Ana
A hilarious story about what it really means to be brave. Meet Vera the Brave--La Valiente! She dives like a dolphin, climbs like a mountain goat, and defends her amigos like un león. But she trembles when she hears her teacher say, "We're going to Rocking Roller Coasters!" Oh no! Vera...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Just shine! : how to be a better you
Sotomayor, Sonia
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER . Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the author of Just Ask! shares a sweet and powerful tale inspired by her own mother's story. How will being true to yourself and shining your brightest help other people shine? There once was a...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Vida : the mice, the cat, and the alebrije
Tonatiuh, Duncan
From Sibert Award- and Pura Belpré Medal-winning creator Duncan Tonatiuh comes a highly original fable inspired by Mexican folk art The city of Mousetepec is a lively place filled with color, music, and alegría (joy). But everything changes one night when the shadow of...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

My cousin, the quinceañera
Mora, Julissa
It's time for a fiesta de quince! Get ready for a beautiful 15th birthday party filled with Latine traditions in this Step 2 Reader that includes over a dozen Spanish words or phrases! It's my cousin's birthday! She's turning fifteen and it's tradition to have a big party...

Early Reader (Grades K-2)

Snap! Crunch! Munch?
Castillo, Diana
Paper Book
A little boy's imagination runs wild during family dinner in this easy reader comic. A little boy comes down for family dinner. There's food for each member of his picky family: black beans, plantains, flan, and more. Soon his imagination is filled with lions, elephants, and...

Early Graphic Novel (Grades K-2)

The unlikely aventuras of Ramón and el cucuy : an illustrated chapter book
Higuera, Donna Barba
Paper Book
A young monster befriends the human child he's been assigned to scare in this spooky-funny chapter book debut from Newbery Medal-winning author Donna Barba Higuera, with illustrations throughout by Juliana Perdomo It's a monster's ancient duty to inflict...

Bridging Fiction (Grades 2-4)

Just kitten around
Burgos, Hilda Eunice
Paper Book
In the Heights meets Front Desk in this heartwarming and funny illustrated story about the friendship between a bodega owner's anxious kid and her newly-adopted mischievous kitten. Everyone thinks Yesenia is calm, collected, and crushing it. But really, her...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Gabby Torres gets a billion followers
Dominguez, Angela
Paper Book
A new series that's perfect for emerging readers who love graphic novels and are ready to read chapter books! Join Gabby as she navigates the inevitable disasters of fourth grade and social media. Gabby Torres is nine years old and ready to conquer the world. She...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Into the shadows
Cervantes, Angela
Paper Book
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection! It's one thing to leave the world behind; it's another thing when you can never return.  Next door to the notorious Area 51 sits Area 53, the underground lab where the government secretly holds "the anomalies." These...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Xolo : how one good dog saved humankind
Higuera, Donna Barba
It is said the mighty feathered serpent god, Quetzalcoatl, helped create the earth. He is the hero who stole back the bones of humanity from the evil god of the Underworld. In his quest to bring humans to the earth, Quetzalcoatl's dog-headed twin brother, Xolotl, was present. Not much is known of...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

The reel wish
Méndez, Yamile Saied
Paper Book
After a panic attack prevents Florencia from performing as Clara in The Nutcracker and her best friend takes the lead, a new dance style helps her face her anxiety as well as a troubled friendship. Ballet is Florencia del Lago's entire world. After years of hard work, she is...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Mixed-up
Garcia, Kami
Paper Book
New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia has returned with a middle grade graphic novel about the struggles of a game-loving girl who gets diagnosed with dyslexia and her loving support network that help her along in the journey. Stella knows fifth grade will be...

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

The Snips: A Bad Buzz Day (a Graphic Novel)
Raul the Third
Paper Book
A GNCRT Outstanding Comics Award Honor Book For readers of Dog Man and The Bad Guys comes a fun and zany early graphic novel series starring a crew of scissor-wielding hairdresser superheroes saving the city from evildoers bent on creating havoc and bad...

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

Pacheco and the witch of the mountain : a graphic novel
Zambrano, Juan E.
Welcome to the island of Asunción, home to the most powerful witches--and Pacheco, their biggest fan. In this beautifully illustrated graphic novel, debut creator Juan E. Zambrano will take readers on an epic adventure that's all about magic, identity, and staying true to yourself.

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez
Aguila, Maria Dolores
Based on the true story of Roberto Alvarez and the Lemon Grove Incident, this vivid and uplifting middle grade debut novel in verse about one young child's courage to stand up for what is right, and the determination of the Mexican community is perfect for fans of ESPERANZA RISING and INSIDE...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

It's all or nothing, Vale
Arango, Andrea Beatriz
Paper Book
A poignant novel in verse in which, after a life-changing accident, one girl finds her way back to her life's passion. From the Newbery Honor-winning author of Iveliz Explains It All. A BOOKLIST BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR All these months of staring at...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Taco Tuesdays
Mancillas, Mónica
Nacho average foodie WISH book! Mónica Mancillas explores themes of family, food, and identity wrapped up in a sweet, commercial title. Dulce doesn't want to spend the summer helping at her family's restaurant, but with the business needing all the help it can get, she doesn't have a choice. ...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Graciela in the abyss
Medina, Meg
Paper Book
"A thrilling, action-packed journey filled with heart, bravery, and ghostly exploits." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) A sea ghost, a mortal boy, and a dangerous enchanted harpoon . . . A Newbery Medalist takes us far beneath the waves in this extraordinary foray into...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

The extraordinary orbit of Alex Ramirez
Paulino, Jasminne
A powerful debut novel in verse about a neurodivergent seventh grader who dreams of traveling to the stars one day. A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year "This story is about a boy who is certain of his own magic in the midst of the doubtful adults...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

El Niño
Ryan, Pam Muñoz
Paper Book
From the New York Times bestselling author of Esperanza Rising comes a riveting story that blends myth, fantasy, and reality into an entrancing adventure, perfect for fans of Meg Medina, Kate DiCamillo, and Rick Riordan. "An inventive, absorbing novel." --...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Speak up, Santiago! : a Hillside Valley graphic novel
Anta, Julio
Paper Book
Welcome to Hillside Valley! 12 year-old New York city kid Santi is heading upstate, in the debut of this irresistible contemporary graphic novel series about friends, family, community and identity-just right for fans of Mexikid and the Click series! How can you speak up if...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

Miss Camper
Fajardo, Kat
A companion to Miss Quinces, Kat Fajardo's bestselling, award-winning middle-grade graphic novel! Sue is heading to Camp Willow this summer! She's looking forward to hiking, archery, and making comics in the fresh air. She's especially excited about LARPing (live-action role-playing...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

How to say goodbye in Cuban
Miyares, Daniel
Here is the dramatic coming-of-age graphic novel memoir of 12-year-old Carlos (who would grow up to become the author's father), his life during the Cuban Revolution, and his family's harrowing escape to America. A Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table (GNCRT) Outstanding Comics...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

Halfway to somewhere
Pimienta, Jose
Paper Book
New school, new country, but only half a family?! Embark on a coming of age journey with a middle school teen navigating their parent's divorce while moving to a new country in this stunning graphic novel. A STONEWALL BOOK AWARD WINNER . A BOOKLIST BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

Alberto Salas plays paka paka con la papa : join the quest with Peru's famed scientist and potato expert
Fajardo, Sara Andrea
Paper Book
*Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award Winner* What can a potato do? To Peruvian scientist Alberto Salas, they have the power to change the world. Go on the hunt with Alberto for for wild potatoes before they go extinct in this playful picture book...

Children's Nonfiction (Age 4-8)

Wanda hears the stars : a blind astronomer listens to the universe
Hansen, Amy
A nonfiction picture book biography of astrophysicist Wanda Diaz Merced and how losing her sight didn't stop her from studying the stars. An inspiring true story of a woman scientist of color that's a riveting intersectional read for STEM fans ages 6-9. Growing up in...

Children's Nonfiction (Age 4-8)

Crack goes the cascarón : an eggcellent not-just-for-Easter shellebration!
Fajardo, Sara Andrea
Paper Book
Shell-abrate a joyous Latine tradition, with Toti and his family in this upbeat bilingual story, hatched in time for Easter. What are cascarones- Cascarones are empty egg shells that have been colored, filled with paper confetti, and sealed! The hunt is on to figure...

Holiday Book (Age 4-8)

This moment is special : a Día de Muertos story
Parra, John
Through all moments of the day, both large and small, a boy prepares for a Day of the Dead celebration, in this "comforting" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) and "heartfelt...both gentle and profound" (School Library Journal) picture book from Pura Belpré Honor-winning author...

Holiday Book (Age 4-8)

A festa for Luana
Pastro, Joana
A young Brazilian American girl navigates the concept of belonging when she celebrates the Brazilian Festa Junina festival with her family in this remarkable picture book about embracing all aspects of one's identity. Pretty little details can help... tell the...

Holiday Book (Age 4-8)

The littlest grito
Solis, Nicholas
A heartening tale of finding one's voice--and summoning the courage to raise it. --Kirkus Reviews The morning before Diez y Seis de Septiembre, Gloria's Papa wakes up with laryngitis. A disaster! The festivities cannot start without a loud grito to kick the party off--and a Hernandez...

Holiday Book (Age 4-8)


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