Hispanic Heritage Month-Juvenile and Teen books

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, Central, and South America. This is a curated list of Juvenile and Teen books about, by, and/or for the Latino and Hispanic communities.

Updated September 15, 2025
Lewisville Public Library
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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...
Abuelita's song
Amescua, Gloria
From Pura Belpré Honor author Gloria Amescua comes a sweet picture book integrating Spanish words and celebrating the family and music that connects us all. Every night, when the sun says buenas noches, a mother sings a special lullaby to her baby boy: ¿Dónde está mi corazón?...
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...
Something like home
Arango, Andrea Beatriz
Paper Book
The Pura Belpré Honor winning 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 winning author of Iveliz Explains It All. "Trust me: this book will touch...
Only for a little while
Belt, Gabriela Orozco
Paper Book
A heartwarming picture book with Spanish words woven in, about a father helping his daughter adjust when they temporarily have to move in with extended family. Perfect for fans of My Papi Has a Motorcycle and Where Are You From. When Maribel's family has to move in with Tía...
POR UN RATITO
Belt, Gabriela Orozco
Paper Book
Un libro ilustrado conmovedor de padres e hijas sobre cómo navegar por cambios y emociones grandes después que una familia tiene que mudarse temporalmente con parientes. Perfecto para lectores de Mi papi tiene una moto, y ¿De dónde eres?  Cuando la familia de Maribel se tiene que...
Ancient night
Bowles, David
Paper Book
BEST OF THE YEAR Publishers Weekly · Evanston Public Library · Chicago Public Library · BookPage · Kirkus  "Vivid and vibrant." -- NPR Weekend Edition At the start of things, the elders...
Noche antigua
Bowles, David
Paper Book
MEJOR DEL AÑO:  Publishers Weekly · Biblioteca Pública de Evanston Public Library · Biblioteca Pública de Chicago · BookPage · Kirkus  "Vívido y vibrante." -- NPR  Six reseñas estelares!  Al comienzo de todo, los viejos...
Mi perro solo habla español
Cáceres, Andrea
Paper Book
A young bilingual immigrant meanders through her city park, translating for her beloved dog, in a heartwarming picture book debut. Cuando Aurora llegó a los Estados Unidos, aprendió a hablar inglés, pero Nena, su spaniel, no. Por eso, cuando pasea a Nena, Aurora les explica a sus...
Wild dreamers
Engle, Margarita
Paper Book
Longlisted for the National Book Award A Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Honor Book In this stirring young adult novel-in-verse from award-winning author Margarita Engle, love and conservation intertwine as two teens go on a "transformative journey celebrating the...
El español es la lengua de mi familia
Genhart, Michael
Paper Book
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...
Spanish is the language of my family
Genhart, Michael
Paper Book
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...
Carrito de churros/ Churro Stand
Gonzalez, Karina N./ Quiles, Krystal (ILT)
Paper Book
De la mano de un galardonado dúo de autora e ilustradora, llega un conmovedor libro ilustrado que celebra el amor, la comunidad y el CRUJIDO, ESTALLIDO, y CHISPORROTEO de un churro perfecto. ¡Todo el mundo ama los churros! En un día caluroso de verano, Lucía y su...
Churro stand
González, Karina Nicole
Paper Book
From award-winning author-illustrator duo Karina N. Gonzálezand Krystal Quiles comes Churro Stand, a heartwarming picture book celebrating love, community, and the POP, SIZZLE, and CRUNCH of a perfect churro--inspired by the author's relationship with her own mother....
Cruzita and the mariacheros
Granillo, Ashley Jean
Paper Book
Praise for Cruzita and the Mariacheros by Ashley Granillo: Pura Belpré Children's Author Honor Book Cruzita is going to be a pop star. All she has to do is win a singing contest at her favorite theme park and get famous. But she can't go to the theme park this summer. Instead, she...
I am la chiva! : the colorful bus of the Andes
Hernández, Karol
Paper Book
For fans of The Little Blue Truck, Red Truck and The Little Engine That Could, a rhyming ode to a colorful South American bus and the collective spirit of its people, from a debut author and the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Magical Yet
Shut up, this is serious
Ixta, Carolina
Paper Book
WINNER OF THE PURA BELPRÉ YA AUTHOR AWARD *  A Morris Award Finalist * Parade Best Young Adult Books of All Time * Indie Next List Pick * An unforgettable YA debut about two Latina teens growing up in East Oakland as they discover that the world is brimming with...
El verde de mis sueños : un cuento sobre la tradición de los tres Reyes Magos
Jungkunz, Mariel
Paper Book
International Latino Book Award HonorableMention In this Spanish edition of Dreams of Green- A Three Kings' Day Story, a girl and her family discover new ways to celebrate their Puerto Rican heritage in Ohio. It's eleven days after Christmas and Lucia...
Mani Semilla finds her Quetzal voice
Lapera, Anna
Paper Book
For fans of Donna Barba Higuera''s Lupe Wong Won''t Dance and Aida Salazar''s The Moon Within comes a contemporary middle grade novel full of spunk and activist heart.  BEST OF THE YEAR: School Library Journal * Booklist * New...
Night stories : folktales from Latin America : a toon graphic
Liniers
Paper Book
The New York Public Library Best Book for Kids 2024 ALA Best Graphic Novels for Children Reading List "Liniers' comics are funny and fanciful and whimsical and philosophical in the best sense." - Matt Groening, The Simpsons Classic Latin American folktales...
Benita and the night creatures
Llanos, Mariana
Paper Book
The National Education Association's Read Across America October 2024 Elementary Pick! "Booo!" screamed Cuco, and the tree outside the window shivered. "You too!" Benita replied, and she flipped a page. On a dark,...
Benita y las criaturas nocturnas
Llanos, Mariana
Paper Book
Pura Belpré Honor Book! -¡Buuu! -gritó Cuco, y el árbol afuera de la ventana tembló. -Tú también - dijo Benita, y volteó la página On a dark, dark night, Benita is just settling in to enjoy a nice book before...
Alma head to toe = Alma de pies a cabeza
Martinez-Neal, Juana
Paper Book
Get to know Alma, head to toe . . . in two languages! The beloved star of the Caldecott Honor Book Alma and How She Got Her Name appears in a series of joy-filled bilingual board books featuring words and simple phrases in English and Spanish. I have two eyes, one nose,...
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....
Relit : 16 Latinx remixes of classic stories
Proudman, Sandra
Paper Book
These sixteen stories by award-winning and bestselling YA authors center a Latinx point of view in an empowering anthology that reimagines classics through fantasy, science fiction, and with a dash of magic, for fans of A PHOENIX FIRST MUST BURN and RECLAIM THE STARS In...
Two worlds = Dos mundos
Rodriguez, Edel
Paper Book
From renowned artist and Pura Belpré Author Award Honoree Edel Rodriguez, this lushly illustrated bilingual vocabulary picture book teaches Spanish and English words inspired by his experience as an immigrant In his signature bold style, internationally acclaimed artist Edel...
El Nin?o
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." --...
Cómo se come un mango
Santos, Paola
Paper Book
Abuelita le enseña a Carmencita que comer un mango no puede precipitarse: se necesitan cinco pasos para apreciar el regalo y sentir el amor. Carmencita no quiere ayudar a Abuelita a recoger mangos. ¡Ni siquiera le gustan! Ensucian, se atoran entre sus dientes y es una lata limpiar...
How to eat a mango
Santos, Paola
Paper Book
Abuelita teaches Carmencita that you can't rush mango-eating: it takes five steps to appreciate the gift and feel the love. Carmencita doesn't want to help Abuelita pick mangoes; she doesn't even like them! They're messy, they get stuck in her teeth, and it's a chore to throw out...
La maleta de tesoros
Sylvester, Natalia
Paper Book
A warm, gentle ode to cherished visits with grandparents and the people and places that make us who we are even if we haven't met them yet, by an acclaimed author and illustrator. It's been three years since Abuela's last visit, and Dulce revels in every tiny detail-from Abuela's...
A maleta full of treasures
Sylvester, Natalia
Paper Book
Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor Award ALSC Notable Children's Book Anna Dewey Read Together Award Finalist Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices 2025 List From an award-winning author and illustrator, a warm, gentle ode to cherished visits from grandparents and...
Día de Muertos números : a Day of the Dead counting book
Tonatiuh, Duncan
Paper Book
From award-winning and beloved author-illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh comes this celebratory bilingual picture book centering on a Día de Muertos ofrenda (Day of the Dead altar), constructed annually to honor the memory and welcome the spirit of a loved one. The book uses a counting structure, from one...
Lola
Valenti, Karla
Paper Book
A simmering tale of magic, adventure, and the extraordinary bond between a brother and sister who'd journey to the ends of the Earth to save each other. From the acclaimed author of Loteria comes a heartfelt story rooted in Mexican magical realism. A PURA BELPR AUTHOR WINNER ....
Wrath of the rain god
Valenti, Karla
Paper Book
Twins coping with moving to a new city get swept back in time by a magical book in this first book in the Legendarios chapter book series that's Magic Tree House meets Heroes in Training! Nine-year-old twins, Emma and Martín, couldn't be more different in their personalities,...
Adela's mariachi band
Vega, Denise
Paper Book
Adela wants nothing more than to be a part of her family's mariachi band, but when she tries the different instruments, everything comes out wrong. La trompeta fizzles, la vihuela squeaks, and trying to dance makes Adela fall on her face. From watching her family, Adela knows that practice makes...
Los mariachis de Adela
Vega, Denise
Paper Book
Adela loves everything about her family's mariachi band--except that she isn't in it! Shining a spotlight on Mexican music, full of instruments and dancing, Adela's Band is sure to be a hit! Adela no desea nada mas que ser parte de la banda mariachi de su familia, pero...
The dream catcher
Verdad, Marcelo
Paper Book
PURA BELPRÉ AWARD WINNER FOR ILLUSTRATION For fans of Last Stop on Market Street, an uplifting story about a boy who stays true to his biggest dream while finding the magic in every moment. Some people dream of perfect...

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