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
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
Barrio rising : the protest that built Chicano Park
aAguila, Maraia Dolores
Paper Book
A vivid historical fiction account of the community activism behind San Diego's Chicano Park-home to the largest outdoor mural collection in the U.S.-and just one example of the Mexican American community's rich history of resistance and resilience. Barrio Logan, one of San Diego...
Lupita's hurricane palomitas
Alessandri, Alexandra
Paper Book
Kindness can be shown during even the harshest of storms. Shutters rattled. Wind howled.As a ferocious hurricane descends upon her town, Lupita finds two baby birds who have fallen out of their nest and brings them inside to shelter them from the storm. While Lupita and her...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Old clothes for dinner?!
Alonso, Nathalie
Paper Book
"Cleverly written and laugh-out-loud funny, this infinitely re-readable picture book is ripe with social-emotional learning opportunities around misunderstanding, as well as serving as a warm welcome into Cuban culture" - Barnes & Noble Magaly loves the yummy...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

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
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...

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)

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
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...
?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...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Abuelo, the sea, and me
Williams, Ismaee
Paper Book
Pura Belpré Honor Book for Children's Illustration 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...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Reina Ramos Tour Guide
Otheguy, Emma/ Landazabal, Andres (ILT)
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)

Free to learn : how Alfredo Lopez fought for the right to go to school
Levinson, Cynthia
Paper Book
From the author of the award-winning The Youngest Marcher comes a picture book about the true story of Alfredo Lopez, an undocumented boy involved in a landmark Supreme Court case that still ensures children's right to education today. Alfredo Lopez has so many questions...

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....

Nonfiction (Age 9-12)

Across so many seas
Behar, Ruth
Paper Book
NEWBERY HONOR WINNER SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARD HONOR WINNER "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...

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)

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...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice
Lapera, Anna
Paper Book
Most Anticipated Middle Grade Reads of 2024: Teen Librarian Toolbox, School Library Journal For fans of Donna Barba Higuera''s Lupe Wong Won''t Dance and Aida Salazar''s The Moon Within comes Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice - a contemporary...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Salsa magic
Marrero, Letisha
Paper Book
BEST OF THE YEAR: Chicago Public Library - Kirkus A magical debut middle-grade novel filled with loud but loving family members, santería, and powerful orishas, set in New York City. Thirteen-year-old Maya Beatriz...

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, by an award-winning poet, about a twelve-year-old Dominican American swimmer who is diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis. Aniana del Mar belongs in the water...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Spanish language version available

Ultraviolet
Salazar, Aida
Paper Book
A PURA BELPRÉ AWARD HONOR 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...

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. The space rock is just the latest thing to land, uninvited, in Vega Lucero's road-stop...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Curveball
Cartaya, Pablo
Paper Book
Roller Girl meets Cardboard Kingdom in this original, contemporary graphic novel for kids, from the New York Times best-selling and award-winning author of A Hero's Guide to Summer Vacation, Pablo Cartaya, in partnership with New York Times best-selling...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)


Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.