Children's Book Suggestions | Hispanic Heritage Month 2023

A few recent favorites (and a couple of under-the-radar gems) for readers age 0-14. Bilingual books are noted in the recommendation and links to Spanish editions have been included whenever available.

Updated August 22, 2023
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) Oregon City Public Library
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The last cuentista
Higuera, Donna Barba
Paper Book
Winner of the Newbery Medal--a brilliant journey through the stars, to the very heart of what makes us human. "Gripping in its twists and turns, and moving in its themes -- truly a beautiful cuento."--New York Times Había una vez . . .  ...
Gustavo, the shy ghost
Drago, Flavia Z.
Paper Book
A #1 New York Times bestseller! This winning debut picture book from Mexican artist Flavia Z. Drago about finding the courage to make friends is perfect for the spooky season -- or anytime. Gustavo is good at doing all sorts of ghostly things: walking through...

If you enjoy Gustavo, be sure to try Leila the Perfect Witch and Vlad the Fabulous Vampire, too! (Picture Book Age 3-7)

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...
Gustavo : the shy ghost
Drago, Flavia Z.
Paper Book
A #1 New York Times bestseller! This winning debut picture book from Mexican artist Flavia Z. Drago about finding the courage to make friends is perfect for the spooky season -- or anytime. Gustavo is good at doing all sorts of ghostly things: walking through...
The last cuentista
Higuera, Donna Barba
Paper Book
Winner of the Newbery Medal--a brilliant journey through the stars, to the very heart of what makes us human. "Gripping in its twists and turns, and moving in its themes -- truly a beautiful cuento."--New York Times Había una vez . . .  ...
And now for some award-winning science fiction about the power of storytelling! (Young Teen Fiction Age 10-14)
Papá's magical water-jug clock
Trejo, Jesús
Paper Book
★Kirkus Reviews★Publishers Weekly★School Library Journal A 2024Pura Belpre Honor Award, American Library Association International Latino Book Award HonorableMention In Mexican American comedian Jesos Trejo's debut picture book, a...

A stand-up comedian tells a true story from his childhood about a time when he took something his dad said a little too literally. (Picture Book Age 4-8)

Twin cities
Pimienta, Jose
Paper Book
FOUR STARRED REVIEWS . A critically acclaimed graphic novel with rave reviews about this timely story featuring middle school twins living on the Mexico-US border and trying to discover exactly who they are - together or apart. "Transcendentally good."-Kirkus Reviews, starred...
Finding your place in middle school is hard. Doing it when your twin is attending school in another country is harder. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Age 10-14)
Federico and the wolf
Gomez, Rebecca J.
Paper Book
Clever Federico outsmarts el lobo in this fresh and funny Mexican-American take on Little Red Riding Hood. With his red hoodie on and his bicycle basket full of food, Federico is ready to visit Abuelo. But on the way, he meets a hungry wolf. And now his grandfather bears a striking...

A fun take on a classic with vibrant illustrations! (Picture Book Age 3-7)

La guitarrista
Diaz, Lucky
Paper Book
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.  ...

For aspiring rock stars and fans of Paletero Man, one of our Summer Reading 2023 prize books. (Picture Book Age 4-8)

Pap'̀s magical water-jug clock
Trejo, Jess︢
Paper Book
★Kirkus Reviews★Publishers Weekly★School Library Journal A 2024Pura Belpre Honor Award, American Library Association International Latino Book Award HonorableMention In Mexican American comedian Jesos Trejo's debut picture book, a...
Ghost squad
Ortega, Claribel A.
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! Coco meets Stranger Things with a hint of Ghostbusters in this action-packed supernatural fantasy. For Lucely Luna, ghosts are more than just the family business. Shortly before Halloween, Lucely...

Get ready for spooky season with this Afro-Latine ghost story set in St. Petersburg, FL! (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Barefoot dreams of Petra Luna
Dobbs, Alda P.
Paper Book
2022 Pura Belpré Honor Book NYPL Best Book of 2021 Texas Bluebonnet Master List Selection NPR Best Book of 2021 Based on a true story, the tale of one girl's perilous journey to cross the U.S. border and lead her family to safety during the Mexican...

The combination of Mexican history and desert survival story will hook fans of I Survived. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

A crown for Corina
Kemp, Laekan Zea
Paper Book
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...

Insight into a beautiful tradition! Consider pairing this with a Frida Kahlo biography to learn more about the traditions behind the artist's colorful flower crowns. (Picture Book Age 4-8)

Reina ramos works it out!
Otheguy, Emma
Paper Book
"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....

A fun series for beginning readers (Easy Reader Level 3, Age 5-8)

Reina ramos works it out!
Otheguy, Emma
Paper Book
"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....
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...
A Spanish spelling bee story inspired by the author's mother's childhood experiences of not being allowed to speak Spanish at school. (Picture Book Age 4-8)
Team up
Raúl the Third
Paper Book
An ALA Best Graphic Novels for Children Selection "Fantastically fun! Kids will drink in every imaginative detail in El Toro's wild world!" --Jeff Kinney, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series From New York Times bestselling, three-time Pura...

Great for fans of Elephant & Piggie and luchadores by the inimitable Raúl the Third! His Little Lobo series of picture books are also worth checking out. (Easy Reader Level 2 Age 5-8)

Dia de Muertos: Numeros : 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...

Duncan Tonatiuh's illustrations inspired by pre-Columbian Mixtec art are one-of-a-kind! He has so many good books that it was hard to choose just one for this list. (Picture Book Age 3-7)

Sal & Gabi break the universe
Hernandez, Carlos Alberto Pablo
Paper Book
Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents a brilliant sci-fi romp with Cuban influence by Carlos Hernandez, winner of the 2020 Pura Belpré Award. "I love this book in every possible universe! With a surprise on every page and two of the most cosmically awesome, vividly unique...

Great for fans of Doctor Who and the Marvel multiverse! Be sure to check out some other Rick Riordan Presents series, including Paola Santiago and the River of Tears and The Storm Runner (Young Teen Fiction Age 10-14)

Nuestra América : 30 inspiring latinas/latinos who have shaped the United States
Vourvoulias, Sabrina
Paper Book
Celebrate 30 influential Latinas/Latinos/Latinxs in U.S. history with Nuestra América, a fully-illustrated anthology from the Smithsonian Latino Center.   Nuestra América highlights the inspiring stories of thirty Latina/o/xs throughout...

A great introduction to an amazing array of people. If you discover someone you want to learn more about, try a full-length biography, too! (Children's Nonfiction Age 8-12)

Ugly Cat & Pablo
Quintero, Isabel
Paper Book
From the 2015 winner of the ALA William C. Morris Award comes a humorous chapter book series about a not-so-attractive cat and his well-dressed mouse friend.Ugly Cat is dying for a paleta, or ice pop, and his friend Pablo is determined to help him get one by scaring a little girl who is enjoying a...

A charming early chapter book (and sequel!) from the author of the amazing My Papi Has a Motorcycle. (Bridging Fiction Grades 2-4)

Falling short
Cisneros, Ernesto
Paper Book
Ernesto Cisneros, Pura Belpré Award-winning author of Efrén Divided, is back with a hilarious and heartfelt novel about two best friends who must rely on each other in unexpected ways. A great next pick for readers who loved Ghost by Jason Reynolds or The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez. ...
A great middle school sports story by an author some of you may have discovered when he did a virtual author visit for the Oregon City School District in 2021. (Young Teen Fiction Age 10-14)
Nuestra Am©♭rica : 30 inspiring latinas/latinos who have shaped the United States
Vourvoulias, Sabrina
Paper Book
Celebrate 30 influential Latinas/Latinos/Latinxs in U.S. history with Nuestra América, a fully-illustrated anthology from the Smithsonian Latino Center.   Nuestra América highlights the inspiring stories of thirty Latina/o/xs throughout...
Ugly Cat & Pablo
Quintero, Isabel
Paper Book
From the 2015 winner of the ALA William C. Morris Award comes a humorous chapter book series about a not-so-attractive cat and his well-dressed mouse friend.Ugly Cat is dying for a paleta, or ice pop, and his friend Pablo is determined to help him get one by scaring a little girl who is enjoying a...
Miss Quinces
Fajardo, Kat
Paper Book
Rising star Kat Fajardo's debut middle-grade graphic novel about a girl who would rather do anything other than celebrate her quinceañera! A funny and heartfelt coming-of-age story about navigating the expectations of family and cultural tradition. Sue just wants to spend the summer reading and...
To quince or not to quince? A great choice for middle school age fans of Raina Telgemeier. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Age 10-14).
The book of questions
Neruda, Pablo
Paper Book
Nobel Laureate Pablo Neruda explored many schools of thought, poetic styles, and voices, but his passion lay in finding and improvising upon basic rhythms of perception to reveal unspoken and unspeakable truths. Copper Canyon Press has published seven volumes of Neruda's poetry. Six volumes were...

An illustrated version of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda's poem, "Book of Questions" in both Spanish and English. (Children's Nonfiction Age 5-12)

Mexikid : a graphic memoir
Martin, Pedro
Paper Book
NEWBERY HONOR AWARD WINNER * An unforgettable graphic memoir about a Mexican American boy's family and their adventure-filled road trip to bring their abuelito back from Mexico "One of those books that kids will pass to their friends as soon as they have finished it."-...

And if you're more of a Sisters fan (because road trips!), Mexikid might be right up your alley. (Young Teen Graphic Novels Age 10-14)

Whiskers, tails, and wings : animal folktales from Mexico
Goldman, Judy
Paper Book
Judy Goldman retells animal folktales from five indigenous groups in Mexico--the Tarahumara, Seri, Huichol, Triqui, and Tseltal. Each story is followed by information about the featured culture, enriching readers' understanding of the diverse peoples who make up Mexico. Fabricio...

A great introduction to some of Mexico's most enchanting folklore traditions. (Children's Nonfiction Age 8-11)

Chunky
Mercado, Yehudi
Paper Book
In this full-color middle grade graphic memoir for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Jerry Craft, Yehudi Mercado draws inspiration from his childhood struggle with his weight while finding friendship with his imaginary mascot, Chunky, as he navigates growing up in a working class Mexican-Jewish family...

A super funny memoir about trying to figure out what you're good at when sports just aren't your thing. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Age 10-14_

Stella Diaz has something to say
Dominguez, Angela
Paper Book
In her first middle-grade novel, award-winning picture book author and illustrator Angela Dominguez tells a heartwarming story based on her own experiences growing up Mexican-American. Stella Díaz loves marine animals, especially her betta fish, Pancho. But Stella Díaz is not a...
A gentle elementary school story with Amber Brown vibes. Be sure to check out Angela Dominguez's picture books, too! (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)
Cuba in my pocket
Cuevas, Adrianna
Paper Book
From Pura Belpré Honoree Adrianna Cuevas is a sweeping, emotional middle grade historical novel about a twelve-year-old boy who leaves his family in Cuba to immigrate to the U.S. by himself, based on the author's family history. "I don't remember. Tell me everything,...

A kid's-eye view of a significant time in Cuba's history. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)


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