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
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When moon blooms
Salazar, Aida
Paper Book
Derived from Mexican Indigenous wisdom, this series of poetic board books center around establishing an authentic, heartfelt connection with and respect for nature. Using Mexican concepts, this poignantly lyrical series invites young children to pay witness to nature, to value it...

Board Book (Age 0-2)

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
Classic Latin American folktales get an update in this new collection by celebrated author Liniers! New York Times bestselling author and Eisner Award winner Liniers brings his exuberant cartooning style and irrepressible sense of humor to the spooky folktales of his...

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

Spanish language version available

Eloisa's Musical Window
Engle, Margarita
Paper Book
Inspired by stories from her mother's childhood, acclaimed author Margarita Engle and award-winning artist John Parra have crafted a vibrant picture book about a young girl and her family who find joy in the music flowing from outside their window. Eloísa loves music, but with...
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....

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

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)

Desert song
Kemp, Laekan Zea
Paper Book
A family joins the music of the Texas desert night in this tale of tradition and memory from Pura Belpre Honor author Laekan Zea Kemp. It starts with a soft tapping, Uncle Eduardo drumming his hands against his dusty jeans. As the...
Océano de Constelaciones
Márquez, Melissa Cristina
Paper Book
Melissa Cristina Marquez regresa con una nueva intrigante historia para los j venes! Cuando el oceano se oscurece, Maren, el tibur n ballena, y su mejor amiga, Remy, la remora, se embarcan en una bosqueda para encontrar respuestas y guiar a los que encuentren perdidos en el camino.

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

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....

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...
Colorful Mondays : a bookmobile spreads hope in Honduras
Rodríguez, Nelson
Paper Book
The United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) Outstanding International Books List - PreK-2 (2024) A beautiful, empowering story about the impact of literacy in underprivileged communities, based on a real bookmobile program in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. ...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

A maleta full of treasures
Sylvester, Natalia
Paper Book
From an award-winning author and illustrator, a warm, gentle ode to cherished visits from grandparents and the people and places that make us who we are even if we haven't met them yet. It's been three years since Abuela's last visit, and Dulce revels in every tiny detail-from...
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...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

¡Fiesta! : a festival of colors
Tonatiuh, Duncan
Paper Book
From award-winning and beloved author-illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh comes this celebratory bilingual concept picture book. This book of colors features a street fiesta with green avocados, yellow tortillas, purple dance dresses, and brown charro pants. The book includes a double gatefold finale reveal...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

?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! 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 follows Little Lobo and friends on a Halloween and Día de los...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

An Ofrenda for Perro
Valdes B., Judith/ Aguilera, Carlos Velez (ILT)
Paper Book
Losing a pet is hard, but this picture book told through a Day of the Dead celebration will show readers that the love they have for their beloved companion will always remain. Benito loves Perro. But when Perro passes away, Benito is heartbroken. During the Day of the Dead...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Abuelo, the sea, and me
Williams, Ismaee
Paper Book
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 visits her abuelo, he takes her to the ocean. In summer, they kick off their shoes and...

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. Clip clap, clip...

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)

The circuit : graphic novel
Rostan, Andrew
Paper Book
Poignantly told from a young boy's perspective, the popular and award-winning memoir centered on a Mexican family working California's fields is now a powerful graphic novel that will appeal to readers of Illegal and They Called Us Enemy.  An honest and evocative account...

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

Turtles of the midnight moon
Fitzgerald, María José
Paper Book
When poachers threaten the island they love, two girls team up to save the turtles-and each other. An eco-mystery with an unforgettable friendship story at its heart from a fresh new voice in middle grade. Twelve-year-old Barana lives in a coastal village in...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Across so many seas
Behar, Ruth
Paper Book
"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 Times bestselling author of Refugee Spanning over 500...

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
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 has to help out at her family's bakery, which has been struggling ever since Tío Chuy died. Cruzita's great-uncle...

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 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...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Spanish language version available

Ultraviolet
Salazar, Aida
Paper 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 story. Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds, Kwame...

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 with a light STEM touch. The space rock is just the latest thing to land, uninvited, in...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Curveball
Cartaya, Pablo
Paper Book
Roller Girl meets Cardboard Kingdom in this original, contemporary graphic novel from award-winning author Pablo Cartaya and New York Times best-selling illustrator Miguel Díaz Rivas. Baseball is Elena Rueda's entire life: She may be the only girl on her team...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)


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