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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Alma and Her Family/Alma Y Su Familia
Martinez-Neal, Juana.
Paper Book
Meet Alma's family . . . 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 play with my cousins. / Juego con...

A spin-off of the award-winning picture book Alma and How She Got Her Name (Bilingual Board Book Age 0-2)

The last cuentista
Higuera, Donna Barba
Paper Book
Winner of the John Newbery Medal Winner of the Pura Belpré Award From Pura Belpré Award winner and Newbery Medalist, Donna Barba Higuera--a brilliant journey through the stars, to the very heart of what makes us...
And now for some award-winning science fiction about the power of storytelling! (Young Teen Fiction Age 10-14)
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)

The last cuentista /
Higuera, Donna Barba
Paper Book
Winner of the John Newbery Medal Winner of the Pura Belpré Award From Pura Belpré Award winner and Newbery Medalist, Donna Barba Higuera--a brilliant journey through the stars, to the very heart of what makes us...
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...
Papá's magical water-jug clock
Trejo, Jesús
Paper Book
★ Kirkus Reviews ★ Publishers Weekly ★ School Library Journal A 2024 Pura Belpré Honor Award, American Library Association International Latino Book Award Honorable Mention In Mexican American...

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)

Gustavo : el fantasmita timido
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...
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)
El barrilito mágico de Papá
Trejo, Jesús
Paper Book
★ Kirkus Reviews ★ Publishers Weekly ★ School Library Journal A 2024 Pura Belpré Honor Award, American Library Association International Latino Book Award Honorable Mention In this Spanish-language edition of Mexican...
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. Perfect for...

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

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)
Reina Ramos encuentra la solucion
Otheguy, Emma
Paper Book
This popular Level Two beginning reader title about Reina Ramos dressing up for wax museum day at school is now available in Spanish translation. This Spanish-language book can be enjoyed by fluent Spanish speakers as well as those learning the language, whether at home or in a classroom. ...
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)

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)
Book of questions : selections = Libro de las preguntas : selecciones
Neruda, Pablo
Paper Book
Where is the center of the sea? Why do the waves never break there? A book containing unanswerable, fantastical questions, inviting us to be curious, while simultaneously embracing what we cannot know. A New York Times Best Children's Book of 2022 A Marginalian...

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

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...

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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