The best books celebrating Latino cultural heritage, by Latino/a authors and illustrators from 1996 to the present.
Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir
A hilarious memoir about the author's family traveling to Mexico to get his grandfather. Latinos will laugh and relate to some of the experiences (given name vs. American-style name) while everyone with siblings will relate to the sibling relationships. Pedro is able to learn and connect with the grandfather that he had heard so much about but barely knew. Pedro is also able to learn more about himself, what makes him Mexican or not Mexican enough and about his family.
¡Vamos! Let's Cross the Bridge
Grades K - 3: The third entry in the World of Vamos series has Little Lobo and his friends stuck in a traffic jam trying to get to a party. The comic-style illustrations lovingly portray the details of life in a border community, where the interplay of language and culture unites two cities into one city on either side of a bridge. Like the other Vamos books, each page is a delightful look-and-find puzzle of Spanish words and Mexican-American pop culture.
¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat!
In this book little Lobo picks up food for his favorite wrestling star El Toro and his friends. He takes us on a journey to explore the world of food trucks. The illustrations are detailed and represent this food culture in various ways. Children can read this book again and again and still discover interesting details in the story and illustrations.
Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreno Played the Piano for President Lincoln
Dreamers
Pre-K - Grade 3: Yuyi Morales delivers another classic in this autobiographical story of her immigration from Mexico to the United States with her small son. The library is an entry point for literacy, wonder, and Morales’ future career as an author/illustrator. A celebration of finding your creative self in dual languages.
Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music
Grades Pre-K-3: A little girl dreams of pounding on congas and bongos at a time when everyone thinks only boys can play the drums in this richly illustrated rhyming story. Inspired by the life of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, the drummer for Cuba’s first “all-girl dance band,” it’s a powerful lesson that “both girls and boys should feel free to dream.”
Niño Wrestles the World
(Gr. K-3) Niño! Yuyi Morales’ pint-size, briefs clad, masked luchadore is guaranteed to win you over as he defeats foes like la momia Guanajuato, the Guanajuato mummy, with such surefire moves as the Tickle Tackle! Particularly endearing is his conciliatory approach to his final contenders: las hermanitas, his boisterous baby sisters. The book includes brief explanatory notes on lucha libre.
Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children's Day/Book Day/Celebremos El Día de los Niños/El Día de los Libros
Children read aloud in various settings to celebrate of El día de los niños, or Children's Day, in this bilingual story. Includes facts about Mexico's annual celebration of children and the book fiestas that are often included.
Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book
In this version of a traditional tale, Senor Calavera arrives at Grandma Beetle's door, ready to take her to the next life, but after helping her count, in English and Spanish, as she makes her birthday preparations, he changes his mind.