Hispanic Heritage Booklists and Resources
The following booklists for children and young adults are organized by topic so that they can easily be used all year long and across the curriculum. Many books on our recommended lists are bilingual or are available in Spanish. You can find more great titles and tips in the recommended resources below.
Image: Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina, Winner of the 2019 Newbery Medal
Books for Children
Books for Young Children
History and Biographies
- Latinas Who Made a Difference
- Latinos Who Made a Difference
- The Legacy of Cesar Chavez
- Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo
- Black History: Latin America and the Caribbean
Family Stories
Cultural Traditions
Bilingual Books
- Bilingual Picture Books: Stories Featuring Spanish Vocabulary Words
- Bilingual Picture Books in English and Spanish: Hispanic Heritage
Book Series
Growing Up Latino
- Between Two Worlds
- Stories from the Barrio
- Market Day
- Tales of Courage
- Immigration Stories
- Migrant Farmworker Families: Books for Kids
- Puerto Rican Stories: Stories for All Ages
- Fairy Tales and Fables
- Folk Tales and Legends
- Poems, Proverbs, and Plays
- Famous Authors and Librarians
- The Life and Legacy of Pura Belpré
Let's Play!
Nature and Seasons
Books for Young Adults
My Life
Growing Up / Identity
Immigration Topics
- Immigration Stories: A New Life
- Immigration Stories: Crossing the Border
- Growing Up Along the Border: Stories for Young Adults
Genre
- Autobiography and Memoirs
- Historical Fiction for Teens
- Magic, Fantasy, and Science Fiction
- Novels in Verse
- Poetry for Teens
- Poems by Pat Mora for Young Adults
- Short Stories for Teens
- Stories by Gary Soto
Diverse Books Across Cultures
Related Video
Maya Christina Gonzalez: Seeing ourselves in books
Author and illustrator Maya Christina Gonzalez talks about why it is so important for all children to see themselves in books and have access to diverse books as they grow. She also shares her story "My Colors, My World/Mis colores, mi mundo" with young readers.
This video was filmed before the COVID-19 pandemic at a family outreach event organized by the American Federation of Teachers and local and state affiliates in Daly City, CA.
Recommended Resources
Using Diverse Books with ELLs: A Guide for Educators
If you teach English language learners (ELLs) and immigrant students, you may be wondering how to choose books that reflect your students' experiences, cultures, and languages. You may also wonder how to choose books at an appropriate reading and language level for your students. This guide offers numerous practical resources and tips for finding books for your students, as well as ideas on how to expand access to diverse books for all students. Highlights include:
- Why Diverse Books Matter: Mirrors and Windows
- How to Find Diverse Books
- Diverse Book Recommendations Across Different Topics and Genres
- Using Diverse Books with Young Children
- Using Books About Immigration in the Classroom
- Choosing Books for Your ELLs: Tips for Educators
- Windows and Mirrors: Latinx Experiences in Children's Literature
Book awards celebrating Hispanic Heritage
- Pura Belpré Book Award: Books that best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth
- Américas Award: Children’s and young adult books that portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinx in the United States
- Tomas Rivera Book Award: Books highlighting Mexican American characters and experiences
To see additional books that have won other recent major awards, see the following lists:
- Award-Winning Books: 2022
- Award-Winning Books: 2021
- Award-Winning Books: 2020
- Award-Winning Books: 2019
- The Walter Awards (We Need Diverse Books)
More booklists
- 29 Books for Children to Celebrate the Latinx Experience (School Library Journal)
Resources for educators and librarians
- Hispanic Heritage Classroom Resources
- Using Culturally Relevant Books with ELLs
- Meet the Authors Video Interviews
- Where to Find Diverse Books (We Need Diverse Books)
- Read Across America: Celebrating Diverse Books All Year Long
- Once upon a Cuento: Bilingual Storytimes in English and Spanish by Jamie Campbell Naidoo and Katie Scherrer