Top Ten Children’s Books for Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15th through October 15th.

Being a librarian’s wife has its perks. We get notified as soon as the Best Sellers are in, the latest Psychological Thrillers are ready to be picked up, or maybe even when a new Self-Help hits the shelves. Most importantly, I can always “suggest” a book to be purchased… not that I do that, haha! Also, since we are regulars at our local library, the Children’s Department staff always has good picks for us.

Which brings me to the list. Below are the Top Ten Children’s Books to read to your children during Hispanic Heritage Month, as told by a Librarian’s wife. The small committee that helped put together this list of books is comprised of an ALA Certified Librarian, a three-year-old little boy, and a Hot Mess Mom:

Top Ten Children’s Books:

1. Just a Minute by Yuyi Morales
2. The Great and Mighty Nikko by Xavier Garza
3.  Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh
4.  My Abuelita by Tony Johnston
5.  Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows Up in the Bronx  by Jonah Winter
6.  Tomas and the Library Lady by Pata Mora
7.  That’s Not Fair: Emma Teneyuca’s Struggle for Justice by Carmen Tafolla and Sharyll Teneyuca
8.  Beto and the Bone Dance by Gina Frechet
9.  Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto
10. BiblioBurro: a True Story from Columbia by Jeanette Winter

Bonus Books for Junior High and High School Youth:

1. Smoking Mirror by David Bowles
2. Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
3. Tequila Worm by Viola Canales
4. Maximilian Series by Xavier Garza
5. The Hammond and the Beans and Other Stories by Americo Paredes
6. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya
7. Baseball’s First Mexican-American All Star: The Amazing Story of Leo Najo by Noe Torres
8. Stories that Must Not Die by Juan Sauvageau
9. Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea
10. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

This is simply a suggested reading list that we composed as an introduction for families to use while celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. If a certain book or author has inspired you, visit your local library to request more books written by that particular author. Or, perhaps, to request more books on a certain tradition that Hispanics celebrate. I hope y’all enjoy this list as much as we did!

What books about Hispanic culture have inspired you?