Reading list for Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct 15)

Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15) is month-long celebration of the culture and contribution of the 54 million Latinos who call the US home. What better time to introduce young readers to tales set in the Caribbean, Spain, and the Americas? Good stories about diverse people are a terrific way to build empathy and understanding in young people–two skills that the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development has called “essential work skills for the 21 century.”

You can always find excellent title suggestion of award-winning books via the Pura Belpré Award, the Las Américas Award, and the Tomás Rivera Award, all of which award prizes for works that best reflect and celebrate Latino culture.

Here are a few the favorites that readers of all ages can enjoy now and throughout the year:

Picture Books

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399257748/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0399257748&linkCode=as2&tag=pbpa-20&linkId=53JTUUPYEKF4DSLO
Last Stop of Market Street by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson
A Sunday bus ride through the city for CJ and his Nana is the chance to find out that love is always more powerful than material things.

 

Maya’s Blanket; La Manta de Maya

Maya’s Blanket; La Manta de Maya by Monica Brown; illustrated by David Diaz
Based on Jewish folklore, this is the familiar tale of a favorite blanket becoming a dress–and in time a skirt, a shawl, a button–a whole assortment of new things to cherish.

 

Drum Dream Girl

Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle; illustrated by Rafael Lopez
With lush illustrations, we follow the irresistible beat of Cuba’s first Chinese-African all-girl percussion band.

 

Viva Frida

Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales
This year’s Caldecott honor-winner, Viva Frida captures the spirit and work of one of Mexico’s most beloved artists. Bilingual text.

 

Dalia’s Wondrous Hair

Dalia’s Wondrous Hair by Laura Lacamara
Talk about a bad hair day! Dalia awakens to find that her hair has grown up toward the sky, “tall and thick as a Cuban royal palm tree.” Bilingual text.

 

Draw!

Draw! by Raul Colón
What happens when a boy finds himself alone with imagination and art supplies? He goes on a wordless, chair-side safari, of course!

 

Older Picture Books and Chapter Books

Parrots Over Puerto Rico
Parrots Over Puerto Rico by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore
Is there a nature lover in your life? Enjoy the story of how the beautiful Puerto Rican parrot was saved from near extinction.

 

Sofia Martinez: My Family Adventure

Sofia Martinez: My Family Adventure by Jacqueline Jules
The author of the popular Zapata Powers chapter book series brings us a new heroine. Meet Sofia Martinez, age 7, whose mission is to stand out, once and for all.

Middle Grade

Caminar
Caminar by Skila Brown
Set in 1981 during the Guatemalan Civil War, this novel-in-verse follows Carlos who escapes the massacre of his village and must decide what it means to be a man in the world. Beautiful, exciting and evocative. An important and well-told history.

 

I Lived on Butterfly Hill

I Lived on Butterfly Hill by Marjorie Agosín
Eleven-year-old Celeste’s happy life in the seaside town of Valparaíso, Chile is turned upside down as a coup overtakes the presidency, and her nation descends into terrifying violence. This year’s winner of the Pura Belpré award.

 

The Dreamer

The Dreamer by Pam Muñoz Ryan and Peter Sis
A beautiful celebration of the childhood years of one of the world’s most renown poets, Pablo Neruda.

 

A Thunderous Whisper

A Thunderous Whisper by Cristina Diaz Gonzalez
The Spanish Civil War is the backdrop of this story about Ani, a 12-year-old Basque girl, and her unlikely friend, Mathias, a 14-year-old German Jew, in the weeks leading up to the bombing of Guernica. A page-turner, historical fiction.

 

Link to Original Story on PBS