Fiction
How Tia Lola Came to (Visit) Stay by Julia Alvarez
Enjoy a delightfully entertaining story of family and culture from an acclaimed author. Moving to Vermont after his parents split, Miguel has plenty to worry about! Tía Lola, his quirky carismática and maybe magical aunt makes his life even more unpredictable when she arrives from the Dominican Republic to help out his Mami.
Iveliz Explains it All by Andrea Beatriz Arango
Twelve-year-old Iveliz is trying to manage her mental health and advocate for the help and understanding she deserves, but in the meantime her new friend calls her crazy and her abuela Mimi dismisses the therapy and medicine Iveliz needs to feel like herself.
The Year I Flew Away by Marie Arnold
After moving from her home in Haiti to her uncle's home in Brooklyn, 10-year-old Gabrielle, feeling bullied and out of place, makes a misguided deal with a witch.
Undercover Latina by Aya de Leon
Fourteen-year-old Andrea Hernandez-Baldoquin hails from a family of spies working for the Factory, an international organization dedicated to protecting people of color. Andrea has dreamed about getting her first solo mission, but she never imagined that she would have to straighten her hair and go undercover as a white girl to befriend the estranged son of a dangerous white supremacist.
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya
Save the restaurant. Save the town. Get the girl. Make Abuela proud. Can 13-year-old Arturo Zamora do it all or is he in for a big, epic fail? For Arturo, summertime in Miami means playing basketball until dark, sipping mango smoothies, keeping cool under banyan trees, and maybe a few shifts as junior lunchtime dishwasher at Abuela's restaurant – maybe. But this summer also includes Carmen, a poetry enthusiast who moves into Arturo's apartment complex and turns his stomach into a deep fryer.
Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish by Pablo Cartaya
After a fight at school leaves Marcus facing suspension, Marcus's mother takes him and his younger brother, who has Down syndrome, to Puerto Rico to visit relatives they do not remember or have never met. While there, Marcus starts searching for his father, who left their family 10 years ago and is somewhere on the island.
Gaby, Lost and Found by Angela Cervantes
Gaby Howard loves volunteering at the local animal shelter. Her mother has been deported to Honduras and Gaby is stuck living with her inattentive dad. She's confident that her mom will come home soon so that they can adopt Gaby's favorite shelter cat together. But Gaby worries that her plans for the perfect family are about to fall apart.
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Esperanza Cordero is a young girl growing up in the Hispanic quarter of Chicago, whose neighborhood is one of harsh realities and harsh beauty. She doesn't want to belong, not to her run-down neighborhood, and not to the low expectations the world has for her. Capturing her thoughts and emotions in poems and stories, Esperanza is able to rise above hopelessness and create a quiet space for herself in the midst of her oppressive surroundings.
Us, in Progress: Short Stories About Young Latinos by Lulu Delacre
This collection of short stories featuring Latin Americans allows readers to experience life through their eyes, celebrate their victories, and see their hardships.
The Bluest Sky by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
There are two versions of Héctor: the public and the private. It's the only way to survive in communist Cuba – especially when your father was exiled to the U.S. and labeled an enemy of the people. Héctor must always be seen as a fierce supporter of the regime, even if that means loudly rejecting the father he still loves. But in the summer of 1980, those two versions are hard to keep separate.
Coming up Cuban by Sonia Manzano
This book examines the impact of the 1959 Cuban Revolution on four children from very different walks of life. In the wake of a new regime in Cuba, Ana, Miguel, Zulema, and Juan learn to find a place for themselves in a world forever changed. In a tumultuous moment of history, we see the lasting effects of a revolution in Havana, the countryside, Miami, and New York. Their separate narratives build, overlap, and entwine to create one inspiring story – an adventure that spans towns, cities, nations, and worlds.
A Dash of Trouble by Anna Meriano
Wanting to be a part of her family's Dia de los Muertos preparations, Leonora sneaks out of school to discover her mother, aunt, and older sisters have been keeping a secret.
Tumble by Celia Perez
Before she decides whether to accept her stepfather's proposal of adoption, 12-year-old Adela Ramírez reaches out to her estranged biological father – who is in the midst of a career comeback as a luchador – and the eccentric extended family of wrestlers she has never met, bringing Adela closer to understanding the expansive definition of family.
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave their life of wealth and privilege in Mexico to go work in the labor camps of Southern California, where they must adapt to the harsh circumstances facing Mexican farm workers on the eve of the Great Depression.
A Seed in the Sun by Aida Salazar
Lula, a farm-working girl with big dreams, meets Dolores Huerta, Larry Itliong, and other labor rights activists, and joins the 1965 protest for workers' rights.
The Moon Within by Aida Salazar
Eleven-year-old (nearly 12) Celi Rivera, who is a mix of Black-Puerto Rican-Mexican Indian is uncomfortable about her approaching period, and the changes that are happening to her body; she is horrified that her mother wants to hold a traditional public moon ceremony to celebrate the occasion – until she finds out that her best friend Magda is contemplating an even more profound change of life.
Nonfiction
Tales our Abuelitas Told: a Hispanic Folktale Collection by Isabel Campoy
Enjoy the authors' retellings of 12 traditional tales accompanied by information on origins and different versions.
Dreams from Many Rivers: a Hispanic History of the United States Told in Poems by Margarita Engle
This is a middle grade verse history of Latinos in the United States, told through the voices of many and varied individuals ranging from Juan Ponce de León to modern-day sixth graders.
In the Land of the Jaguar: South America and Its People by Gena Gorrell
Take a journey to the extraordinary lands that make up South America.
Portraits of Hispanic American Heroes by Juan Felipe Herrera
Twenty portraits complement sparkling biographies of Cesar Chavez, Sonia Sotomayor, Ellen Ochoa, Roberto Clemente, and many more. Complete with timelines and famous quotes, this tome is a magnificent homage to those who have shaped our nation.
Latinitas: Celebrating 40 Big Dreamers by Juliet Menendez
Discover how 40 influential Latinas became the women we celebrate today. They followed their dreams – and just might encourage you to follow yours!
A Kid’s Guide to Latino History: More Than 50 Activities by Valerie Petrillo
This book features more than 50 hands-on activities, games, and crafts that explore the diversity of Latino culture and teach children about the people, experiences, and events that have shaped Hispanic American history.
Hispanic-American Crafts Kids Can Do! by Fay Robinson
Explore the beauty of Hispanic-American culture with these fun crafts. Taken from traditional Aztec, Incan, Mayan, and Mexican art these projects combine fabulous colors and rich design with tons of fun. You can make pottery, piñatas, maracas, and more while learning about Hispanic-American culture with these easy crafts.
Mexico and Central America: a Fiesta of Culture, Crafts and Activities by Mary Turck
This multicultural activity book celebrates the myriad cultures of Mexico and Central America and their shared ancient Aztec and Mayan roots. For each country, a brief introduction is provided that includes illustrated maps and facts about population and geography.
Nuestra America: 30 Inspiring Latinas/Latinos Who have Shaped the United States by Sabrina Vourvoulias
Published in association with the Smithsonian Institution and the Molina Family Latino Gallery, this celebration of 30 of history's most influential Latinas and Latinos shares the uplifting stories of subjects ranging from Pura Belpré and César Chávez to Jennifer Lopez and Sonia Sotomayor.
Graphic Novels
Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo
Sue just wants to spend the summer reading and making comics at sleepaway camp with her friends, but instead she gets stuck going to Honduras to visit relatives with her parents and two sisters. They live way out in the country, which means no texting, no cable, and no Internet! Then Sue's mother announces they'll be having a surprise quinceąera for Sue, which is the last thing she wants. She can't imagine wearing a big, floofy, colorful dress! What is Sue going to do? And how will she survive all this "quality" time with her rambunctious family?
Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Can five overlooked kids make one big difference? There's: George, the brain; Sara, the loner; Dayara, the tough kid; Nico, the rich kid; and Miguel, the athlete. And they're stuck together when they're forced to complete their school's community service hours. Although they're sure they have nothing in common, some people see them as all the same... just five Spanish-speaking kids. Then they meet someone who truly needs their help, and they must decide whether they are each willing to expose their own secrets to help... or if remaining invisible is the only way to survive middle school.
Frizzy by Claribel Ortega
Marlene is a young Dominican girl whose greatest enemy is the hair salon! Through her struggles and triumphs, this heartwarming and gorgeous middle-grade graphic novel shows the radical power of accepting yourself as you are, frizzy curls and all.
Miles Morales: Shock Waves by Justin Reynolds
Miles Morales is a normal kid who happens to juggle school at Brooklyn Visions Academy while swinging through the streets of Brooklyn as Spider-Man. After a disastrous earthquake strikes his mother's birthplace of Puerto Rico, Miles springs into action to help set up a fundraiser for the devastated island. But when a new student's father goes missing, Miles begins to make connections between the disappearance and a giant corporation sponsoring Miles' fundraiser'.
Biographies
Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist by Sylvia Acevedo
This is the inspiring memoir for young readers about a Latina rocket scientist whose early life was transformed by joining the Girl Scouts and who currently serves as CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen: First Latina Elected to U.S. Congress by Tammy Gagne
Learn about the life and career of Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
Mario Molina: Nobel Prize-Winning Chemist by Tammy Gagne
Mario Molina knew at a young age that he wanted to grow up to become a scientist. He studied chemistry in his native Mexico before heading off to other countries to learn and prepare for the wondrous career that awaited him in the field. He soon put his curiosity and knowledge to work as a research chemist. In the early 1970s, he made a startling discovery, which led him to an upsetting theory.
My Family Divided: One Girl’s Journey of Home, Loss, and Hope by Diane Guerrero
The star of Orange Is the New Black and Jane the Virgin, Diane Guerrero presents her personal story in this middle grade memoir about her parents' deportation and the nightmarish struggles of undocumented immigrants and their American children.
I Got This: To Gold and Beyond by Laurie Hernandez
Gold medal-winning Olympic gymnast and Dancing with the Stars favorite Laurie Hernandez shares her story in her own words in this debut book for fans of all ages.
Spanish
Aquí era el Paraíso: Selección de Poemas por Humberto Ak'abal
Aquí era el paraíso / Here was paradise es una selección de poemas escritos por el gran poeta maya Humberto Ak'abal. Creados primero en k'ické, estos poemas evocan su infancia en y alrededor de la aldea maya k'iché de Momostenango, Guatemala.
Frida, el Misterio del Anillo del Pavo Real y Yo por Angela Cervantes
¡Una novela en español de Angela Cervantes! Paloma Márquez viaja a la Ciudad de México, de donde era su padre. Tiene la esperanza de que eso la ayudará a recordar el tiempo que pasaron juntos. Mientras está allí, conoce a unos hermanos que buscan un valioso anillo de la pintora Frida Kahlo. ¿Pero es eso lo que realmente buscan los hermanos?
Celia Cruz por Claudia Romo Edelman
Conoce a la Reina de la Salsa, Celia Cruz, antes solo una niña de La Habana, Cuba, que amaba cantar. Su voz conmovedora, su encanto irresistible y su voluntad de hierro le permitieron alcanzar la fama de forma meteórica, abriéndoles así las puertas a artistas latinos en el mundo entero. Su espectacular carrera la llevó de la Sonora Matancera a la Fania All-Stars con la creciente popularidad de la salsa, un género nacido de los estilos musicales afrocubanos. Seis décadas y más de setenta discos después, la influencia de Celia sigue vigente en la música de hoy.
Maximilian and the Curse of the Fallen Angel: A Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller por Xavier Garza
¡Es el fin de una era! El tío de Max --el legendario luchador, El Ángel Guardian-- se va a casar, ¡y retirarse de la lucha libre! Max quería ser la siguiente persona a asumir el papel del héroe enmascarado, pero no tan pronto. ¡Solo tiene catorce años! Y para colmo, su tío escogió un nuevo luchador temerario para su ultima pelea, el Ángel Caído. Si gana el villano, ¿morirá la leyenda del Ángel Guardian antes de que Max esté listo para ponerse la mascara?
Todos iguales: un corrido de Lemon Grove = All equal: a ballad of Lemon Grove by Christy Hale
Learn the story of the 1931 Lemon Grove incident, in which Mexican families in southern California won the first school desegregation case in United States history. Told in Spanish and English, it includes a corrido (ballad) and information about the people involved and events leading up to and after the court case ruling.
Fiestas: a Year of Latin American Songs of Celebration by Jose-Luis Orozco
This is a collection of music and poetry of the Latin American culture specific to yearly holidays and events, such as Cinco de Mayo and Carnival, with text in Spanish and English.
Mario y el Agujero en el Cielo: Cómo un Químico Salvó Nuestro Planeta por Elizabeth Rusch
Una historia real sobre un científico contemporáneo que salvó la capa de ozono y el planeta, evitando un desastre en el medioambiente. Mario Molina es un científico mexicoamericano y un héroe de nuestros días que ayudó a resolver la crisis de la capa de ozono de la década de 1980. Se crió en la Ciudad de México y desde niño sintió curiosidad por los mundos ocultos que estudiaba a través de un microscopio.
Wachale! : Poetry and Prose about Growing up Latino in America by Ilan Stavans
This is a bilingual collection of poems, stories, and other writings, which celebrates diversity among Latinos.
Josefina Entra en Acción: un Cuento de Verano por Valerie Tripp
In 1825 when Josefina trusts a trader in Santa Fe with an important deal, she makes a surprising discovery about this young American who leaves town without paying her.
Cocinando on Cook Street: A Collection of mi Familia’s Recipes by Marcela Valladolid
Family is where the heart is, and the heart is our kitchen. Inspired by her own Mexican ancestry and culture, Chef Marcela Valladolid's children’s’ cookbook leads readers through the magic and legacy of her family recipes. From homemade chili-lime chips and fresas con crema to arroz rojo and carne asada tacos, there's a recipe for every person and occasion. Everyone will have the opportunity to cook and taste a little bit of Mexico.
