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28 Picture Books That Celebrate Hispanic Heritage

Browse a collection of picture books that celebrate Hispanic culture, family life, people, traditions, festivals and the places they live.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage with Books

I have rounded up an inspiring collection of picture books with Hispanic characters, by Hispanic authors and illustrators. Browse biographies, folktales and stories of Hispanic and Latino cultures and traditions from Spain, the Caribbean, Central and South America.

Books That Celebrate Hispanic Heritage

Across the Bay by Carlos Aponte

In Puerto Rico, Carlito lives happily with his mother, his abuela and cat. One day he crosses the bay to San Juan to find his father, but he only has a photo to guide him. His journey helps him understand the true meaning of home. Use to discuss first-person narration and different family dynamics.

Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by Susan Hood

In Paraguay, Ada Río grows up in poverty and can't afford to follow her dream of playing the violin. The arrival of a new music teacher makes instruments out of rubbish and changed Ada's life forever. Based on the true story of the

Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Peña

Carmela finds a dandelion growing through the pavement, and her brother tells her to make a wish. She imagines all the wishes she could make to help her family. When she drops and breaks the dandelion, her brother takes an upset Carmela to a field full of dandelions.

Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle

Teresa Carreño and her family were forced to flee Venezuela to America. She practices the piano and her perseverance pays off when she is invited to the White House to play for President Abraham Lincoln. During her long career, she was a soprano, composer and conductor.

A Day's Work by Eve Bunting

Francisco helps his grandfather find work by lying that he is a gardener. They are hired by Ben to work on his garden but they pull out all the plants instead of the weeds. Abuelo returns the next day to complete the job correctly before he takes his wages. Promotes responsible decision-making, honesty, integrity and trust.

Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin by Duncan Tonatiuh

Two cousins, one in America and one in Mexico write to each other. We learn about the differences in their lives, but also how alike they are. This book reinforces themes of letter writing, family and communication.

Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

Yuyi Morales recalls her own experiences of migrating from Mexico to America with her young son. They face many cultural challenges, including learning a new language and new customs. Her local library offers an opportunity to learn about this strange, new country and find a new career.

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle

Cuba’s traditions don't allow female drummers. A young girl tries to keep her passion for dreams a secret. But when others hear her music they dance and sing to her rhythm. This passion changes tradition and anyone who dreams of playing the drums, no matter their gender, can.

Elena's Serenade by Campbell Geeslin

Elena longs to follow in her father’s footsteps to become a glassblower. Despite his negative response, she is undeterred, and she disguises herself as a boy. With her new identity and her hard work, she becomes a successful apprentice in a glass factory. She blows out a giant bird, and her father realises her talent.

Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina

Best friends, Evelyn and Daniela, have to say goodbye when Evelyn’s family has to move away. As her house is packed up, the two girls play with each other in their favourite places. They know they will always be best friends, no matter where they live.

Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago

Gustavo is a shy and timid ghost who is invisible to others, no matter how hard he tries to make friends. He overcomes his fears and makes new friends by inviting everyone to his violin concert on the Day of the Dead.

Hurricane! by Jonathan London

Life can change dramatically when you live in the path of a hurricane. A Puerto Rican boy tells the reader about his family escape to a local shelter when a calm morning turn to danger with the approaching storm. Use to teach plot, vocabulary, and point of view.

Islandborn by Junot Díaz

Lola collects memories of the Caribbean island where she was born. She finds out about music, beaches, sweet mangoes, a colourful environment and destructive forces. These tales help Lola’s feel pride in her heritage. Reinforces themes of belonging, identity, immigration and inquiry.

Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

Travelling home with his abuela, Julian sees three spectacular ladies dressed in mermaid costumes. At home, he creates a mermaid outfit and proudly shows it off to his abuela. She takes him to the parade, joining others in their fabulous costumes. Promotes identity, creativity, self-awareness and open-mindedness.

Mango Moon by Diane de Anda

A daughter recalls what it is like when her father is deported. The family has to move home and she feels an emptiness without her father, but she learns that her love for him is everlasting.

Mango, Abuela and Me by Meg Medina

Mia's Abuela comes to live with her family but she is sad about leaving her sunny, colourful home. Though they speak a different language they learn to communicate and develop a touching relationship.

Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed A Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy

Based on the true story of the Urban Art Trail in San Diego, California. Mira is inspired by a mural artist to transform her grey city into colour. She, in turn, inspired the community to add their voice to the mural.

Migrant by Maxine Trottier

Anna, a Mennonite, travels from Mexico to Canada for seasonal work harvesting fruit and vegetables. Anna uses similes to describe her life, comparing herself to migratory birds and busy bees working in the fields. Anna longs to be like a tree with permanent roots.

My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero

Daisy Ramona loves zooming around the neighbourhood with her Papi on his motorcycle. She witnesses her rapidly changing community but knows her Papi’s love will always be there.

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise

Pura Belpré journeys from Puerto Rico to America in 1921. Working as a librarian she discovered there were no books representing the Puerto Rican culture. She tells stories and then turned them into books before travelling the world to spread the stories of her homeland.

Rainbow Weaver by Linda Elovitz Marshall

Ixchel wants to continue weaving tradition of her Mayan community. She walks around her village to find items to weave with, but only finds colourful plastic bags. As the bags pile up she decides to cut them into strips and starts weaving them, producing a rainbow fabric. This bilingual book promotes perseverance, recycling and problem-solving.

Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston Weatherford

Arturo Schomburg was an Afro–Puerto Rican who moved to Harlem. When his collection of African literature, art and music threatens to burst out of his house he created and curated a collection at New York Public Library. Today, scholars from around the world still use the collection.

She's Got This by Laurie Hernandez

Zoe dreams of becoming a gymnast because it looks like flying. During her first lesson, she learns it will be harder than she ever thought. Zoe perseveres and shows a growth mindset to follow her dream.

Sofia Valdez, Future Prez by Andrea Beaty

After Sofia’s Abuelo hurts his ankle at the Mount Trashmore, she brainstorms ways to make it safe. She develops a plan to turn it into a park, but when City Hall turns the idea down she gets the community involved to make her dream come true. Promotes female role models, activism, problem & solution and determination.

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

Ferdinand defies conventions by being a bull who would rather smell flowers than fight. He refuses to change who he is and stands his ground when taken to the bullring to fight. Use to discuss being yourself, non violence, acceptance, and gender roles.

Tomas and the Library Lady by Pat Mora

Tomás, the son of migrant workers, grows up listening to his grandfather's stories. His grandfather advises him to visit the library where he discovers a whole new world. Tomás' special bond with his grandfather and the librarian motives him to advance his own education.

Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez

When someone asks a girl where she’s from she doesn’t have a simple answer. Her Abuelo gives her an answer, but not one she expects. Promotes acceptance, identity and a sense of belonging.

Yo Soy Muslim: A Father's Letter to His Daughter by Mark Gonzales

A father writes a poetic letter to his daughter encouraging her to embrace her identity. He shares the significance of their Muslim faith and lets her know it’s okay if some people don’t understand her.

Hispanic Book Awards and Resources

Americas Award: Founded in 1993, the Américas Award promotes authors, illustrators and publishers who produce quality children books that portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinx in the United States.
Pura Belpré Award: Established in 1996, the Pura Belpré Award goes to Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work celebrates the Latino cultural experience.
Tomás Rivera Book Award: Established in 1995, Texas State University College of Education developed the Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award to honor authors and illustrators who promote the Mexican American experience.

You can purchase books that celebrate Hispanic culture for Lantix owned bookstores. You can find a list at Latinos in Publishing.

The Latinx Kidlit Book Festival has a Hispanic book database and educators guides.

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