8 Picture Books That Celebrate Hispanic and Latinx Heritage

Ages: 4-8

A family fave and an Amazon Teacher’s Pick, readers meet young Alma who is learning how to write her (very long) name: Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela. Her papi explains why her name is so long by telling her about her ancestors and relatives with distinct personalities who carried on the family names with immense pride. In sharing these stories, Alma learns more about her family tree and begins to embrace her long and lovely names.

Written & Illustrated by: Carlos Aponte
Age: 3-7

A literary-award winning, beautifully illustrated story, this is a picture book about Old San Juan and all the beauty it offers. Described as “a love letter to home,” young readers meet Carlitos, who loves his mami, abuela, and his cat, Coco. He does miss his father and decides to search for him. Along the way, Carlitos runs into interesting characters, such as pushcart workers, various musicians, and naughty cats — and learns life lessons and the true meaning of casa.

Written and Illustrated by: Yamile Saied Mendez and Jaime Kim
Ages: 4-8

This beautiful picture book teaches kids how to properly answer the question, “Where are you really from?” ethnicity-wise, in a polite and proud way. A young child’s grandfather (Abuelo) helps her answer this question, and along the way she learns about acceptance, ancestry, and identity. Fun fact: This book was written by Argentine American author Méndez and Korean American illustrator Kim, who teamed up to create this beautiful message. Says one fan on Amazon, “We loved this book to help our kids better understand heritage and culture.”

Writtten and Illustrated by Isabel Quintero and Zeke Peña
Ages: 4+

This one-of-a-kind book is great for kids who are daydreamers with wonderful, vivid imaginations. Young Daisy Ramona loves cruising around her neighborhood with her papi on the back of his motorcycle, she recognizes familiar places, murals, and faces en route. She’s sad to learn the place where she buys shaved ice has closed. As the sun sets, she notes how much she loves her hardworking papi and her beloved hometown — even as it undergoes some changes.

Written by: Julia Alvarez
Ages: 8-12

After his parents' divorce, Miguel has moved to Vermont and is feeling anxious because Tía Lola, his quirky aunt who may be magical, is coming from the Dominican Republic to help his Mami. She ends up providing Miguel and his family with the love and appreciation they really needed, and Miguel comes to appreciate his beloved aunt and everything she provides.

Written by: Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein
Ages: Baby to 4 years

This board book covers the life of the talented Mexican American singer Selena, who was taken from us too soon. Kids learn how Selena’s career began in a family band, and how she became an award-winning artist with popular albums Amor Prohibido and Selena Live. They'll also learn about the impact the singer had on the Hispanic community and how she was known for her immense talent and grace. This book is part of the Lil’ Libros collection.

Written by: Duncan Tonatiuh
Ages: 12 and up

A book for older children, this is the story about a Mexican immigrant named Juan who emigrated to the U.S. without his legal immigration papers. Working as a busboy, he feels underpaid and not valued at work. He gains the confidence to stand up to others about the injustice he’s faced while highlighting the determination and drive of immigrants. This is a great story about standing up for what you believe in.

Age: Baby +

This basic board book teaches numbers in both English and Spanish and will introduce your little ones to numbers. Elefante se Balanceaba is a beloved Spanish children's nursery rhyme that has one verse repeated, and as you sing each verse with your child, you increase the number by one.