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Growing up as a Latina in Los Angeles, California, none of the books I read were written by Latinx authors or even depicted anything about my culture. It wasn’t until I entered college that I was finally exposed to more assorted literature. However, there are so many Latinx books from which to choose that little readers don’t have to feel excluded in this way — they can learn about their diverse backgrounds and cultures from a wide variety of books in which they see themselves.
The following selection of books takes complex topics like identity, immigration, and creative expression and breaks them down for inquisitive minds. “If we want children to develop a love of reading and succeed in school, that has to start with them finding interest in the material. That includes material that reflects their experiences and their own identities,” Jessica Agudelo, chair of the 2021 Pura Belpré Award committee and youth collections coordinator at BookOps, a shared library that serves the New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library, tells SheKnows.
And the stories themselves must accurately reflect each unique experience. “The books have to be honest, and there is power in specificity because writing about the experience of Mexican American, Colombian experience, or Puerto Rican [people],” she notes. “The more specific it is, the more it shows how diverse the Latinx community is.”
Here are a few notable book recommendations that not only celebrate Latinx heritage but will cultivate a sense of self in Latinx children.
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Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina & Angela Dominguez
Image Credit: Candlewick Press When Abuela moves to the city, she struggles to communicate with her granddaughter Mia. Though they teach each other bits of English and Spanish while cooking together, it’s still not enough for Mia to understand Abuela’s stories. With a little creativity — and the help of a parrot — Mia finds a way to bridge the language gap and deepen their bond in this heartwarming book.
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Areli Is a Dreamer by Areli Morales & Luisa Uribe
Image Credit: Random House Studio In this moving tale of the American dream, Areli Morales moves to New York from Mexico when she’s just five years old. At first, it’s a hard adjustment; she doesn’t speak much English, and people are not always nice to immigrants. But with time, Areli realizes that the U.S. is her home, an opportunity for her to pave her own path — just like the millions of immigrants before her.
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From My Window by Otávio Júnior & Vanina Starkoff
Image Credit: Barefoot Books From My Window offers a peek into the vibrant world of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas, or shanty towns, where kids find joy amidst bustling streets and lush greenery. It’s a celebration of everyday life there, and a love letter to the author’s hometown.
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Love by Matt de la Peña & Loren Long
In this sweet book written in prose (and also available in Spanish!), author Matt de la Peña lets kids see and feel what love is like through its various forms — whether it’s laughing together or comforting someone when they’re afraid.
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Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection by F. Isabel Campoy & Alma Flor Ada
Image Credit: Atheneum Books for Young Readers In this book, kids can learn to appreciate the rich tapestry of tales from Hispanic culture through 12 lively folk stories, retold by Latinx authors and illustrators.
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A Thousand White Butterflies by Jessica Betancourt-Perez and Karen Lynn Williams
Image Credit: Charlesbridge Bilingual Books Moving to a new place and making new friends are two of the most challenging experiences for children. However, Isabella, a little girl who comes to the United States from Colombia with her mother and grandmother proves that overcoming change is possible, even while adjusting to a new language, cold weather, and feeling homesick for her father, who couldn’t make the trip. Fortunately, meeting a new friend in a snowstorm births a thriving friendship, despite language barriers.
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A Gift From Abuela
Image Credit: Candlewick Nina and Abuela spend a lot of time together, and Abuela’s love for her granddaughter inspires her to save up money to buy a very special gift for Nina. But sometimes life changes our plans. When circumstances make it seem impossible for Abuela to give the gift she’s been saving for, she and Nina realize that the best gift is something they already have: each other.
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The Sock Thief: A Soccer Story by Ana Crespo
Image Credit: Whitman, Albert & Company Soccer (or “futbol” as it is known in Latin America) is a sport that unites the world. So it is no surprise that this lovely story — which won the 2016 International Latino Book Award for Best Latino Focused Children’s Book— is about a Brazilian boy Felipe’s love for soccer. The only problem: Felipe doesn’t own a soccer ball, so he has to get creative with stolen socks. This lovely story teaches children the critical lesson of making the most of what you have — and how to pay it forward.
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Roberto’s Trip to the Top by John B. Paterson Jr. and John B. Paterson Sr.
Image Credit: Candlewick When a little boy named Roberto is rewarded for receiving good grades with a cable car trip over Caracas, Venezuela alongside his uncle, he experiences his first taste of independance. This story captures the essence of discovering a new place, even if it’s in your own backyard.
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Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
Image Credit: Neal Porter Books/Holiday House Dreamers — the winner of the Pura Belpré Illustrator Award and a New York Times bestseller — is the true story of author Morales’ journey to the United States in 1994 from Mexico with her infant son. The book is a beautiful depiction of immigration and finding your way in a new world, thanks in part to the discovery of a library.
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Paletero Man by Lucky Diaz
Image Credit: HarperCollins This story follows a little boy in Los Angeles, California in search of ice cream on a hot day. He gathers his money and runs through the town to find the popsicle vendor (the paletero), whizzing past friends who work in local shops. But once the boy arrives, he realizes he had dropped his money. Fortunately, his friends arrive with the lost fortune and everyone is rewarded in the end.
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Where Are You From? By Yamile Saied Méndez
Image Credit: HarperCollins “Where are you from?” is a loaded question for some children, including the little girl protagonist in this story. When she asks her abuelo to help her answer it, she gains a deeper understanding of human nature and family ties.
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My Two Border Towns by David Bowles
Image Credit: Penguin Young Readers Group Life on the U.S. Mexican border is a unique experience for a little boy who one day travels to “the other side” with his father, where he visits old friends bearing gifts. According to publisher Penguin Young Readers Group, it’s “The loving story of a father and son’s weekend ritual, a demonstration of community care, and a tribute to the fluidity, complexity, and vibrancy of life on the U.S.-Mexico border.”
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Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell
Image Credit: HMH Books Based on the true story of Urban Art Trail, a community art project in San Diego, California, this book follows a little girl named Mira who wants to splash color all over her “gray city.” With the help of a local muralist, she does just that. Soon, the entire town pitches in while dancing the Salsa and the Merengue in a joyous block party. The story is a wonderful example of the beauty of community.
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Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh
Image Credit: Abrams What a treat for children to learn about Mexican-Puerto Rican activist Sylvia Mendez. Her family helped end segregation of young Spanish speakers in California schools in the 1947 Mendez v. Westminster court case, after Mendez, then 8, and her siblings were denied entry to an all-white school. In 2011, former President Barack Obama awarded Mendez with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“When I got it I couldn’t stop crying, because I was thinking finally my mother and father are getting the thanks they deserve,” Mendez later told the Los Angeles Times. “This is theirs, not mine. They stood up against the establishment.”
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My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero
Image Credit: Penguin Random House This book centers on the relationship between a little girl and her papi and their roaring adventures on his motorcycle through their town. As the girl reflects on her surroundings and the love she has for her father, she feels secure and happy.
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