For the past 14 years, going to story time at our library has become a tradition. When I was dating my husband, taking my stepdaughter to story time downtown was part of our little weekend fun. Seeing and connecting with the readings and enjoying the fun and cultural activities always made me happy. Once we had our firstborn, adding him to our tradition was even more meaningful.
Years later, many life events that include separation from my stepdaughter, COVID, and much more led us to become distant from this tradition for a while. But recently, as I have regained that focus in loving and embracing our culture beyond the Hispanic holidays, we have readopted the tradition of story time on the weekends.
Getting this routine back at home is amazing; now books are part of our weekend routine. Every Saturday, we go to the library and enjoy our story time activities. This has become a must-do activity because all 3 kids will go with us. While my 13-year-old son may not be so into the stories and crafts his sisters love, he does go to pick a book and interact with any other activity that may be taking place at the moment. And every week, we try to pick at least one Latino book to bring home.
Why? Representation matters, and with recent events, it’s essential to teach our children about our culture, our Hispanic roots, and our hermandad with other Hispanic cultures. Living in El Paso is such a beautiful experience because we have the sisterhood of 2 countries and 2 cities in the most normal way. Yet, we are not experiencing a higher diversity of Hispanics in our city, and unfortunately, also negative events that can create confusion for the kids.
Reading a Latino/Hispanic book allows my kids to see themselves, their culture, and their community in the stories we read. It’s bringing them more joy and passion to see the courage and strength our culture has, and most importantly, as they get older, they will have that love for their culture to not feel like they deserve less than anyone else.
This Hispanic Heritage Month is the perfect way to create this small routine of adding Hispanic Children’s books to your bookshelves as a reminder of our beautiful culture and communidad.
These are 10 children’s books that we have read and plan to read to celebrate our voices, traditions, and stories. I hope they serve as an inspiration and you can read with them, your family too.
1. El Barrio Se Levanta by María Dolores Aguila
It’s a powerful story about the strength and activism by our communidad that led to the construction of San Diego’s Chicano Park in 1970, which is home to the largest collection of outdoor murals in the United States.
2. Abuela’s Fideo: A Story of a Grandma’s Love by Dr. Ma. Alma González Perez
A caring and meaningful story about Dulce, a young girl who loves homemade fideo, but especially likes the one her Abuela used to make, who recently passed away. This story touches on family love and loss, while embracing the power of our culture in cooking and recipes.
3. Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
Alma Sofia Esperanza Jose Pura Candela thinks her name is too long, until she goes in a mission to find the meaning behind each one. This story is a beautiful reminder that our names carry more than the literary meaning, but also the stories of our ancestors.
4. Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson
This one is a favorite for my daughters. Carmela finds a dandelion and begins to dream big about what wishes she can make.
5. Round Is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes by Roseanne Greenfield Thong
Fun and interactive story to learn about circles, squares, triangles, and other shapes by incorporating our Spanish words and folk art. Great book to blend learning and cultura.
6. My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero
This book is a beautiful description of a father-daughter relationship. However, it goes beyond by embracing the love and connection with our community. This is what I can describe as a celebration of family and place.
7. Dreaming of a Quinceañera by Yamile Saied Mendez
My girls love this book! This book talks about two sisters and how little Ellie loves seeing the planning and excitement behind Isabella’s quinceañera. The excitement and storytelling of the traditions behind a quinceañera showcase the beauty of our culture that goes beyond the puffy dress and party hall.
8. Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise
A powerful book that presents the biography of a storyteller, puppeteer, and first Puerto Rican Librarian in New York, Pura Belpre. This story is so inspiring because it highlights the beauty of bilingualism and the courage to fight for your dreams.
9. Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez
This book talks about the innocence of a young girl who gets asked this question over and over. But with the help of her abuelo, she discovers that where she’s from is more than one place. The beauty of finding that you are from more than just a city is what makes you unique.
10. The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez
This one is one of my favorites for our teens. This story about Malú, a girl who’s navigating identity, brings us to the way many of our young teens are facing as they are setting their identity. There are no rules when it comes to finding your place, your friends, and yourself.
Sharing these books isn’t just about reading; it’s about showing your kids a representation of themselves and their background. This helps them see that pride, identity, and resilience are beautiful things. It’s about helping them see that their culture is worth celebrating every single day, not just during Hispanic Heritage Month
Looking for even more books to add to your shelves. Check these out!
