Our Latino Heritage:
Books for Young People on the Hispanic American Experience

The books listed are a sampling of the titles available. Ask your Children’s Librarian for further suggestions and tell us which are your favorites. In most SFPL locations, Spanish/English bilingual books are cataloged and shelved with the Spanish collection. - Indicates titles that are also available in Spanish.

Picture Stories

• Chato Goes Cruisin’
  by Gary Soto. Illustrated by Susan Guevara. Putnam, 2005.
  (jPS SOTO) Ages 5-8
  Chato, a very cool cat, wins a free sea cruise, but he and his pal Novio Boy are shocked to find only dogs on board!
  Also: Chato’s Kitchen; Chato and the Party Animals.
• Estela’s Swap
  by Alexis O’Neill. Illustrated by Enrique O. Sanchez. Lee & Low, 2002.
  (jPS ONEI) Ages 5-9.
  Estela’s generosity earns her a great swap at the local flea market.
• F Is for Fiesta
  by Susan Middleton Elya. Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. Putnam, 2006.
  (jPS ELYA) Ages 3-7
  A boy celebrates his fourth birthday is this lively alphabet book that incorporates Spanish words.
• Fernando’s Gift (El Regalo de Fernando)
  by Douglas Keister. Sierra Club, 1995.
  (jPS KEIS)
  A Costa Rican boy consoles a friend when they find her favorite rain forest tree cut down. Bilingual.
• Fiesta!
  by Ginger Foglesong Guy. Illustrated by René King Moreno. Greenwillow, 1996.
  (jPS GUY and jBOARD) Ages 1-3
  A simple counting story that follows three children as they buy items to put in their party piñata. Bilingual.
  Also: Siesta.
• A Gift of Gracias: The Legend of Altagracia
  by Julia Alvarez. Illustrated by Beatriz Vidal. Knopf, 2005.
  (jPS ALVA) Ages 5-9
  An original story about the Virgin Mary’s magical appearance to a young Dominican girl.
• Jalapeño Bagels
  by Natasha Wing. Illustrated by Robert Casilla. Atheneum, 1996.
  (jPS WING) Ages 6-9
  Pablo finds the perfect food to represent his Mexican and Jewish heritage for International Day at school.
• Julio’s Magic
  by Arthur Dorros. Illustrated by Ann Grifalconi. HarperCollins, 2005.
  (jPS Dorr). Ages 4-9.
  As much as he wants to win the wood-carving contest himself, a Mexican village boy helps his elderly mentor garner the annual prize.
• Mama & Papa Have a Store
  by Amelia Lau Carling. Dial, 1998.
  (jPS CARL) Ages 4-8
  Guatemalan, Mayan, and Chinese cultures blend as a preschooler describes a typical busy day in her parents’ general store.
• My Little Car
  by Gary Soto. Illustrated by Pam Paparone. Putnam, 2006.
  (jPS SOTO) Ages 4-7
  Teresa’s new pedal car is the hottest low-rider in town until she neglects it. With a little TLC, she and Abuelito (Grandpa) prove that an oldie can still be a goody.
• My Very Own Room (Mi Propio Cuartito)
  by Amada Irma Pérez. Illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez. Children’s Book Press, 2000.
  (jPS PERE) Ages 6-9
  An eight-year-old gets support from her loving Mexican-American family to leave the room she shares with five brothers. Bilingual.
• Xochitl and the Flowers (Xóchitl, la Niña de las Flores)
  by Jorge Argueta. Illustrated by Carl Angel. Children’s Book Press, 2003. (jPS ARGU) Ages 5-9
  A girl from El Salvador tells the inspiring story of her family’s backyard flower business in the Mission. Bilingual.

- Indicates titles that are also available in Spanish.

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Folktales

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• Fiesta Femenina: Celebrating Women in Mexican Folktale
  by Mary-Joan Gerson. Illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez. Barefoot, 2001.
  (j398.2097 GERS) Ages 8-12
  Eight tales of remarkable women that represent a variety of cultural traditions.
  Also: People of Corn: A Mayan Story.
• The Golden Flower: A Taino Myth from Puerto Rico
  by Nina Jaffe. Illustrated by Enrique O. Sánchez. Simon & Schuster, 1996.
  (j398.2097 JAFF) Ages 4-8
  Vibrant art brings to life the story of the origin of the sea and the island of Puerto Rico.
• Just A Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book
  by Yuyi Morales. Chronicle, 2003.
  (j398.2097 MORA) Ages 5-8
  Not even Señor Calavera can rush Grandma Beetle when she is preparing for a big birthday fiesta!
• The Lizard and the Sun (La Lagartija y el Sol)
  by Alma Flor Ada. Illustrated by Felipe Dávalos. Translated by Rosalma Zubizarreta. Doubleday, 1997.
  (j398.2 ADA) Ages 5-8
  A Mexican tale in which Lizard perseveres to find the sun asleep in a rock, thus bringing light back to the earth. Bilingual.
• La Llorona (The Weeping Woman): An Hispanic Legend Told in Spanish & English
  by Joe Hayes. Illustrated by Vicki Trego Hill & Mona Pennypacker. Cinco Puntos, 2004.
  (j398.2097 HAYE) Ages 7-10
  A ghost wanders the earth looking for her drowned children. Bilingual.
• Momentos Mágicos: Magic Moments: Tales from Latin America
  by Olga Loya. Spanish translations by Carmen Lizardi-Rivera. August House, 1997.
  (j398.2098 LOYA) Ages 8-12
  Fifteen scary stories, trickster tales, tales of strong women, and myths. Bilingual.
• Señor Cat’s Romance and Other Favorite Stories from Latin America
  by Lucia M. González. Illustrated by Lulu Delacre. Scholastic, 1997.
  (j398.2 GONZ) Ages 4-8
  Six of the most popular tales colorfully illustrated to reflect their Spanish origins and Latin flavor.

- Indicates titles that are also available in Spanish.

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Fiction

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• Abuela’s Weave
  by Omar S. Castañeda. Illustrated by Enrique O. Sanchez. Lee & Low, 1993.
  (jF CAST) Ages 5-8
  A young girl travels with her grandmother to sell their weavings at a Guatemalan market.
• Becoming Naomi León
  by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Scholastic, 2004.
  (jF RYAN) Ages 9-12
  When her long-lost mother reappears, Naomi is glad Gram takes her and her younger brother back to Oaxaca to find their father and gain legal custody.
  Also: Esperanza Rising
• Breaking Through
  by Francisco Jiménez. Houghton Mifflin, 2001.
  (jF JIME) Ages 10+
  Autobiographical story of the author’s difficult teen years, from his family’s deportation to when he begins college.
  Sequel to The Circuit.
• The Color of My Words
  by Lynn Joseph. Joanna Cotler/ HarperCollins, 2000.
  (jF JOSE) Ages 10+
  Set in the Dominican Republic, a girl who wants to be a writer tells the poignant story of her people’s deadly fight to save their village from developers.
• The Composition
  by Antonio Skármeta. Illustrated by Alfonso Ruano. Groundwood, 2000.
  (jF SKAR) Ages 8+
  Life under a dictatorship comes into focus for a nine-year-old boy when a soldier comes to school and instructs the children to write an essay about what their families do at night.
• Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great
  Big Heart
  by Pat Mora. Illustrated by Raul Colón. Knopf, 2005.
  (jF MORA) Ages 6-10
  The title says it all about this Pura Belpré Medal winning book.
  Also: A Library for Juana, jB JUAN.
• First Day in Grapes
  by L. King Pérez. Illustrated by Robert Casilla. Lee & Low, 2002.
  (jF PERE) Ages 6-9
  On his first day in third grade at a new school a migrant boy is confronted by two bullies.
• Keeper
  by Mal Peet. Candlewick, 2005.
  (jF PEET) Ages 11+
  El Gato tells of his rise from poor village woodcutter to World Cup-winning goalie in this ghostly mystery.
• La Línea
  by Ann Jaramillo. Roaring Brook, 2006.
  (jF JARA) Ages 10+
  A fifteen-year-old’s carefully-made plans to join his parents in California go awry when his younger sister secretly follows him.
• My Land Sings: Stories from the Río Grande
  by Rudolfo Anaya. Illustrated by Amy Córdova. Morrow, 1999.
  (jF ANAY) Ages 10+
  Five folktales and five original stories set in the Río Grande area of New Mexico.
• The Streets Are Free
  by Kurusa. Illustrated by Monika Doppert. Annick Press, 1995.
  (jF KURU) Ages 8-11
  Residents of a poor, crowded neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela organize to get a park built.

- Indicates titles that are also available in Spanish.

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Poetry and Songs

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• Canto Familiar
  by Gary Soto. Illustrated by Annika Nelson. Harcourt, 1995.
  (j811.54 SOTO) Ages 8+
  Poems of home and family, the block, and the neighborhood, served up with vivacious full-color prints.
  Also: Neighborhood Odes.
• Fiestas: A Year of Latin American Songs of Celebration
  Selected, arranged, and translated by José-Luis Orozco. Illustrated by Elisa Kleven. Dutton, 2002.
  (j784.4961 FIES) Ages 3-10
  Colorful collage illustrations celebrate 21 holiday and seasonal songs. Bilingual.
  Also: De Colores; Diez Deditos.
• Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems (Jitomates Risueños y Otros Poemas de Primavera)
  by Francisco X. Alarcón. Illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez. Children’s Book Press, 1997.
  (j811.54 ALAR) Ages 5-9
  First of four collections that celebrate Los Angeles, Mexico and the author’s Mexican-American heritage and childhood. Bilingual.
  Also: Angels Ride Bikes; From the Bellybutton of the Moon; Iguanas in the Snow.
• Mamá Goose: A Latino Nursery Treasury: Un Tesoro de Rimas Infantiles
  by Alma Flor Ada & F. Isabel Campoy. Illustrated by Maribel Suárez. Hyperion, 2004.
  (j398.8094 MAMA) Ages 0-6
  A joyful collection of lullabies, finger and lap games, nursery rhymes, songs (no music), and riddles from the rich diversity of Spanish-speaking peoples. In Spanish, with “creative” English versions.
  Also: Pío Peep!: Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes.
• Messengers of Rain: And Other Poems from Latin America
  Edited by Claudia M. Lee. Illustrated by Rafael Yockteng. Groundwood, 2002. (j861.008 MESS)
  Sixty-four poems from 19 countries have been translated into English from the original Spanish in this attractive compilation.

- Indicates titles that are also available in Spanish.

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Nonfiction

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• Barrio: José’s Neighborhood
  by George Ancona. Harcourt, 1998.
  (j979.461 ANCO) Ages 6-9
  A spirited photo-essay about a 9-year-old boy who lives in San Francisco’s Mission District.
  Also: Carnaval; Fiesta U.S.A. ; Pablo Remembers ; The Piñata Maker.
• Celebrating a Quinceañera: A Latina’s 15th Birthday Celebration. by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith. Photos. by Lawrence Migdale. Holiday House, 2002.
  (j395.24 HOYT) Ages 8-11
  A 10-year-old from Cloverdale, CA helps her older cousin prepare for the special, traditional day that will mark her becoming an adult.
• The Festival of Bones (El Festival de las Calaveras)
  by Luis San Vicente. Translated by John William Byrd and Bobby Bird. Cinco Puntos, 2002.
  (j394.266 SANV) Ages 5-9
  Poetic text and shivery art introduce the Day of the Dead. Bilingual.
• An Illustrated Treasury of Latino Read-Aloud Stories
  edited by Maite Suarez-Rivas. Black Dog & Leventhal, 2004.
  (j860.8 ILLU) Ages 7-12
  A broad mix of Pre-Columbian myths and legends, fables and riddles, fairy tales and stories, history, and more recent Spanish-American literature are presented in English and Spanish.
• Machu Picchu
  by Elizabeth Mann. Illustrated by Amy Crehore. Mikaya Press, 2000.
  (j985.34 MANN) Ages 9-12
  A description of the Inca civilization and the building of their sacred fortress city high in the Andes Mountains of Peru.
• Magic Windows (Ventanas Mágicas)
  by Carmen Lomas Garza. Spanish translation by Francisco X. Alarcón. Children’s Book Press, 1999.
  (j306.8505 LOMA) Ages 6-10
  Stories of her family and Mexican heritage are depicted in papel picado by the author/artist. Bilingual. Learn how to create your own cut-paper art in Lomas Garza’s Making Magic Windows, j736.98 Loma.
  Also: In My Family.
• Secrets in Stone: All About Maya Hieroglyphs
  by Laurie Coulter. Illustrated by Sarah Jane English. Little, 2001.
  (j497.415 COUL) Ages 8-11
  The fascinating story of the Maya, their mysterious language and how it was deciphered. With craft and party game ideas.

- Indicates titles that are also available in Spanish.

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Biography

• 100 Hispanic Americans Who Changed American History
  by Rick Laezman. World Almanac Library, 2005.
  (j920.0092 LAEZ 2005) Ages 9+
  Short biographical sketches of men and women covering a broad spectrum from Ponce de León to Oscar de la Hoya.
• Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez
  by Kathleen Krull. Illustrated by Yuyi Morales. Harcourt, 2003.
  (jB CHAV) Ages 5-9
  A vivid picture biography of the renowned Mexican-American union leader and organizer.
  For older readers: César Chávez: A Voice for Farmworkers (Bárbara C. Cruz).
• My Name is Celia (Me Llamo Celia)
  by Monica Brown. Illustrated by Rafael López. Luna Rising, 2004.
  (j780.2 CRUZ) Ages 5-9
  Colorful portrayal of the Cuban singer, Celia Cruz, who became known worldwide as the Queen of Salsa. Bilingual.
• The Pot That Juan Built
  by Nancy Andrews-Goebel. Illustrated by David Diaz. Lee & Low, 2002.
  (j738.092 QUEZ) Ages 6-10
  The life and art of the renowned, self-taught Mexican potter, Juan Quezada, are revealed in cumulative rhyme and bold illustrations.
• Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates
  by Jonah Winter. Illustrated by Raúl Colón. Atheneum, 2005.
  (jB CLEM) Ages 5-9
  Tribute to the Puerto Rican athlete and humanitarian, the first Latino inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
• The Upside Down Boy (El Niño de Cabeza)
  by Juan Felipe Herrera. Illustrated by Elizabeth Gómez. Children’s Book Press, 2000.
  (jB HERR) Ages 7-11
  Poetic memories of the author’s youth when his migrant parents settled down so he could attend school. Bilingual.
  Also: Calling the Doves.

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