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We love to read with our kids, and one way to make reading even more fun is by finding books written by diverse authors with many different experiences and cultures. Rhode Island Latino Arts and the Association of American Publishers established Latino Books Month every May, so it’s the perfect time to check out some of these great books! Here are some of our favorite Latinx kids’ books to get you started!
The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes
Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl are twin volcanoes near Mexico City with an origin story about two people, the princess Itza and the warrior Popoca. Princess Itza’s father gives Popoca her hand in marriage if he manages to defeat the king of another land, Jaguar Claw. Jaguar Claw tricks Popoca into thinking that Princess Itza died when he gives her slumber-inducing poison, so Popoca decides to stand by her side in spite of his broken heart. It begins to snow, and the siblings appear as two small volcanoes. Nahuatl words are also used, as well as a glossary. It’s the perfect children’s book for learning about indigenous stories.
Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale
Drawn from a Cuban folktale, Martina Josefina Catalina Cucaracha, a beautiful creature with four sets of wings, rejects her suitors when they fail her grand abuela’s coffee test. There’s one man left to try, what will he do when she offers him coffee cubano?
Abuela’s Weave
A story about familial pride and perseverance introduces readers to Guatemala’s history and culture, told from the perspective of Esperanza, a young girl who weaves alongside her grandmother.
I Love Saturdays y Domingos
Weekends are quite an exciting time for the young girl in this book. Saturdays are spent with her grandparents who are of European-American descent, and on Sundays, she visits her grandparents who are Mexican-American. Through this story, kids will come to realize that though there are cultural differences between them, they share the same capacity for love. A great read for multicultural kids and those discovering their background.
Areli Is a Dreamer
This is a poignant story–one that hits close to home for millions of immigrants across this great country–about one girl who eventually has her DACA application approved and who is now living the American dream.
Turning Pages
Sonia Sotomayor’s story is told in this picture book autobiography. Sotomayor finds her inspiration in books. By reading books, she coped, dreamt, and believed that anything is possible.
Islandborn
None of the students at Lola’s school are from her city, so when their teacher asked them to draw a picture of where their families came from, everyone was really excited. Everyone, that is, besides Lola. Though Lola’s family is from The Island, she’s forgotten it. With the help of her family and friends, she comes to understand that not remembering something doesn’t mean it’s not a part of you.
Looking for More of The Best Kids’ Books?
Check out this other terrific blog from Wondrfly!
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