Fantastic Latin-authored kids' books

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.

Find on Amazon.

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?

Find on Amazon.

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.

Find on Amazon.

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.