September 15, 2024 marked the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage month in the United States, marking an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the histories, contributions, and experiences of people from North, Central and South America, Spain, and the Caribbean. This month-long focus coinciding with the beginning of many of our school years sets us up for beautiful celebrations of life and culture that will extend far beyond the official culmination of the month on October 15.
As part of honoring Hispanic Heritage here are five incredible Latine authors who have recently published picture books that we’ll be sharing in elementary schools this month. These books each contain vibrant text and illustrations, beautifully weaving together some of the diverse knowledge, experiences, and language of communities.
The Coquíes Still Sing Written by Karina Nicole González, Illustrated by Krystal Quiles (Roaring Brook Press 2022)
This 2023 Pura Belpré Honor Book, tells the story of a young girl, Elena, and her community as they rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017. This hopeful story celebrates the power of community resilience in the aftermath of a natural disaster and showcases the incredible strength of Puerto Rican communities. The colorful illustrations and sounds of the coquíes, native frogs of Puerto Rico, lets readers feel immersed and invested in this powerful story.
María Mariposa Written by Karla Arenas Valenti, Illustrated by Ana Ramírez González (Chronicle Books 2024)
This beautifully illustrated book speaks to the experience of beginning again in a new and unfamiliar place. In this story, María has just moved to a new country. On her first day at her new school she discovers a butterfly perched on her windowsill, a gift from her home in Mexico. She carries the joy and magic of this gift with her to school, a reminder of who she is and her memories of home. Throughout the book, María works to discover how she can bring her memories, community, and personal identity with her into her new life.
Not a Monster Written by Claudia Guadalupe Martínez, Illustrated by Laura González (Charlesbridge 2023)
Claudia Guadalupe Martinez’ new nonfiction book is sure to delight both animal lovers and fans of Minecraft games. In this book she tells the story of the strange and wonderful axolotl. Kids will love learning all about this unique salamander that lives its whole life in the canals of Mexico City, including finding out about its habitat, life cycle, and the Aztec origin myth about the species. This book also works as a beautiful nonfiction mentor text, showcasing the power of translanguaging in an informational text.
Paletero Man Written by Lucky Diaz, Illustrated by Michah Player (Harper Collins 2021)
Paletero Man is a vibrant rhyming picture book, written by Latin Grammy-winning musician, Lucky Diaz. It follows a young boy as he searches his neighborhood for the Paletero Man with his cart of sweet cool treats. Trouble strikes when he finally catches up to the Paletero Man, only to find he has no money to buy a treat. With the help of his community, the day is saved. This book is a beautiful celebration of community and is sure to spark conversations about favorite neighborhood institutions and traditions. Don’t miss the link to a recording of the song that inspired this story, found in the author’s note.
Plátinos Are Love Written by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris, Illustrated by Mariyah Rahman (Simon & Schuster 2023)
In this story of food, family, and community, Esme, her little sister, and her abuela come together to make tostones, maduros, and mangú. The pictures and words work together perfectly to create a cozy and delicious first person story that invites listeners and readers into Esme’s multigenerational kitchen. This book showcases Spanish words (unitalicized) for foods and cooking throughout, and the power of family food traditions, culture and history.