Librarian Prep Post: Honor Hispanic Voices in Your Classroom or Library
Hispanic Heritage Month is just around the corner—running from September 15 to October 15—and now is the perfect time to prep your shelves and displays. We’ve gathered a range of titles that highlight Latinx voices, celebrate cultural contributions, and spark meaningful conversations in the classroom and library.
The Fearless Storyteller
Interest Level: Preschool – Grade 3
When a young girl’s father is scared of the unicorns in her bedtime book, she hides it to protect him. When he’s scared of giraffes next, she realizes he’s scared of reading the big words.
Ellen Ochoa
From the Series Beginner Biography (LOOK! Books ™)
Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 2
In 1990, Ellen Ochoa joined NASA’s astronaut program, becoming the first Hispanic female astronaut in 1991. She made history again two years later as the first Latina to be launched in space. Ochoa persisted in shattering barriers at NASA.
Emilia’s Corte
Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 2
Through a hand-me-down traditional Mayan skirt, Emilia takes flight and sees her neighborhood in a new way, embracing her Guatemalan culture and letting her personality shine through her shyness.
Abuela’s Letter
Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 3
Abuela’s Letter is a beautiful story that addresses loss and grief within a Latin family where a young girl is challenged by the death of her grandmother and discovers letter-writing to cope.
Best Believe
Interest Level: Grade 1 – Grade 4
Rhythmic verse presents three sisters who moved from Puerto Rico to New York City as children and grew up to be pioneering activists in their Bronx community, focusing on schools, libraries, and the arts. Soon to be available in Spanish!
The Pecan Sheller
Interest Level: Grade 5 – Grade 8
In 1930s San Antonio, thirteen-year-old Petra must drop out of school to work at a pecan-shelling factory. When dangerous conditions lead to tragedy and the already low wages are cut, Petra helps plan a strike.
Cruzita and the Mariacheros
Interest Level: 6 – Grade 8
Cruzita wants to be a pop star. She doesn’t want to take mariachi lessons—until she and her fellow mariacheros come up with a plan to save her family’s struggling bakery and to let Cruzita shine.
More Stories, More Voices
Explore our previous Hispanic Heritage Month posts for even more book recommendations and ideas. And be sure to visit our website to discover a wider range of titles that celebrate Latinx culture, history, and voices.
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