I don’t know about you, early elementary teacher, but I am always on the lookout for powerful books for read aloud: it seems I can never grow my picture book collection enough! Read alouds are such a great entry point for all learners (even upper elementary!) and can be such a valuable way to kick off cultural conversations. Read below for my top 10 favorite books for read aloud to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
Real quick: did you get your guide?
A note on Heritage Months
My love-hate relationship with Heritage Months
Heritage months and I have a bit of a …. difficult relationship. Too often, these months are seen as a checklist, do one activity to be “woke” – and then move on. Teachers – and students – can get a false sense of “relevance” and cultural awareness when they are actually reinforcing stereotypes and exhibiting tokenism. Not good.
What Heritage Months have the potential to be
Indeed, Heritage Months are more than a one-hit wonder; rather, they should be times when there’s an especially strong focus on a culture that is also recognized and celebrated all year long. They are times when schools and communities can come together to educate themselves about what is often a marginalized identity. They hold the possibility of being truly humanizing, redemptive and connective experiences!
Celebrating Heritage Months responsibly – read alouds and beyond
Captain Obvious here: people of a people group or community are not a monolith; just because they have similarities does not mean they are the same. You know this; I know this. Yet sometimes during Heritage Months we tend to reinforce generalized stereotypes. For example: all books about African Americans center around justice issues; all the read alouds for Hispanic Heritage month feature bilingual Spanish/English speakers. When putting together your list of read alouds, it’s best practice to search for a wide range of diversity within the Heritage Month group. The more intersectionality and diversity can be emphasized, the more holistic the picture of the celebrated people group is going to be.
Hispanic Heritage Month
A bit of a historiography lesson before we get to the books for read aloud: “Hispanic” was an identity that was born only shortly before my teaching colleagues and I were. In 1980, the US Census offered the identity “Hispanic” for the first time. Before then, people had the choice of marking their distinct country or culture of origin. The overhead all-encompassing label had some positive effects – most notably, to unite folks to make positive change for Spanish speakers and beyond. That said, it also had negative effects. As noted above, all of the people who check the “Hispanic” box are not the same and have very different ideas of what it means to hold that identity. It’s necessary to hold space for the wide diversity within the catch-all “Hispanic” label: first-generation immigrants, Guatemalans, Afro-Latinx, Mexicans, indigenous, etc.
Although this post is about books for read-aloud, conscientious educators will also note the emphasis on oral storytelling, rhymes (rimas), and songs (cancioncitas). There are many videos of storytelling available on sites like You Tube and Colorin Colorado. Even better, ask Hispanic-identifying relatives of your students – or fellow staff members – to come tell a story in person!
Hispanic Heritage Month: 10 Beautiful Books for read aloud
It was incredibly difficult for me to choose just 10 books for read aloud here; there are SO many amazing choices! To narrow down my extensive collection, this list features only Fiction/Poetry books. As discussed above, I tried to incorporate a wide variety of text types and representations of Hispanic culture.
The Upside Down Boy | El nino de cabeza
This whimsically illustrated collection of poems is an easy-to-read memoir of the Mexican-American author himself. It features frank conversations between kids and parents and an obvious appreciation of the true power of education. See also: anything else written by Juan Felipe Herrera, especially Calling of the Doves | El Canto de las Palomas.
Mango, Abuela and Me | Mango, Abuela y yo
This beautiful story features a young girl whose grandmother moves to the United States after a lifetime in her home (unspecified) country. Author Meg Media, a second-generation Cuban-American, brings to life the budding relationship between the Spanish-speaking abuela and the English-speaking young granddaughter. Love and familial connection overcome language barriers in this enchanting story.
My Papi Has a Motorcycle | Mi papa tiene una moticicleta
This wonderful graphic-style book for read aloud shows the touching relationship between a young girl and her Papi. As soon as her father returns from work, she hops on the back of his motorcycle, driving around their Los Angeles neighborhood. Themes of pride, family, and love are blended together – plus, it has the automatic cool factor of a motorcycle!
Tales Our Abuelitas Told
Co-authored by Cuban-American author and bilingual education champion Alma Flor Ada, this is a wonderful collection of traditional folktales. Gathered from the wide variety of cultures included under the umbrella label “Hispanic,” these stories will capture the hearts of your early elementary students!
Where are You From?
Wow. The power team of Argentine-American author Yamile Méndez and South Korean-American illustrator Jaime Kim outdo themselves in this heart-grabbing story. Addressing the micro-agressions that are constantly present for folks of color in the US, the book answers the unanswerable question “Where are you from?” in beautifully illustrated, diverse ways.
My Diary from Here to There | Mi diario de aqui hasta alla
I came across this wonderful book at the beginning of my teaching career, when I had the privilege of working with a 98.5%+ Latino, mostly Mexican-American student body. There were nods around the room as we shared together the story of Amada, whose family decides to make the move from Mexico to Los Angeles. The main character chronicles her questions and feelings as they make the cross-river journey.
My Feet are Laughing
This collection of 16 poems features a vibrant Dominican-American youth celebrating life in her family and city. The life-filled poems are infectiously relatable for students of any background.
Xochitl and the Flowers | Xochitl, la nina de las flores
This is an extremely under-celebrated book that has it all: English and Spanish text, a vibrant immigrant family from El Salvador, and a community that comes together to support one another. The bright illustrations are engaging and it has the potential to be the kickstart to any number of inquiries and explorations. Read this one all year long.
Julian is a Mermaid
This unforgettable story celebrates Julian, who loves to be a mermaid. A Stonewall Book Award winner, this wonderful book challenges the machismo side of some Hispanic cultures by highlighting a young person oh-so-proud to be themselves.
Hairs | Pelitos
Any Hispanic Heritage Month book list would be incomplete without at least one work by Sandra Cisneros. This beautiful poetic text highlights the diversity within Hispanic cultures – even within families! – through heart-touching descriptions of their hair. Warmth radiates from this lovely book!
Grab your own copies of these amazing texts!
Looking to go beyond books for read aloud as you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?
There are SO many ways to celebrate! Make sure to check out these other articles to make your celebration as wholistic as possible!
- Learning For Justice: Are you Ready to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?
- Hispanic Heritage Month National Website
- Colorin Colorado: Hispanic Heritage Month
