Explore Hispanic Heritage Month Programs, Books, and Resources
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Books for Children and Teens
“Dreams From Many Rivers: A Hispanic History of the United States Told in Poems” by Margarita Engle
A middle grade verse history of Latinos in the United States, told through the voices of many and varied individuals ranging from Juan Ponce de León to modern-day sixth graders.
“The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejía” by Alexandra Alessandri.
To save their father’s life, a brother and sister must journey across a land full of magical beings from Colombian folklore and find the most powerful and dangerous of them all – the Madremonte.
“Julieta and the Romeos” by Maria E. Andreu
When she publishes her writing online, Julieta wonders if this could be her very own meet-cute while thinking about three boys already in her life: her nemesis, the boy next door and her oldest friend.
“Last Canto of the Dead” by Daniel José Older.
Simultaneous battles rage in the Caribbean and Brooklyn as 16-year-olds Mateo and Chela, two gods-turned-teenagers, try to get to the bottom of what is keeping them apart.
“Me Gusta” by Angela Dominguez
Latinx families are celebrated in this bilingual picture book, which highlights moments of connection and delight and feelings of safety and home, even through challenges and difficult times.
“Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir” by Pedro Martin
An unforgettable graphic memoir about a Mexican-American boy’s family and their adventure-filled road trip to bring their abuelito back from Mexico to live with them.
“Nuestra América: 30 Inspiring Latinas/Latinos Who Have Shaped the United States” by Sabrina Vourvoulias
A celebration of 30 of history’s most influential Latinas and Latinos shares the uplifting stories of subjects ranging from Pura Belpré and César Chávez to Jennifer Lopez and Sonia Sotomayor.
“Plátanos Are Love” by Alyssa Reynoso Morris; illustrated by Mariyah Rahman.
A young girl learns that plantains are her history, culture and, most importantly, love as she helps her abuela in the kitchen
“Spanish Is the Language of My Family” by Michael Genhart; illustrated by John Parra.
An intergenerational story of family ties, cultural pride, and spelling bee victory following a young boy who bonds with his beloved abuela over a love of Spanish.
“Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed: 15 Voices From the Latinx Diaspora” edited by Saraciea J. Fennell
In this book for teens, 15 original pieces delve into everything from ghost stories and superheroes, to memories in the kitchen and travels around the world, to addiction and grief, to identity and anti-Blackness, to finding love and speaking your truth.
Books for Adults
“The Boy Who Reached for the Stars: A Memoir” by Elio Morillo
The engineer known as the “space mechanic” speaks to both our future and past in this breathless memoir of his journey from Ecuador to NASA and beyond.
“Chingona: Owning Your Inner Badass for Healing and Justice” by Alma Zaragoza-Petty
Mexican American activist Alma Zaragoza-Petty helps us claim our inner chingona, a Spanish term for “badass woman.” Unleashing our inner chingona will help us imagine a just and healed world from the inside out.
“First Gen: A Memoir” by Alejandra Campoverdi
An unflinching memoir about navigating social mobility as a first gen Latina–offering both a riveting personal story and an examination of the unacknowledged emotional tolls of being a trailblazer.
“Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of ‘Latino’” by Hector Tobar
Pulitzer Prize–winning writer Héctor Tobar delivers a definitive and personal exploration of what it means to be Latino in the United States right now.
“The People Who Report More Stress: Stories” by Alejandro Varela
A collection of humorous, sexy, and highly neurotic tales about parenting, long-term relationships, systemic and interpersonal racism, and class conflict.
“The Power of Latino Leadership: Culture, Inclusion, and Contribution” by Juana Bordas
This unprecedented and wide-ranging book shows that Latino leadership is indeed powerful and distinctive and has lessons that can inform leaders of every background.
“Some of the Light: New and Selected Poems” by Tim Z. Hernandez
25 years of writing from one of our most gifted Latinx poets, featuring work from early explorations of machismo to new meditations on life as a single father, immigrant detention, and spiritual inquiry.
“Tremendous: The Life of a Comedy Savage” by Joey “Coco” Diaz
Joey Diaz has been called every name in the book (and then some). Now, for the first time, he shares the story of his unlikely rise to fame in his own words–with no punches pulled.
“Vampires of El Norte” by Isabel Cañas
Vampires and vaqueros face off on the Texas-Mexico border in this supernatural western.
“When Trying to Return Home: Stories” by Jennifer Maritza McCauley
A dazzling debut collection spanning a century of Black American and Afro-Latino life in Puerto Rico, Pittsburgh, Louisiana, Miami, and beyond.
Find additional book suggestions for Hispanic Heritage Month on the catalog home page, and explore these new and coming soon world language titles.
Recursos digitales en español en SCLSNJ / Spanish Language Digital Resources at SCLSNJ
SCLSNJ has added a new research resource to its suite of services, Hispanic Life in America from Newsbank. This new resource offers comprehensive coverage of the Hispanic American experience from the early 18th century to the present day through an easy-to-use online resource.