Hispanic Literature  For Children Created by: Heather Rusch 11-27-01

Hispanic Poetry Books

Soto, Gary.  A Fire in My Hands: A Book of Poems.  Illus. by James M. Cardillo.  New York: Scholastic, 1990.
 This picture book includes happy, sad, funny, touching, and thoughtful poems about growing up, family, friendships, and first love in the Mexican American neighborhood of San Joaquin Valley in Central California.  This book contains detailed black and white drawings along with a question and answer section about poetry.

Soto, Gary.  Neighborhood Odes.  Illus. by David Diaz.  San Diego: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1992.
This book includes twenty-two poems about growing up in a Mexican American neighborhood.  It shows how to find delight in everyday places and items, such as the library, tennis shoes, sprinklers, and tortillas.  It is a celebration of neighborhood life as he writes about love, regrets, fears, mysteries, and weddings in the neighborhood.
 

Hispanic Folklore Books

Hayes, Joe.  Estrellita de Oro: Little Gold Star.  Illus. by Gloria Osuna Perex & Lucia Angela Perez.  Texas: Cinco
    Puntos Press, 2000.
This is a Cinderella story about a girl named Arcia, her father, and two evil step-sisters.  Arcia receives a gold star on her forehead from a hawk, while her evil step-sisters end up with a donkey ear and a green cow horn coming out of their foreheads.  In the end Arcia gets the prince and they live happily ever after.

Nickolson, Irene.  Mexican and Central American Mythology.  New York: Peter Bedrick Books, 1967.
This is not a children's book.  It is a teacher's resource used to retell folklore.  This book contains many different picture that could be helpful in the classroom.  The book includes topics such as time and eternity, human-beast relationships, the calendar, and nature.

Vigil, Angel.  The Corn Woman: Stories and Legends of the Hispanic Southwest.  Translated by Jennifer Audrey
    Lowell & Juan Franciso Marin.  Colorado: Libraries Unlimited Inc., 1994.
This book won the Districts Choice Curriculum Administrator Award.  It has over 230 pages of stories.  The story topics include the spirits of the Aztecs, traditional stories, and contemporary stories.  There are legends that deal with animals, magic, wisdom, friends, morals, and culture.
 

Hispanic Non-Fiction Books

Atkins, Beth S.  Voices From the Field.  Little Brown, 2000.
This is a collection of interviews and photographs of children who have spent their lives working with their parents in the fields.  The voices resonate with stories of family and friends, of harvest season, and homes far away.  The book includes poems and personal stores, in Spanish and in English.  This anthology reveals the real lives and the hopes, dreams, and strength of these remarkable children.

Catalano, Julie.  The Mexican Americans.  Introductory essay by Daniel Patrick Moynihan.  New York: Chelsea
    House Publishers, 1988.
This book discusses the history, culture, and religion of Mexican Americans, factors encouraging their emigration and their acceptance as an entire group in North America.  Some of the topics included are the community, the strength of the people, moving from majority to minority, crossing the border, and Mexican Americans today.

Garver, Susan, and Paula McGuire.  Coming to North America: From Mexico, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.  New York:
    Delacorte Press, 1981.
This book explores the immigrant experiences of Mexicans, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans in the United States through personal accounts, histories, and photographs.  It includes a bibliography, a history of the U.S. Immigration Laws, and an index.  This book tells about their diverse cultures and how they are the fastest growing minority in the United States.

Lannert, Paula.  Mexican Americans: American Voices. Vero Beach, FL: Rourke Corporation, Inc., 1991.
This book discusses the motivations and contributions of Mexicans who have immigrated to the United States.  It has photographs, short biographies of famous Mexican Americans, a time line, glossary, list of resources, bibliographies, and an index.  Some of the main topics include when they came, why they came, where they live, and what they do.  Their contributions to society are also discussed.

Morey, Janet, and Wendy Dunn.  Famous Mexican Americans.  New York: Cobblehill Books, 1989.
This book discusses the accomplishments and contributions to society of fourteen Mexican Americans.  Through each of these stories a variety of professions are represented.  This book includes many photographs.  It also has an index and a selected bibliography.

Sinnott, Susan.  Extraordinary Hispanic Americans.  Chicago: Children's Press, 1991.
This is organized chronologically.  It has profiles of the lives of Hispanics who helped shape the history of the United States, from fifteenth century explores to twentieth century writers, entertainers, and politicians.
 
 

Hispanic Fiction Books

Cisneros, Sandra. The House on Mango Street.  New York: Vintage Books, 1989.
This is a book that captures the thoughts and emotions in poems and stories, of Esperanza Cordero.  She is a young girl who is growing up in the hispanic quarter of Chicago.  Her adventures and struggles are portrayed in a lively fashion throughout the book.

Joseph, Lynn.  The Color of My Words.  Harper Collins, 2000.
This is the story of Ana Rosa, who is a blossoming young writer growing up in a poor seaside village in the Dominican Republic.  At twelve years old she finds herself faced with turning points that will make up who she is.  This book explores the pain and the poetry behind what it means to be a part of a family, what it takes to find your place in the world, and what if feels like to write it all down.

Soto, Gary.  Local News. San Diego: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1993.
This book is a collection of thirteen short stories about the everyday lives of Mexican American youth in California's Central Valley.  Some of the characters introduced in the stories are Angel who is caught in the shower by a mean older brother with a camera, Estela who is a racquetball player, Philip an amazed owner of a mechanical mind, and Nacho who tries to save the planet by becoming a vegetarian.

Soto, Gary.  Pacific Crossing.  San Diego: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1992.
This is the story of a fourteen year old Mexican American boy who spends a summer with a host family in Japan.  It tells of his encounters with new experiences and making new friends.  It tells his struggles of explaining how he is both Mexican and American and his adventures of making a new best friend.

Temple, Frances. Tonight, by Sea.  Orchard: 1995.
This book won the Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature.  It is a story about a town that is nearly gone.  There is no life on Haiti, no work, and no food. There is no government except for the tyranny of the brutal macoutes. Yet Belle Fleuve is home for Paulie. Her uncle is building a boat to leave, but the macoutes have killed everyone trying to leave. The book tells of the adventure of Paulie.
 
 

Hispanic Picture Books

Ada, Alma Flor.  Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English.  Illus. by Simon Silva.  New York:
    Lothrop, Lee and Shepard, 1997.
This book was a Pura Belpre Honor book.  It is a beautifully illustrated alphabet book that is dedicated to Cesar Chavez and recounts stories of his time using each letter of the alphabet.  For example, A is for arboles (trees).  The trees show the fruit trees farm workers see all of their lives. C is for Cesar Chavez, D is for Duranzos (peaches), and G is for Gracias. Each letter stands for something in Spanish and then it is given English also.

Ancona, George.  Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead.  New York: Lothrop, 1993.
This book was a Pura Belpre Honor book.  It is written in English with Spanish words throughout.  In the back is a Spanish to English Glossary. There are photographs on every page that go through the three day festival.  The book discusses October 31, All Hallows Eve, November 1, All Saints Day, and November 2, All Souls Day.  At the end there is an author's note telling about the Day of Dead.

Bunting, Eve. Going Home.  Illus. by David Diaz.  New York: Harper Collins, 1996.
This book was an Americas Commended Award winner.  It tells the story of Carlos and his family going home for Christmas across the border from California to Mexico.  Mama and Papa are excited, but Carlos and his sister are not sure. To Carlos, Mexico does not seem like home now, even though he was born there.  As his family drives through festive villages Carlos and his sister discover their is magic in their roots.  Whether they are in California or Mexico, home is her the heart is - and that is with your family.

Castaneda, Carlos.  Abuela's Weave. Illus. by Enrique O. Sanchez.  New York: Lee and Low, 1993.
In this book Esperanze is told that Abuela's skill with the loom is unmatched.  However, as they prepare to sell their handmade weavings at the market, Esperanze worries that the shoppers may want only the modern machine goods.  Everything they have made is beautiful and woven from the heart, so in the end everyone buys all of their weavings.

Dories, Arthur.  Abuela.  Illus. by Elisa Kleven. New York: Dutton, 1991.
This book is about Rosalba and her grandmother as they go on an adventure through Rosalba's imagination.  The grandma speaks only Spanish and Rosalba tells the reader what she is saying.  It is an extraordinary trip with great illustrations.

Dorros, Arthur. Isla.  Illus. by Elisa Kleven. New York: Dutton, 1995.
Rosalba and her grandmother are now traveling to la isla, the island where Abuela grew up.  There is much for them to see.  There are relative to meet and stories to be told.  Places like the rain forest, old market and the busy harbor show Rosalba's delight along with the excitement of her grandmother's pride.

Lewin, Ted.  Amazon Boy.  New York: Simon andSchuster, 1993.
This is the story of a boy named Paulo and his father.  For Paulo's birthday, him and his father leave the deep Amazon and go down river to Belem, the great city.  Paulo learns about the great gifts the river gives them. He is able to make an important decision and a life lesson is learned.

Mora, Pat. Pablo's Tree. Illus. by Cecily Lang.  New York: MacMillian, 1994.
This book is about Pablo and his birthdays.  Every birthday he visits his grandfather's house.  His grandfather, Lito, decorates a tree for Pablo's birthday.  They sit under the tree together and play with his new toys.  Pablo recalls his previous trees and wonders about next years tree.

Mora, Pat.  Tomas and the Library Lady.  New York: Alfred A. Knopt, 2000.
This story is based on the life of Tomas Rivera, who started out as a migrant worker and later became Chancellor at the University of California at Riverside.  Tomas tells the story of the wonderful library lady who introduced him to the joys of reading and learning. The book shows a positive role model with great resilience and determination.

Perez, Amanda Irma. My Very Own Room. Illus. by Maya Christina Gonzalez.  Children's Book Press, 2000.
The heroine of this story is a little girl who lives in a very crowded house with her five brothers and her parents.  She shares a bed with her baby brothers, who wiggle, kick, and snore.  Her one wish is to have a room of her very own. The storage closet would be the perfect place.  The entire family pitches in to clean out the storage closet. Her mama shows her how to mix paint together for the perfect color.  Her uncle brings her a new bed and she begins to decorate her room.  Finally she adds her most favorite thing of all- books.

Soto, Gary.  Too Many Tamales.  Illus. by Ed Marinez.  New York: Putnam, 1993.
Christmas spirit means the whole family pitches in to make tamales.  In this enjoyable story about a favorite holiday tradition, Maria looks forward to making tamales.  When her mother takes her ring off, Maria decides to try it on and accidentally loses it in the masa.  The only way Maria and her cousins can find the ring is to eat all the tamales until the ring is found. So they eat all the tamales, and the ring is still missing.  This is a very humorous and loving story.

Soto, Gary.  Snapshots from the Wedding.  Illus. by Stephanie Garcia.  New York: Putnam, 1997.
The traditional Mexican American wedding is described through the words of Gary Soto and sculpted clay pictures.  The narrator, is the flower girl Maya.  She is entranced by the dancing, the cake, the mariachi, and the many details of this exciting day.

Stanek, Muriel.  I Speak English for My Mom.  Illus. by Judith Friedman.  New York: Albert Whiteman, 1989.
This book is about the struggles of a little girl and her mom.  The little girl, Lupe, feels grown up because she translates everything for her mom. She translates at school, the store, the doctor's office, and many other places.  Sometimes Lupe would rather be with her fiends instead of helping her mother.  This is the story of love and hardships of a mother and her daughter.

Taha, Karen T.  A Gift for Tia Rosa. Illus. by Dee de Rosa. Minneapolis, MN: Dillon, 1986.
Carmela cannot wait for Tia Rosa to come home from the hospital.  She misses her friend very much.  Tia Rosa has been teaching her to knit and Carmela needs Tia Rosa's help to finish a surprise for her father.  When Tia Rosa finally comes home they eat cookies and knit together for weeks until one morning Carmela goes next door and finds no one home.  This is a moving story of friendship between old and young and a love that continues even when one friend is gone.

Tamar, Erika.  The Garden of Happiness.  Illus. by Barbara Lambase. San Diego: Harcourt Brace, 1996.
On Marisol's block near East Houston Street there was an empty lot filled with garbage and broken, tired things.  One day her neighbors join together to clean up the lot and transform it into a community garden.  Marisol's finds a patch of grass and plants a large seed that surprises everyone and becomes the happiest plant in the Garden of Happiness.