Since 1988 the United States has celebrated National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th. National Hispanic Heritage month celebrates the history, culture, and important contributions of people whose ancestors and families come from Spain, Mexico, and many other Spanish-speaking nations in the Caribbean, Central, and South America.
Below, you'll find some great reads starring Hispanic characters (most written and/or illustrated by great Hispanic people) perfect for younger readers in grades 1 through 6.
1st & 2nd Grade:
- Two tree frogs learn about the plants and animals of Puerto Rico together. (Series)
Zapato Power:Freddie Ramos Takes Off by Jacqueline Jules
- Freddie Ramos finds a package containing sneakers that allow him to run faster than a train. (Series)
Sofia Martinez: My Family Adventure by Jacqueline Jules
- Follow 7-year-old Sofia Martinez as she deals with her family and daily adventures. (Series)
Don't Feed The Geckos by Karen English
- When his cousin temporarily moves in and enrolls in his class, a skeptical Carlos feels overshadowed.
- A spunky young girl from Colombia loves playing with her canine best friend not much else. (Series)
Pedro, First Grade Hero by Fran Manushkin
- A collection of four separately published stories featuring Pedro, Katie Woo's classmate and friend.
3rd Grade:
Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan
- Maximiliano Córdoba loves stories, especially the legend Buelo tells him about a mythical gatekeeper who can guide brave travelers on a journey into tomorrow.
Lowriders In Space by Cathy Camper
- Lupe Impala, El Chavo Flapjack, and Elirio Malaria love working with cars. You name it, they can fix it. (Graphic Novel Series)
Efren Divided by Ernesto Cisneros
- While his father works two jobs, seventh-grader Efrén Nava must take care of his twin siblings, kindergartners Max and Mia, after their mother is deported to Mexico.
Stella Díaz Has Something to Say by Angela N. Dominguez
- Stella Díaz wants to be friends with the new boy in class, but sometimes she accidentally speaks Spanish instead of English (Series)
The Midnight War of Mateo Martinez by Robin Yardi
- Mateo, a Mexican-American fourth grader from California, spots two skunks stealing his sister's trike.
The First Rule of Punk by Celia Perez
- Twelve-year-old María Luisa O'Neill-Morales reluctantly moves with her Mexican-American mother to Chicago and starts seventh grade with a bang.
4th Grade:
- Newt Gomez has a thing with bears. Last year he survived a bear attack. And this year, he finds an unusual bear statue that just might grant wishes.
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
- In order to heal after his mother's death, thirteen-year-old Sal learns to reach into time and space to retrieve things--and people--from other universes. (Series)
Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya
- Sixth-grader Emilia Torres struggles with ADHD, her controlling abuela, her mother's work commitments, her father's distance after returning from deployment, evolving friendships, and a conflict over school redistricting.
The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez by Adrianna Cuevas
- A Cuban-American boy must use his ability to communicate with animals to save the inhabitants of his town when they are threatened by a witch that transforms into animals.
Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring by Angela Cervantes
- When Lizzie and Gael share an irresistible challenge, to find the peacock ring that once belonged to artist Frida Kahlo, Paloma decides it is the perfect way to honor her father.
Love Sugar Magic: A Dash of Trouble by Anna Meriano
- Wanting to be a part of her family's Dia de los Muertos preparations, Leonora sneaks out of school to discover her mother, aunt, and older sisters have been keeping a secret. (Series)
5th Grade:
Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia
- In Silver Springs, Arizona, her mother's stories of the monstrous La Llorona are thrilling but unbelievable to science-loving Paola until she and her best friends Dante and Emma take a walk through a cactus field near the Gila River.
Charlie Hernández & the League of Shadows by Ryan Calejo
- Steeped in Hispanic folklore since childhood, middle schooler Charlie Hernández learns the stories are true when, shortly after his parents disappearance, he grows horns and feathers and finds himself at the heart of a battle to save the world. (Series)
Into the Tall, Tall, Grass by Loriel Ryon
- Yolanda sets out with family and friends to help her grandmother and discovers long-buried secrets about a family curse and the healing power of the magic surrounding her.
Santiago's Road Home by Alexandra Diaz
- Fleeing abusive relatives and extreme poverty in Mexico, young Santiago endures being detained by ICE while crossing the border into the United States.
The Other Half of Happy by Rebecca Balcarcel
- Twelve-year-old Quijana is a biracial girl, desperately trying to understand the changes that are going on in her life
Forest World by Margarita Engle
- Sent to Cuba to visit the father he barely knows, Edver is surprised to meet a half-sister, Luza, whose plan to lure their cryptozoologist mother into coming there, too, turns dangerous.
6th Grade:
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya
- Funny and poignant, The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora is the vibrant story of a family, a striking portrait of a town, and one boy's quest to save both.
The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano by Sonia Manzano
- It is 1969 in Spanish Harlem, and fourteen-year-old Evelyn Serrano is trying hard to break free from her conservative Puerto Rican surroundings, but when her activist grandmother comes to stay and the neighborhood protests start, things get a lot more complicated--and dangerous.
- Longing to assume a defensive adult role but dissuaded by his mother from confronting soldiers who have murdered a neighbor in his 1981 Guatemalan village, young Carlos joins a band of guerillas in the hope of carrying a warning to his grandmother's mountaintop home.
The Wild Book by Margarita Engle
- In early twentieth-century Cuba, bandits terrorize the countryside as a young farm girl struggles with dyslexia. Based on the life of the author's grandmother.
What the Moon Saw by Laura Resau
- Fourteen-year-old Clara Luna spends the summer with her grandparents in the tiny, remote village of Yucuyoo, Mexico, learning about her grandmother's life as a healer, her father's decision to leave home for the United States, and her own place in the world.
The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
- In 1961 after Castro has come to power in Cuba, fourteen-year-old Lucia and her seven-year-old brother are sent to the United States when her parents, who are not in favor of the new regime, fear that the children will be taken away from them as others have been.
For even more great titles for young readers in 1st through 6th grade click here.