Every year from September 15 to October 15, we celebrate the history and culture of Hispanic and Latino communities. We have compiled a selection of fiction and nonfiction books about the culture and many contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. We invite you to celebrate this occasion by immersing yourself in these stories, all available from the NYS Talking Book and Braille Library.
Arrorro, Mi Nino: Latino Lullabies and Gentle Games, BR017011, by Lulu Delacre
Fifteen traditional Latin American nursery rhymes and songs, some with finger-play activities, are presented in Spanish with English translations. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. Belpré Honor Book. 2004.
That girl on TV could be Me!: the Journey of a Latina News Anchor = Yo podría ser esa chica en la Tele!: el Camino de una Noticiera Latina, BR024370, by Leticia Ordaz
Growing up near Sacramento, CA, little Leticia dreams of being a TV newscaster. But no one on TV looks like her. This shy, small-town girl overcomes barriers, like her fear of public speaking, to become the first in her hardworking Mexican family to attend college. Then, starting as an intern, she climbs the ladder, travels to different cities, and reports on a rainbow of stories. PRINT/BRAILLE. For Preschool-grade 2. Spanish Language. 2024.
Nosotros means us: un cuento bilingüe = a bilingual story, BR024376, by Paloma Valdivia
As a mother holds her toddler, they muse over the way their love would translate if they were different animals. But no matter how they change, they will always be "us." This bilingual story is a timeless ode to the unshakable bond between parent and child. PRINT/BRAILLE. For Preschool-grade 2. Spanish Language. 2024.
Book Fiesta! Celebrate Children's Day, Book Day/Celebremos El Dia de los Ninos, El Dia de los Libros, BR019014, by Pat Mora
Children read books in all kinds of places, both indoors and out. Bilingual book in English and Spanish. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2009.
El Perro con sombrero: a bilingual doggy tale, BR024374, by Derek Taylor Kent
One day, the wind blows a sombrero onto Pepe's head, and people finally start noticing the lonely street dog. He enjoys his newfound fame, but still wishes he had a real family. But now, a jealous cat has a plan to steal Pepe's hat, and all that attention. PRINT/BRAILLE. For Preschool-grade 2. Spanish language. 2023.
Nadarín, DB035844, by Leo Lionni
After all Swimmy's brothers and sisters are swallowed by a tuna and he is left alone in the vast ocean, Swimmy soon discovers an ingenious way to protect himself. For grades K-3. Spanish language. 2017.
Jorge el curioso: (Curious George), DB052885, by H. A. Rey
Curious George is a mischievous monkey. When he goes to the city with the man in the yellow straw hat, Curious George has many adventures. For grades K-3. Spanish language. 1990.
Featherless/Desplumado: Story/Cuento (English/Spanish Bilingual Book), BR016017, by Juan Felipe Herrera
Spina bifida keeps Tomasito in a wheelchair, where he often feels like his featherless pet bird, Desplumado, who cannot fly. But with the bird's help, he finds freedom on the soccer field. Bilingual English/Spanish book. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2004.
Cangura para todo, DB016174, by Gloria Fuertes
Imagine the surprise of a man and his wife when a kangaroo appears at their door looking for work. Included are the stories of Picassin, the abstract cat, the lame camel, the magic cat, the elephant who had no trunk, and the ostrich who laid an aluminum tractor egg. Spanish language. For grades K-3. 2016.
¡Solo pregunta!: Sé Diferente, Sé Valiente, Sé Tú, DB104863, by Sonia Sotomayor
Sonia and her friends plant a garden, and each one explains how they contribute in his or her own unique way. Commercial audiobook. For grades K-3. Spanish language. 2020.
A crazy mixed-up Spanglish day, DB057402, by Marisa Montes
In California, third-grader Maritza Gabriela Morales Mercado usually speaks Spanish at home and English at school, but she mixes them up when she is upset. Class bully Johnny Wiley teases her about that and about her name, calling her Maritza Pizza. Furious, Gabí comes up with a plan. For grades 3-6. 2003.
Gaby's Latin American kitchen, DB109985, by Gaby Melian
Have you ever tried empanadas? Made cheesy arepas for your family? Or shared homemade, sprinkle-covered chocolate brigadeiros with your friends? Travel the world of Latin America with 70 recipes developed and written by Gaby Melian--all kid-tested and kid-approved by America's Test Kitchen Kids' panel of over 15,000 at-home kid recipe testers. A Spanish glossary, fun personal stories, and a peek into Gaby's own kitchen make this book a delicious win for all young chefs and their families! For grades 4-7. 2023.
A Handful of Stars, BR020968 and DB082133, Cynthia Lord
When her blind dog, Lucky, slips his collar, twelve-year-old Lily meets Salma Santiago, a young Hispanic girl whose migrant family is in Maine for the blueberry-picking season. The two forge a friendship but are confronted with some of the hard truths of prejudice and migrant life. For grades 4-7. 2015.
Sammy Sosa, DB049004, and BR012432, by Carrie Muskat
Biography of the record-breaking baseball player from the Dominican Republic. Sammy Sosa was raised in poverty, but his athletic ability led him to his first professional sports contract at age sixteen. Sosa also became well known for his generosity in helping his family and homeland. For grades 5-8. 2000.
Latino Voices, DB046930, by Frances R. Aparicio
Hispanic Americans express their feelings about home, family, religion, work, and their identity in poems, short biographical pieces, and selections from novels. For junior and senior high readers. 2015.
We are not from here, DB099474, by Jenny Tores Sanchez
When the threats that lurk around every corner suddenly become all too real, three teens--Pulga, Chico, and Pequeña--cross from Guatemala through Mexico in search of a better life. Violence and strong language. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers. 2020.
Early Latino Ballplayers in the United States: Major, Minor, and Negro Leagues, 1901-1949, BR017463, by Nick Wilson
Author uses archival materials and interviews to highlight the influence of foreign-born Hispanic players on American baseball teams before the major leagues were integrated by Jackie Robinson. Presents profiles of athletes such as José Méndez, Cristóbal Torriente, and Roberto Ortiz. For senior high and older readers. 2005.
Our America: A Hispanic History of the United States, DB078528, by Felipe Fernández-Armesto
History professor examines the Hispanic past of the United States, from Spain's colonization of Puerto Rico in 1505 to the twenty-first-century debate over immigration reform. Encourages the embrace of Hispanic culture and posits that doing so would be to the nation's advantage and enrichment. 2014.
American dirt, DB098146, by Jeanine Cummins
Lydia Quixano Pérez runs a bookstore in Acapulco. When her journalist husband writes an exposé about Javier, the head of the newest drug cartel in the city, her life changes forever. Lydia and her eight-year-old son flee for their lives, hoping to make it to the United States. Commercial audiobook. 2020.
Big chicas don’t cry, DB120811, by Annette Chavez Macias
Four cousins, who were exceptionally close as children, have grown apart and are struggling with their own issues. When tragedy reunites them, will they remember their Abuelita's lessons about family and forgiveness--or is a fifteen-year separation too much to overcome? 2024.
Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America, DBC10435, by Gustavo Arellano
The nationally syndicated columnist and bestselling author of ¡Ask a Mexican! presents a fascinating and tasty trip through the history and culture of Mexican food in this country, uncovering great stories and charting the cuisine's tremendous popularity in El Norte. 2012.
Inés of my soul, DB063696, by Isabel Allende
1580. Doña Inés Suárez chronicles for her daughter the life that made her one of Chile's heroes. She recounts her early years and marriage in Spain, arrival in Peru, and long affair with conquistador Pedro Valdivia, with whom she conquered Chile and founded Santiago. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2006.
Brownsville, BR015288 and DBC15014, by Oscar Casares
Nine short stories about poverty, resourcefulness, and the cultural chasm existing in the U.S.-Mexican border town of Brownsville, Texas. Characters confront an array of situations, contradictions, and solutions, from youth learning lessons about money and neighborhood disputes over barking dogs to finding meaning in a depressed world. 2003.
I Can Hear the Cowbells Ring, BR010636, by Lionel G. Garcia
Garcia, whose novels have earned him awards from Southwest and Texas organizations, recalls his childhood in a South Texas Mexican American community during the 1950s. With warmth and humor, he retells family stories he heard from his grandparents and their children. It reveals a town with very human, and often quirky, characters. 1997.
Loosing My Espanish, BR015901, by H.G. Carrillo
Black Cuban American Óscar Delossantos loses his longtime teaching job at a Jesuit school in Chicago. His last lecture to bored students consists of a rambling reminiscence about his family's flight to America, his struggles, and his mother's dementia. Some strong language. 2004.
Par de Reyes, DB022533, by Ricardo Garibay
Two brothers learn to be gunfighters to take revenge on the man who murdered their father. Strong language. Spanish language. 2017.
Hombres de maíz, DB024766, by Miguel Angel Asturias
A rich, colorful allegory by a Nobel Prize-winning author centers on the conflict between Indians and aggressive reformers in Guatemala. Some strong language. Spanish language. 2015.
La importancia de llamarse Daniel Santos fabulación, DB031907, by Luis Rafael Sánchez
The Puerto Rican author presents a fictional account of the life, career, and world of Daniel Santos, the famous Puerto Rican dancer. Santos serves as raw material for the author's creation of a vision of what it is to be Latin American. Strong language. Spanish language. 2017.
Viejo Que le ía novelas de amor, DB046990, by Luis Sepúlveda
In the remote Amazon jungle of Ecuador, Antonio Jose Bolivar Proana, now an old man with few teeth, reads romance novels. He seeks refuge between the pages of his paperbacks while cursing the gringos, politicians, and gold prospectors who have destroyed the colorful jungle of his homeland and corrupted his way of life. Strong language. Spanish language. 2017.
Nueva Narrativa Chicana, DB022516, by Oscar Urquídez Somoza
Ten short stories provide an insight into the Chicano experience, reflecting the history of the Chicano, the plight of the undocumented worker, and the more intellectual and abstract sufferings of being Chicano. Some strong language. Spanish language. 2017.
September 17 is National Voter Registration Day. We have compiled a list of titles, mostly nonfiction and educational, surrounding the topic of voting. We invite you to read, learn, and register to vote.
I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference, DB107902, by Mark Shulman
An introduction to voting by explaining the concept of choosing individually and as a group highlighting the strategies involved in selecting a classroom pet. The author explains how those same principles apply when we choose and vote for leaders at the local, state, and national level. For grades K-3. 2020.
Lillian's Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, DBC06809, by Jonah Winter
Lillian is an old woman, but she still wants to vote. She is the great-great-granddaughter of slaves, sold in front of the courthouse where Lillian now wants to vote. In those days, only rich white men could vote. The Civil War, the women's suffrage movement, and social protests are all parts of the story bringing about the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a law protecting every citizen's right to vote. For grades K-3. 2021.
One Vote, Two Votes, I Vote, You Vote, DBC25080, by Bonnie Worth
Written in simple rhyme, this Cat in the Hat's Learning Library Book introduces early readers to the concept and practice of voting with a focus on the American Presidency! For grades 2-4. 2016.
Vote for Our Future! BR023178, by Margaret McNamara and Micah Player
The students at Stanton Elementary School, which is a polling place, find out all they can about voting and then encourage everyone in their neighborhoods to cast their ballots. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2020.
A Vote for Susanna the First Woman Mayor, DBC17319, by Karen M. Greenwald
In 1887 Susanna Salter was ready to vote for the first time ever. The State of Kansas had just given women the right to vote in municipal elections. But some men in Susanna's hometown, Argonia, did not think she, or any other woman should have a say in choosing their next mayor. They put Susanna on the ballot for mayor, as a joke. They were sure she would lose, and then women like her would stay at home, where they belonged. But the joke was on them when Susanna won the race! Told by a grandmother who remembers what happened on that fateful election day, this is a true story of a woman who stood up for her right to vote and accomplished so much more. For grades K-3. 2021.
For Which We Stand: How our government works and why it matters, DB102033, by Jeff Foster
Foster, an AP government teacher, discusses America's founding documents, the three branches of government, how the voting process works, the Electoral College, political parties, and more. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6. 2020.
America Votes: How Our President Is Elected, BR015268, by Linda Granfield
Explains the U.S. presidential election process including its history, the role of political parties, becoming a candidate, campaign finance, voting fraud, the electoral college, and casting ballots. Emphasizes the right and the responsibility of citizens to vote. For grades 4-7. 2003.
Are American Elections Fair? BR017757, by Stuart A. Kallen
Ten essays debate the U.S. election process. Includes arguments for and against the electoral college, electronic voting machines, felons' and undocumented immigrants’ voting rights, and campaign finance reform. Discusses the disputed presidential election of 2000 and provides a list of relevant organizations. For junior and senior high readers. 2006.
Our Unfinished March: The Violent Past and Imperiled Future of the Vote -- a History, a Crisis, a Plan, DB109456, by Eric H. Holder and Sam Koppelman
Since the gutting of the Voting Rights act in the landmark Shelby County v. Holder case in 2013, many states have passed laws restricting the vote. America is a fragile democracy whose citizens have only had unfettered access to the ballot since the 1960s. The author takes readers through three dramatic stories of how the vote was won: first by white men, through violence and insurrection; then by white women, through protests and mass imprisonments; and finally, by African Americans, in the face of lynchings and terrorism. Full of surprising history, intensive analysis, and actionable plans, this is a powerful primer on our most urgent political struggle from one of the country's leading advocates. Commercial audiobook. 2022.
On Account of Race: The Supreme Court, White Supremacy, and the Ravaging of African American Voting Rights, DB109026, by Lawrence Goldstone
One promise of democracy is the right of every citizen to vote. And yet, from our founding, strong political forces were determined to limit that right. The Supreme Court, Alexander Hamilton wrote, would protect the weak against this very sort of tyranny. Complex threats against the right to vote persist even today. Beginning in 1876, the Supreme Court systematically dismantled the equal protection guarantees of the Fourteenth Amendment and the right to vote in the Fifteenth. And so, a half million African Americans across the South who had risked their lives and property to be allowed to cast ballots were stricken from voting rolls by white supremacists. This book tells the story of an American tragedy, the only occasion in United States history in which a group of citizens who had been granted the right to vote then had it stripped away. It is a warning that the right to vote is fragile and must be carefully guarded and actively preserved lest American democracy perish. Commercial audiobook. 2020.
A Real Right to Vote: How a Constitutional Amendment Can Safeguard American Democracy, DB119833, by Richard L. Hasen
Throughout history, too many Americans have been disenfranchised or faced needless barriers to vote. Part of the blame falls on the Constitution, which does not contain an affirmative right to vote. The Supreme Court has made matters worse by failing to protect voting rights and limiting Congress's ability to do so. The time has come for voters to act and push for an amendment to the Constitution that would guarantee this right for all. Commercial audiobook. 2024.