COMPILED BY KAY E. VANDERGRIFT AND DENISE AGOSTO
“Finalmente, los latinos son frecuentemente presentados como un grupo monolítico. Como si las vastas diferencias de origen, geografía, lengua, raza, clase y lugar de nacimiento, entre otras, no existieran. La idea de que ‘si has visto un latino los has visto a todos,’ es perpetuada en la literatura infantil donde no hay medidas para establecer diferenciaciones.” –Gerardo Marin y Barbara Vanoss Marin
“Finally, Latinos are often presented as a monolithic group, as if the vast differences in national origin, geography, native language, race, class, and place of birth, among others, did not exit. The feeling that ‘if you’ve seen one Latino, you’ve seen them all’ is perpetuated in children’s literature when no provisions are made for such differences.”–Gerardo Marin and Barbara Vanoss Marin
With lovely illustrations and delightful texts, the following picture books feature positive portrayals of Hispanic and Latin American children. Strong images of these many cultures can make Hispanic and Latin American audiences feel admired and respected, while teaching non-Hispanic and non-Latin American audiences to appreciate these communities. Most importantly, these positive images can serve to remind us all of the universality of human life.
Many of the books on this list have won writing and/or illustration awards, as indicated in parentheses after the bibliographic entries. The newest of these prizes is the Pura Belpre award, given by the American Library Association’s Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the National Association to Promote Library Services to the Spanish Speaking (REFORMA), an ALA affiliate. Initiated in 1996, the Pura Belpre award honors authors and illustrators of Hispanic heritage. This biennial award was named after the New York Public Library’s first Latina librarian. For a complete listing of the Pura Belpre books and honor books, see the ALA Website.
Another major prize is the Americas Award, begun in 1993. Sponsored by the National Consortium of Latin American & Caribbean Studies Programs (CLACS), the Americas Award honors engaging and authentic representations of Latin American the Carribean and Hispanic / Caribbean life experiences. In addition to annual award winners and honorable mentions, the committee also issues an extensive list of commended books. For a complete listing of the Americas Award winners and commended titles, see the CLACS Website.
Ada, Alma Flor. Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English. Illus. by Simon Silva. New York: Lothrop, Lee and Shepard, 1997. (Pura Belpre Honor)
Ada, Alma Flor. My Name Is Maria Isabel. Illus. by K. Dyble Thompson. New York: Atheneum, 1993.
Alarcón, Francisco. Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems/ Jitomatoes Risuenos y otros poemas de primavera. Illus, by Maya Christina Gonzolez. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press, 1997.
Altman, Linda Jacobs. Amelia’s Road. Illus. by Enrique O. Sanchez. New York: Lee and Low, 1993.
Anaya, Rudolfo A. The Farolitos of Christmas. Illus. by Richard C. Sandoval. New York: New Mexico Magazine, 1987.
Ancona, George. Barrio: José’s Neighborhood. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace, 1998.
Ancona, George. Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead. New York: Lothrop, 1993. (Pura Belpre Honor)
Argueta, Manlio. Magic Dogs of the Volcanos/Los Perros Magicos de los Volcanes. Illus. by Elly Simmons. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press, 1990.
Brusca, Maria Cristina. On the Pampas. New York: Holt, 1991. (Parents’ Choice Picture Book Award)
Buffett, Jimmy. Trouble Dolls. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace Jovanvich, 1991.
Bunting, Eve. How Many Days to America? A Thanksgiving Story. Illus. by Beth Peck. New York: Clarion, 1988.
Bunting, Eve. A Day’s Work. Illus. by Ronald Himler. New York: Clarion, 1994. (Americas Commended)
Bunting, Eve. Going Home. Illus. by David Diaz. New York HarperCollins, 1996. (Americas Commended)
Cameron, Ann. The Most Beautiful Place in the World. Illus. by Thomas B. Allen. New York: Knopf, 1988.
Carlson, Lori Marie. Sol a Sol. Illus. by Emily Lisker. New York: Henry Holt, 1998.
Castaneda, Carlos. Abuela’s Weave. Illus. by Enrique O. Sanchez. New York: Lee and Low, 1993. (Americas Commended)
Cooper, Martha and Ginger Gordon. Anthony Reynoso: Born to Rope. New York: Clarion, 1996. (Americas Commended)
Delacre, Lulu. Arroz con Leche: Popular Songs and Rhymes from Latin America. New York: Scholastic, 1989.
Delacre, Lulu. Las Navidades: Popular Christmas Songs from Latin America. New York: Scholastic, 1990.
Dorros, Arthur. Abuela. Illus. by Elisa Kleven. New York: Dutton, 1991.
Dorros, Arthur. Isla. Illus. by Elisa Kleven. New York: Dutton, 1995. (Americas Commended)
Dorros, Arthur. Tonight Is Carnaval. Illus. with arpilleras sewn by the members of the Club de Madres Virgen del Carmen of Lima, Peru. New York: Dutton, 1991.
Eversole, Robyn. The Flute Player/La Flautista. Illus. by G. Brian Karas. New York: Orchard, 1995.
Garay, Luis. Pedrito’s Day. New York: Orchard, 1997.
Garcia, Maria. The Adventures of Connie and Diego./Las Aventuras de Connie y Diego. Rev. ed., Illus. by Malaquias Montoya. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press, 1987.
Gershator, David and Phyllis. Bread Is for Eating. Illus. by Emma Shaw-Smith. New York: Holt, 1995.
Grossman, Patricia. Saturday Market. Illus. by Enrique O. Sanchez. New York: Lothrop, 1994. (Americas Commended)
Hayes, Joe. A Spoon for Every Bite. Illus. by Rebecca Leer. New York: Orchard, 1996.
Herrera, Juan Felipe. Calling the Doves/El canto de los Palomas. Illus. by Elly Simmons. New York: Children’s Book Press, 1995.
Hewett, Joan. Hector Lives in the U.S. Now: The Story of a Mexican American Child. Photos by Richard Hewett. New York: HarperCollins, 1990.
Hurwitz, Johanna.New Shoes for Silvia. New York: Morrow, 1993.
Keister, Douglas. Fernando’s Gift. San Francisco: Sierra Club, 1995. (Americas Commended)
Kleven, Elisa. Hooray, a Pinata! New York: Dutton, 1996. (Americas Commended)
Kurusa. The Streets Are Free. Trans. from Spanish by Karen Englander. Illus. by Monkia Doppert. Copenhagen, Denmark: Annick, 1985.
Lewin, Ted. Amazon Boy. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1993.
Lomas Garza, Carmen. Family Pictures: Cuadros de Familia. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press, 1990. (Pura Belpre Honor)
Lomas Garza, Carmen. In My Family/En Mi Familia. San Francisco: Children’s Book Press, 1996. (Pura Belpre Honor)(Americas Winner)
Markum, Patricia Maloney. The Little Painter of Sabana Grande. Illus. by Robert Casilla. New York: Bradbury, 1993. (Americas Commended)
Martel, Cruz. Yagua Days. Illus. by Jerry Pinkney. New York: Dial, 1976. (runner-up in the Council on Interracial Books for Children competition)
Maury, Inez. My Mother and I Are Growing Strong./Mi Mama y Yo Nos Hacemos Fuertes. Illus. by Sandy Speidel. Berkley, CA: New Seed Press, 1979.
Mora, Pat. A Birthday Basket for Tia. Illus. by Cecily Lang. New York: Macmillan, 1992.
Mora, Pat. Pablo’s Tree. Illus. by Cecily Lang. New York: Macmillan, 1994. (Americas Commended)
Presilla, Maricel E. Mola: Cuna Life Stories and Art. New York: Henry Holt, 1996.
Presilla, Maricel E. and Gloria Soto. Life Around the Lake: Embroideries by the Women of Lake Patzcuaro. New York: Henry Holt, 1996.
Reiser, Lynn. Tortillas and Lullabies. Illus. by Las Corazones Valientes. New York: Greenwillow, 1998.
Riecken, Nancy. Today Is the Day. Illus. by Catherine Stock. Boston,MA: Houghton Mifflin, 1996.
Rohmer, Harriet. Uncle Nacho’s Hat. Illus. by Mira Reisberg. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press, 1993.
Rossi, Joyce. The Gullywasher. Flagstaff, AZ: Northland, 1995. (Americas Commended)
San Souci, Robert D. The Little Seven-Colored Horse: A Spanish American Folktale. Illus. Jan Thompson Dicks. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 1995.
Schoberle, Cecile. Esmeralda and the Pet Parade. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1990.
Soto, Gary. The Old Man & His Door. Illus. by Joe Cepeda. New York: Putnam, 1996.
Soto, Gary. Snapshots from the Wedding. Illus. by Stephanie Garcia. New York: Putnam, 1997. (Pura Belpre Winner)
Soto, Gary. Too Many Tamales. Illus. by Ed Martinez. New York: Putnam, 1993.
Stanek, Muriel. I Speak English for My Mom. Illus. by Judith Friedman. New York: Albert Whitman, 1989.
Stevens, Jan Romero. Carlos and the Cornfield/Carlos y la Milpa de Maiz. Illus. by Jeanne Arnold. Flagstaff, AZ: Northland, 1995.
Taha, Karen T. A Gift for Tia Rosa. Illus. by Dee de Rosa. Minneapolis, MN: Dillon, 1986.
Tamar, Erika. The Garden of Happiness. Illus. by Barbara Lambase. San Diego: Harcourt Brace, 1996. (Americas Commended)
Thomas, Jane Resh. Lights on the River. Illus. by Michael Dooling. New York: Hyperion, 1994.
Van Laan, Nancy. La Boda: A Mexican Wedding Celebration. Illus. Andrea Arroyo. Boston, MA: Little Brown, 1996.
Zamorano, Ana. Let’s Eat! Illus. Julie Vivas. New York: Scholastic, 1996.
