Book Finder

Ain’t Nothing but a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry

Marc Aronson, Scott Reynolds Nelson

Age Level:

9-12

Genre:

Nonfiction, Biography, Fairytales, Folk Tales, and Tall Tales, Myths and Legends

When Tío Tomás speaks in Spanish and tells his nephew Carlos ancient stories from Mexico, he is animated and happy. When he has to speak in English, however, his bad mood makes him look like a rain cloud. Eventually the two of them find a solution that will allow them to know “twice as much as everyone else!” This realistic story provides an authentic look at the frustration many recent immigrants feel when they are struggling to learn a new language, as well as the opportunities that being bilingual provides.

Note: While the scene in which Carlos translates at a school conference is realistic, we strongly discourage schools from using students as translators for parent conferences.

Uncle Rain Cloud

Tony Johnston

Illustrator:

Fabricio Vanden Broeck

Age Level:

6-9

“Everybody in our family has different hair,” begins this loving celebration of diversity among family members. Papa’s hair is like a broom, Nenny’s hair is slippery, and Mama’s hair looks like rosettes and smells like warm bread. Terry Ybàñez’s colorful illustrations, bordered by imaginative drawings, capture the uniqueness of each family member and their joy in being together.

Hairs/Pelitos

Sandra Cisneros

Illustrator:

Terry Ybàñez

Age Level:

3-6

Product Description: Cousins are friends and rivals. Cousins are funny and frustrating. But the most important thing is that cousins are family. From the moment they get together, the fun begins. Written in simple language for children ages 2-5, the brief English and Spanish text will become a valuable tool to encourage children to think and talk about their own families.

We Are Cousins

Diane Gonzales Bertrand

Illustrator:

Christina Rodriguez

Age Level:

3-6

Product Description: Carolina lives in a village up in the Andes mountains. Today she and her mother are traveling into town to find a birthday gift for Carolina’s grandmother. There are so many things to see and so many gifts to choose from! Carolina’s Gift gives readers a fun and unique insight into what life might be like for a child growing up in mountain village of Peru.

Carolina’s Gift: A Story of Peru

Katacha Diaz

Illustrator:

Gredna Landolt

Age Level:

3-6

Product Description: Every Saturday, Maria Lili looks forward to making chicken sancocho with her grandparents. But one Saturday they discover that there is nothing in the house except eggs. Mama Ana has a plan, though, and taking the eggs with her, she invites Maria Lili to come to the market. Bold, cheerful watercolors evoke the busy atmosphere of the village markets of Central and South America. Reading Rainbow Book.

Saturday Sancocho

Leyla Torres

Age Level:

6-9

Zapato Power: Freddie Ramos Zooms to the Rescue (Book 3)

Jacqueline Jules

Illustrator:

Miguel Benitez

Age Level:

6-9

Product Description: Felita’s parents promise she will love their new neighborhood. Only Abuelita, her grandmother, understands how much Felita will miss her old block, and her best friend Gigi. But her new neighbors taunt and tease Felita and her family because they are from Puerto Rico. First published twenty years ago, Felita’s compelling story has resonance for kids today.

Felita

Nicholasa Mohr

Age Level:

9-12

Product Description: Even at the advanced age of seven, Magda Madrigal can remember back to when she was a little girl and would watch her abuela making tortillas. Having studied techniques of a master, she now feels confident of her own ability to turn out beautiful, delicious, and round tortillas. But somehow the rolling pin and the kitchen still hold a few surprises for the perplexed Magda and for her delighted family. Great art isn’t always pretty, but in the case of “tortilla artist” Magda Madrigal, at least it’s tasty!

Magda’s Tortillas

Becky Chavarría-Chairez

Illustrator:

Anne Vega

Age Level:

6-9

Opuestos: Mexican Folk Art Opposites

Cynthia Weill

Age Level:

0-3

Genre:

Nonfiction

Magda’s tío has purchased the perfect piñata for her little brother’s birthday. In fact, Gabriel’s piñata is so perfect that he insists that no one break it. But what fun is a birthday party withoout a piñata? And how can the neighborhood children break the piñata without breaking Gabriel’s heart? Finally, with the help of her abuela’s resourcefull little cat, Tita, Magda works some midnight magic and engineers an ingenious solution to save the party and the piñata.

Magda’s Piñata Magic

Becky Chavarría-Chairez

Illustrator:

Anne Vega

Age Level:

6-9

“The fruit- blended juice drinks known as aguas frescas offered at a fair inspire a little girl and her mother to serve their own version after a soccer practice. The dual English/ Spanish text is augmented by summery scenes in opaque, rich colors. The simplicity of the suggested idea that homemade fruit juice will always be fun to make and delicious to drink is appealing.” — KIRKUS Reviews

Alicia’s Fruity Drinks

Lupe Ruiz-Flores

Illustrator:

Laura Lacamara

Age Level:

6-9

“Rosenberg, director of the Bilingual Theater, provides a collection of staged Hispanic plays for children, providing a wide range of plots and multicultural characters throughout. Plays are provided in English, Spanish and bilingual formats and provide diverse and often unexpected themes which will prove refreshingly different for young aspiring actors.” — Midwest Book Review

¡Aplauso!: Hispanic Children’s Theatre

Joe Rosenberg

Age Level:

6-9

“Up on the altiplano, the littlest llama wants to have fun, but the other llamas are busy. He sets off on a short journey to find playmates, but something ‘fierce and orange and round like the sun’ (a child’s ball) chases him, and he scurries home, frightened. There, a surprise awaits: a new baby llama to play with, and also, most important, Mama’s comforting cuddleThroughout, the text and art give a strong sense of llama behavior, from dust bathing to neck wrestling, and incorporate South American cultural elements.” — Booklist

The Littlest Llama

Jane Buxton

Illustrator:

Jenny Cooper

Age Level:

3-6

Two people in bright, stylized garb sail to the islands known as the Galapagos. On successive days of the week, they see a variety of the animals that live there with the repeating refrain, “We’re sailing to Galapagos….I wonder who we’ll see.” End notes describe in greater detail the location and inhabitants of the Galapagos as well as a brief piece about Charles Darwin who sailed there.

We’re Sailing to Galapagos: A Week in the Pacific

Laurie Krebs

Illustrator:

Grazia Restelli

Age Level:

3-6

Genre:

Nonfiction

“The mountain landscape is at the center of this picture book about the Peruvian Inti Raymi Festival as children travel from all over southern Peru, by bus, train, boat, mule, and truck, to the city of Cusco to celebrate with feasting and fun in their traditional costumes. The simple rhyming text and the bright, clear, beautiful unframed acrylic paintings express a strong sense of the rich traditions that are still part of contemporary life, from the clothes and food at the party to the images of the Sun God.” — Booklist

Up and Down the Andes: A Peruvian Festival Tale

Laurie Krebs

Illustrator:

Aurelia Fronty

Age Level:

3-6

Product Description: The young Mexican American girl at the center of this charming book loves her family — five younger brothers, her two parents, and several visiting relatives — but in such a crowded house, she can never seem to find a moment alone. Told in both English and Spanish, this boldly illustrated title based on the author’s childhood delivers the inspiring story of a California family that pulled together to give a young girl her own corner of the world.

My Very Own Room

Amada Irma Pérez

Age Level:

6-9

Product Description: The Upside Down Boy is the sequel to Calling the Doves and award-winning poet Juan Felipe Herrera’s engaging memoir of the year his migrant family settled down so that he could go to school for the first time. Juanito is bewildered by the new school, and he misses the warmth of country life. Everything he does feels upside downBut a sensitive teacher and loving family help him to find his voice and make a place for himself in this new world through poetry, art, and music.

The Upside Down Boy

Juan Felipe Herrera

Illustrator:

Elizabeth Gomez

Age Level:

6-9

Product Description: The yellow dress Erandi wants for her birthday will look beautiful with her long, thick braids. But Mama’s fishing net is full of holes, and there isn’t enough money to buy both a new net and a birthday dress. The only solution lies with the hair buyers from the city. But Mama’s hair isn’t nearly as beautiful as Erandi’s. Will Erandi have to choose between her birthday present and her braids? This touching tale of love and sacrifice is sprinkled throughout with Spanish words and expressions.

Erandi’s Braids

Antonio Hernández Madrigal

Illustrator:

Tomie dePaola

Age Level:

6-9

Genre:

Fiction

“Jessenia, her Mami, and her brother, Luis, are off to the suburbs to watch Jessenia swim at a meet. Jessenia is intimidated by the big new suburban pool and the fact that the other team is on a winning streak. Her team is behind, but she manages to win her last matchJessenia’s story is juxtaposed against the memories Mami has of her home in Puerto Rico; as Jessenia swims, the blue of the water reminds her of the expanse of ocean Mami has often described.” — Booklist

Get Set! Swim!

Jeannine Atkins

Illustrator:

Hector Viveros Lee

Age Level:

6-9

Product Description: Stolen away from her parents on her first birthday by island sorceress Madam Fate, beautiful Sugar Cane grows up in a tower overlooking the sea, her only consolation her love of music. Then one night, someone does hear her song, but could this young man with a gift for music break the spell of Madam Fate and help Sugar Cane set herself free? Patricia Storace’s lyrical and poignant retelling of the Rapunzel tale in a Caribbean setting is perfectly matched with Raúl Colón’s lush illustrations.

Sugar Cane: A Caribbean Rapunzel

Patricia Storace

Illustrator:

Raul Colón

Age Level:

6-9

This Taino creation story describes how the island of Puerto Rico came into existence when the Earth was a desert without water. A young boy’s adventures lead to the growth of a beautiful forest on top of a mounatain and then the introduction of the sea and its creatures around the base of the mountain, which becomes an island. The lovely, stylized illustrations are a perfect match for the traditional story.

The Golden Flower: A Taino Myth from Puerto Rico

Nina Jaffe

Illustrator:

Enrique O. Sanchez

Age Level:

6-9

Far on the other side of the mountains, next to an enchanted castle, grows a tree with three golden oranges. It is there that three brothers must journey if they wish to find a wife. Will the brothers be able to avert misfortune by working together? Will they be strong enough to break the spell that a wicked sorcerer has placed on the castle? Alma Flor Ada offers this poetic retelling of a well-loved traditional story about Blancaflor, a mythical young woman who appears in stories throughout the Hispanic world.

The Three Golden Oranges

Alma Flor Ada

Illustrator:

Stephen Cartwright

Age Level:

9-12

Genre:

Fairytales, Folk Tales, and Tall Tales, Fiction

“Soto takes readers to a Mexican American nuptial, and young Maya, the flower girl, is the lens through which the action is seenCreated with Sculpy clay, acrylic paints, wood, ribbons, and flowers, the art is displayed in large boxes set against pages covered with lace. The doll-like members of the wedding are exaggerated just enough to be amusing; at times, just a body part or two are highlighted, as when Maya’s feet are shown on top of her father’s while they dance.” — Booklist

Snapshots from the Wedding

Gary Soto

Illustrator:

Stephanie Garcia

Age Level:

3-6

Reading 101

In the Classroom

Helping All Readers

Books & Authors

Literacy at Home

Book Finder

Ain’t Nothing but a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry

Uncle Rain Cloud

Hairs/Pelitos

We Are Cousins

Carolina’s Gift: A Story of Peru

Saturday Sancocho

Zapato Power: Freddie Ramos Zooms to the Rescue (Book 3)

Felita

Magda’s Tortillas

Opuestos: Mexican Folk Art Opposites

Magda’s Piñata Magic

Alicia’s Fruity Drinks

¡Aplauso!: Hispanic Children’s Theatre

The Littlest Llama

We’re Sailing to Galapagos: A Week in the Pacific

Up and Down the Andes: A Peruvian Festival Tale

My Very Own Room

The Upside Down Boy

Erandi’s Braids

Get Set! Swim!

Sugar Cane: A Caribbean Rapunzel

The Golden Flower: A Taino Myth from Puerto Rico

The Three Golden Oranges

Snapshots from the Wedding

Book Finder

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