San Francisco Public Library

Books for Young People on the Hispanic American Experience

Picture Stories | Folktales | Fiction | Songs and Poetry | Nonfiction | Biography

Picture Stories

Gathering the Sun.
Ada, Alma Flor; Illus. by Simón Silva.
Lothrop, 1997. (jPS Ada). Ages 5-8.
Accompanied by glowing full page illustrations, this bilingual alphabet book celebrates Mexican-American farmworkers.

Amelia's Road.
Altman, Linda; Illus. by Enrique O. Sanchez.
Lee & Low, 1993. (jPS ALtm). Ages 6-8.
A migrant farmworker girl longs for a place to call home.

Hairs - Pelitos.
Cisneros, Sandra; Illus. by Terry Ybáñes.
Knopf, 1994. (jPS Cisn). Ages 3-8.
A Latina girl muses about the different kinds of hair within her family.

Isla.
Dorros, Arthur; Illus. by Elisa Kleven.
Dutton, 1995. (jPS Dorr). Ages 5-8.
Abuela takes her granddaughter on a fantasy flight above her Caribbean island.

My Aunt Otilla's Spirits - Los Espíritus de Me Tía Otilia.
Garcia, Richard; Illus. by Robin Cherin and Roger I. Reyes.
Children's Book Press, 1987. (jPS Garc). Ages 6-8.
Spooky things happen when Aunt Otilia comes to visit from Puerto Rico.

The Moon Was at a Fiesta.
Gollub, Matthew; Illus. by Leovigildo Martinez.
Tambourine, 1994. (jPS GoLL). Ages 6-8.
The moon decides to throw a party and keeps people awake all night.

A Spoon for Every Bite.
Hayes, Joe; Illus. by Rebecca Leer.
Orchard, 1996. (jPS Haye). Ages 6-9.
A poor husband and wife trick their greedy neighbor in the old Southwest.

Fernando's Gift - El Regalo de Fernando.
Keister, Douglas.
Sierra Club, 1995. (jPS Keis). Ages 7-9.
A Costa Rican boy consoles a friend when they find her favorite rain forest tree chopped down.

Maria Molina and the Days of the Dead.
Krull, Kathleen; Illus. by Enrique O. Sanchez.
Macmillan, 1994. (jPS KruL). Ags 6-9.
A girl and her family observe the Days of the Dead in Mexico and in the United States.

The Tortilla Factory.
Paulsen, Gary; Illus. by Ruth Wright Paulsen.
Harcourt, 1995. (jPS PauL). Ages 3-7.
From seed to plan to dough, tortillas are brought to life in rich paintings and simple text.

Chato's Kitchen.
Soto, Gary; Illus. by Susan Guevara.
Putnam, 1995. (jPS Soto). Ages 6-8.
Chato the cat tries to lure a family of mice to be his dinner.

Too Many Tamales.
Soto, Gary; Illus. by Ed Martinez.
Putnam, 1993. (jPS Soto). Ages 4-8.
Maria loses her mother's wedding ring in the masa dough while making Christmas tamales.

Jalapeño Bagels.
Wing, Natasha; Illus. by Robert Casilla.
Atheneum, 1996. (jPS Wing). Ages 6-9.
Pablo finds the perfect food to represent his Mexican and Jewish heritage for International Day at school.

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Folktales

Borreguita and the Coyote: A Tale from Ayutla, Mexico.
Aardema, Verna; Illus. by Petra Mathers.
Knopf, 1991. (j398 Aard) Ages 4-8.
A young lamb must outwit Coyote, who wants to eat her.

And Sunday Makes Seven.
Baden, Robert; Illus. by Michelle Edwards.
Whitman, 1990. (j398 Bade). Ages 6-9.
Two cousins have very different experiences with a strange band of witches.

Moon Rope: A Peruvian Folktale - Un Lazo a la Luna: Una Leyenda Peruana.
Ehlert, Lois.
Harcourt, 1992. (j398 EhLe). Ages 5-8.
Fox tries to convince Mole to climb to the moon with him, with disastrous results.

The Woman Who Outshone the Sun: The Legend of Lucia Zenteno - La mujer Qe Brillaba Aún Más Que el Sol: La Leyenda de Lucía Zenteno.
Cruz, Alejandro; Illus. by Fernando Olivera.
Children's Book Press, 1991. (j398.2 Cruz). Ages 7-10.
Zapotec legend of a woman exiled from her village for fear of her magical powers.

People of Corn: A Mayan Story.
Gerson, Mary-Joan; Illus. by Carla Golembe.
Little, Brown, 1995. (j398.2 Gers). Ages 6-9.
Mayan gods create humans out of corn.

La Llorona - The Weeping Woman: An Hispanic Legend.
Hayes, Joe; Illus. by Vicki Trego Hill.
Cinco Puntos, 1987. (j398.2 Haye). Ages 9-12.
A ghost wanders the earth looking for her drowned children..

The Song of el Coquí and Other Tales of Puerto Rico.
Mohr, Nicholasa; Illus. by Antonio Martorell.
Viking, 1995. (j398.2 Mohr). Ages 7-9.
Three animal stories reflect the heritage of the Taino, African, and Spanish peoples.

The Invisible Hunters: A Legend from the Miskito Indians of Nicaragua - Los Cazadores Invisibles: Una Leyenda de los Indios Miskitos de Nicaragua.
Rohmer, Harriet; Illus. by Joe Sam.
Children's Book Press, 1987. (j398.2 Rohm). Ages 7-10.
Hunters are helped by magic but are punished when they turn greedy and selfish.

Watch Out for Clever Women! - ¡Cuidado con las Mujeres Astutas!
Hayes, Joe: Illus. by Vicki Trego Hill.
Cinco Puntos, 1994. (j398.2097 Haye). Ages 9-11.
Stories of clever women set in the Southwest of the United States.

Golden Tales: Myths, Legends, and Folktales from Latin America.
Delacre, Lulu.
Scholastic, 1996. (j398.2098 DeLa). Ages 8-11.
Traditional stories from both Hispanic and Indian cultures.

The Bossy Gallito - El Gallo de Bodas.
Gonzáles, Lucía M.; Illus. by Lulu Delacre.
Scholastic, 1994. (j398.2452 Gonz). Ages 6-9.
This cumulative folktale from Cuba starts when Rooster gets his beak dirty on the way to a wedding.

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Fiction

The Gold Coin.
Ada, Alma Flor; Illus. by Neil Waidman.
Atheneum, 1991. (jF Ada). Ages 6-8.
A thief learns a valuable lesson from an active old woman.

My Name is Maria Isabel.
Ada, Alma Flor; Illus. by K. Dyble Thompson.
Atheneum, 1993. (jF Ada). Ages 8-10.
Maria Isabel wants her teacher to stop calling her "Mary" and hopes to be in the winter pageant.

Abuela's Weave.
Castañeda, Omar S.
Lee & Low, 1993. (jF Cast). Ages 5-8.
A young girl travels with her grandmother to sell their weavings at a Guatemalan market.

Among the Volcanoes.
Castañeda, Omar S.
Lodestar, 1991. (jF Cast). Ages 11+.
An adolescent Mayan girl in Guatemala grapples with the conflicts between village traditions and outside influences.

The Streets Are Free.
Kurusa; Illus. by Monika Doppert.
Annick, 1995. (jF Kuru). Ages 8-11.
Residents of a poor, crowded neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela, organize to get a park built.

El Bronx Remembered: A Novella and Stories.
Mohr, Nicholasa.
HarperCollins, 1975. (jF Mohr). Ages 11+.
Twelve stories about Puerto Rican kids set in the tenements of New York City.

Petty Crimes.
Soto, Gary.
Harcourt, 1998. (jF Soto). Ages 11+.
Latino teenagers in California's Central Valley are the focus of short stories that are funny, harsh, and moving.

Lupe & Me.
Spurr, Elizabeth; Illus. by Enrique O. Sanchez.
Harcourt, 1995. (jF Spur). Ages 6-8.
A young girl forms a friendship with her family's housekeeper.

I Speak English for My Mom.
Stanek, Muriel; Illus. by Judith Friedman.
Whitman, 1989. (jF Stan). Ages 5-8.
Lupe grows tired of interpreting for her mother, who hasn't learned English yet.

Where Angels Glide at Dawn: New Stories from Latin America.
Edited by Lori M. Carlson and Cynthia L. Ventura; Illus. by José Ortega.
Lippincott, 1990. (jF Wher). Ages 10+.
Magical and fantastic modern tales by a diversity of Latino writers.

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Poetry and Songs

Las Nanas de Abuelita: Canciones de Cuna, Trabalenguas y Adivinanzas de Suramérica - Grandmother's Nursery Rhymes: Lullabies, Tongue Twisters, and Riddles from South America.
Compiled by Nelly Palacio Jaramillo; Illus. by Eliviar.
Holt, 1994. (j398.8 Nana). Ages 4-10.
The title says it all!

Arroz con Leche: Popular Songs and Rhymes from Latin America.
Selected and Illus. by Lulu Delacre.
Scholastic, 1989. (j784.4 Arro). Ages 3-10.
Traditional songs and rhymes from Mexico, Argentina, and Puerto Rico.

De Colores and Other Latin-American Folk Songs for Children.
Selected, arranged, and translated by José-Luis Orozco; Illus. by Elisa Kleven.
Dutton, 1994. (j784.8 De). Ages 3-10.
Colorful collage illustrations celebrate children's songs, chants, and rhymes. Includes musical arrangements for piano, voice, and guitar with lyrics in Spanish and English.

Laughing Out Loud, I Fly: Poems in English and Spanish.
Herrera, Juan Felipe; Illus. by Karen Barbour.
HarperCollins, 1998. (j811.54 Herr). Ages 11+.
Playful words describe the sights, smells, and rhythms of growing up.

The Desert Is My Mother - El Desierto Es Mi Madre.
Mora, Pat; Illus. by Daniel Lechón.
Piñata, 1994. (j811.54 Mora). Ages 5-8.
A poem praising the richness and beauty of the Southwest desert.

Canto Familiar.
Soto, Gary; Illus. by Annika Nelson.
Harcourt, 1995. (j811.54 Soto). Ages 8+.
Poems of the home, the block, and the neighborhood, served up with vivacious woodcuts.

Tortillitas para Mama, and Other Nursery Rhymes.
Selected and translated by Margot C. Griego, et. al. Illus. by Barbara Cooney.
Holt, 1981. (j821 Tort). Ages 2-5.
Spanish nursery rhymes with English translations, and beautiful, earth-toned illustrations.

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Non-Fiction

Voices from the Fields: Children of Migrant Farmworkers Tell Their Stories.
Interviews and photos. by S. Beth Atkin.
Little, Brown, 1993. (j305.2308 Voic). Ages 8+.
Photographs and bilingual poetry enhance these glowing oral histories.

In My Family - En Mi Familia; Family Pictures - Cuadros de Familia.
Lomas Garza, Carmen.
Children's Book Press, 1996, 1990. (j325.27 Loma). Ages 8+.
Paintings of scenes from the author's childhood in Texas are accompanied by her reminiscences. (also found under the call number j306.8508 Loma).

Fiesta U.S.A.
Ancona, George.
Lodestar, 1995. (j394.261 Acon). Ages 8-10.
Join the celebrations of Dia de los Muertos, las Posadas, the Matachines, and Three Kings' Day.

Cooking the Mexican Way.
Coronado, Rosa; Drawings and maps by Jeanette Swofford. Photos. by Robert L. and Diane Wolfe.
Lerner, 1982. (j641 Coro). Ages 9+.
Introduces the land, people, and foods of Mexico, including special ingredients and recipes.

Indo-Hispanic Folk Art Traditions: A Book of Culturally-Based, Year-Round Activities.
Salinas-Norman, Bobbi.
Piñata. 1994. (j745.5 SaLi). Ages 12+.
A two volume set with crafts and recipes for a Latino-style Christmas and for Day of the Dead observances, directed toward adults working with children (also found under the call number 745.5 Sa33f).

The Piñata Maker - El Piñatero.
Ancona, George.
Harcourt, 1994. (j745.5941 Anco). Ages 8-11.
Color photographs accompany the story of a traditional piñata maker in a small Mexican town.

City of the Gods: Mexico's Ancient City of Teotihuacán.
Arnold, Caroline; Photos. by Richard Hewett.
Clarion, 1994. (j972.52 Arno). Ages 9-13.
A detailed description of the first large city in ancient Mexico.

Kids Explore America's Hispanic Heritage.
Westridge Young Writers Workshop.
John Muir, 1996. (j973.0468 Kids). Ages 8-12.
Student writers present Hispanic history, festivals, food, dance, art, language fun, and role models (also found under the call number j325.27Ki).

The Other Side: How Kids Live in a California Latino Neighborhood.
Krull, Kathleen; Photos. By David Hautzig.
Lodestar, 1994. (j979.4985 KruL). Ages 8-12.
A look at the lives of several kids who live in San Diego, but who maintain strong family ties in Mexico.

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Biography

Extraordinary Hispanic Americans.
Sinnot, Susan.
Children's Press, 1991. (j325.27 Sinn). Ages 9+.
Short biographical sketches of Hispanic Americans of the past and the present.

Diego.
Winter, Jonah; Illus. by Jeanette Winter.
Knopf, 1991. (j759.972 Rive). Ages 5-8.
A bilingual picture biography that recounts the life of famed Mexican muralist Diego Rivera.

Cesar Chavez: Leader for Migrant Farm Workers.
Gonzales, Doreen.
Enslow, 1996. (jB Chav). Ages 10+.
Easy-to-read biography of the renowned Mexican-American union leader and organizer.

Gloria Estefan.
Stefoff, Rebecca.
Chelsea House, 1991. (jB Este). Ages 11+.
Profiles the popular Cuban American singer of pop and salsa.

Calling the Doves - El Canto de las Palomas.
Herrera, Juan Felipe; Illus. by Elly Simmons.
Children's Book Press, 1995. (jB Herr). Ages 7-11.
Memories of the author's youth in a migrant farm worker family.