Ongoing List of
Latino/Hispanic
History Books
Please Note
- Ethnicity/Race/Nationality can be complex topics, especially for those with multi-ethnic backgrounds. In being culturally sensitive without having countless tables, I've categorized the books into 4 main categories, as can be seen below. (Books with asterisks are in multiple categories)
- Every family has different beliefs and values. Please make sure to preview titles to ensure they fit your family standards.
- Many of the books shared here are titles I'd either like to or have used for my own daughter, books that come highly recommended or books I think would be worth sharing. Therefore, I have not read every book. As mentioned above, please preview titles.
- Some books may use politically incorrect words. Use your own judgment to substitute them with more culturally sensitive terms or leave them as is if they convey the feel and message of the times to your student. (i.e. Indian vs Native American)
- The recommended ages are just that: recommended. You know your child best and whether or not a book may be appropriate for them.
- Picture books are often thought to be just for younger children. However, I can't tell you how many times the powerful words accompanied with beautiful imagery have moved me to tears or lead to rich discussion with my student. Please don't miss these opportunities just because it's labeled a "picture book".
The table below is interactive so you can filter
or sort by any category.
Latino / Hispanic History Books
| Amazon LINK | Title | Author |
|---|---|---|
  | Separate is Never Equal | Duncan Tonatiuh |
  | Esperanza Rising | Pam Muñoz Ryan |
  | The Color of My Words | Lynn Joseph |
  | Frida Kahlo: The Artist who Painted Herself | Margaret Frith |
  | Frida Kahlo (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists) | Mike Venezia |
  | Frida Kahlo (Portraits of Women Artists for Children) | Robyn Montana Turner |
  | Who was Frida Kahlo? | Sarah Fabiny |
  | Diego Rivera (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists) | Mike Venezia |
  | Diego (Bilingual Edition) | Jonah Winter |
  | Diego Rivera: His World and Ours | Duncan Tonatiuh |
  | The House on Mango Street | Sandra Cisneros |
  | *I, Juan de Pareja | Elizabeth Borton de Treviño |
  | Portraits of Hispanic American Heroes | Juan Felipe Herrera |
  | Calling the Doves / El canto de las palomas | Juan Felipe Herrera |
  | When I Was Puerto Rican: A Memoir | Esmeralda Santiago |
  | The Line of the Sun | Judith Ortiz Cofer |
  | Nilda | Nicholasa Mohr |
  | Felita | Nicholasa Mohr |
  | Going Home | Nicholasa Mohr |
  | El Bronx Remembered | Nicholasa Mohr |
  | *El Chino | Allen Say |
  | Before We Were Free | Julia Alvarez |
  | Turning Pages: My Life Story | Sonia Sotomayor |
  | The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor | Sonia Sotomayor |
  | Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx / La Juez que Creció en El Bronx | Jonah Winter |
  | Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré | Anika Aldamuy Denise |
  | A Girl Named Rosita: The Story of Rita Moreno: Actor, Singer, Dancer, Trailblazer! | Anika Aldamuy Denise |
  | The Storyteller's Candle / La Velita De Los Cuentos | Lucía González |
  | Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez | Kathleen Krull |
  | Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln | Margarita Engle |
  | Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir | Margarita Engle |
  | Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music | Margarita Engle |
  | Shomburg: The Man Who Built a Library | Carole Boston Weatherford |
  | Island Treasures: Growing Up in Cuba | Alma Flor Ada |
  | Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat | Javaka Steptoe |
  | Pride of Puerto Rico: The Life of Roberto Clemente | Paul Robert Walker |