Each year, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month offers families an opportunity to celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans.

A great way to learn about Hispanic and Latino cultures is through reading. Books can introduce kids to people, places and traditions they may not know, while also giving children a chance to see their own families, cultures and experiences reflected in the stories they read.

Whether you have an emerging reader, a middle school bookworm or a teenager looking for their next great read, there are plenty of books to celebrate and explore together.

Early Elementary School

• Dreamers by Yuyi Morales. In this beautifully illustrated picture book, a mother and her young son arrive in a new country carrying their love, dreams and stories with them. Inspired by the author’s own immigration experience, Dreamers celebrates family, resilience and the power of books.
• Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal. Why does Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela have so many names? Her father explains the family history behind each one in this sweet story about identity, heritage and the people who came before us.
• Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina, illustrated by Angela Dominguez. When Mia’s grandmother comes to live with her family, the two have trouble communicating because they speak different languages. With a little creativity—and help from a parrot named Mango—they begin teaching and learning from each other.
• Island Born by Junot Díaz, illustrated by Leo Espinosa. When Lola’s teacher asks students to draw pictures of where their families came from, Lola has a problem—she left the island where she was born when she was just a baby. So she turns to family and neighbors to help her discover it through their memories and stories.

Late Elementary School

• Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina. Sixth grader Merci Suárez is navigating school, friendships and changes at home, including her beloved grandfather’s declining health. Winner of the Newbery Medal, the novel explores family, belonging and growing up with warmth and humor.
• Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Esperanza lives a privileged life in Mexico until tragedy forces her and her mother to flee to California during the Great Depression. Their new life as farmworkers is very different from the one Esperanza knew, and she must discover strengths she didn’t know she had.
• The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez. Twelve-year-old Malú loves punk music, zines and doing things her own way. After moving to Chicago, she forms a band and begins figuring out how her Mexican American heritage can coexist with all the other pieces of her identity.
• The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya. Arturo is looking forward to a relaxing summer in Miami—until a developer threatens his family’s restaurant and neighborhood. Food, family, community and a little poetry come together in this funny and heartfelt story.

Middle School

• The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera. Petra Peña wants to become a storyteller like her grandmother. But after Earth is destroyed and Petra awakens centuries later, she discovers that the memories of the past have been erased. This Newbery Medal-winning science-fiction novel explores storytelling, history, identity and what we choose to remember.
• Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish by Pablo Cartaya. After getting into trouble at school, Marcus travels with his mother and younger brother to Puerto Rico to find the father he barely remembers. Along the way, he begins discovering a family—and part of himself—that he never knew.
• They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid’s Poems by David Bowles. Told through poems, this novel follows a Mexican American middle schooler growing up along the U.S.-Mexico border. Güero’s observations about school, family, friendship and culture make this an accessible choice for kids who might not normally reach for a novel.
• The Other Half of Happy by Rebecca Balcárcel. Quijana is trying to understand where she fits as the daughter of a Guatemalan father and an American mother. As she navigates family changes and questions about identity, she begins to discover that belonging doesn’t have to mean choosing just one part of yourself.

High School

• I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez. After the death of her seemingly perfect older sister, Julia struggles with grief, family expectations and questions about what she wants for her own future. This YA novel tackles complex themes and is best suited for mature teen readers.
• Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. Two Mexican American teenagers form an unexpected friendship that changes how they understand themselves, their families and each other. This coming-of-age novel explores identity, relationships and belonging.
• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. A thrilling, eerie historical horror-fantasy set in 1950s Mexico, the book follows a glamorous socialite who travels to a remote mansion to rescue her newlywed cousin from a terrifying family secret.
• Brownstone by Samuel Teer Illustrated by Mar Julia. This graphic novel follows teenager Almudena who spends a summer getting to know her estranged Guatemalan father as they fix up his old, broken-down brownstone.

Make It a Family Reading Celebration

Reading a book is a great start, but families can take their Hispanic Heritage Month reading a little further. Pick a book and read it aloud together—even older kids can enjoy a family read-aloud or audiobook. Look up the country, city or community featured in the story. Try a recipe connected to the culture you’re reading about. Explore the music or artwork of the region. Ask grandparents or relatives to share stories about your own family’s history and

Find other activities to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in this article.