Ages 11-14; Gr.6-8;Pura Belpre honor book, 2025.
Cruzita is going to be a pop star. All she has to do is win a singing contest at her favorite theme park and get famous. But she can't go to the theme park this summer. Instead, she has to help out at her family's bakery, which has been struggling ever since Tío Chuy died. Cruzita's great-uncle poured his heart into the bakery--the family legacy--and now that he's gone, nothing is the same. When Cruzita's not rolling uneven tortillas or trying to salvage rock-hard conchas, she has to take mariachi lessons, even though she doesn't know how to play her great-grandpa's violin and she's not fluent in Spanish.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3 Pura Belpre Some people dream of perfect waves, fancy castles, or piloting a plane. Others dream of someone to laugh and play with all day long. Some just dream of having a meal for the next day. And little Miguel? As he and Abuelito work in the hot Oaxacan sun, selling cold coconuts and macrame dream catchers to earn a few coins, Miguel has only one simple wish--to have his parents by his side.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
It starts with a soft tapping, Uncle Eduardo drumming his hands against his dusty jeans. As the blush of sunset gives way to night in the desert, coyotes, cicadas, and barn owls emerge, each calling out to the moon. Watching from their porch, the family joins the song. One by one, each relative offers their drums, flute, maracas, strings, and voices.

Lexile measure Ages 3-5; AD760L; Pura Belpre honor book, 2025.
It's been three years since Abuela's last visit, and Dulce revels in every tiny detail-from Abuela's maletas full of candies in crinkly wrappers and gifts from primos to the sweet, earthy smell of Peru that floats out of Abuela's room and down the hall. But Abuela's visit can't last forever, and all too soon she's packing her suitcases again. And despite having to say goodbye, Abuela has one more surprise for Dulce-something to help her remember that home isn't just a place, but the deep-rooted love they share no matter the distance.

Lexile measure 710; Ages 8-12; Gr.3-7; Pura Belpre author winner; 2025.
Ten-year-old Lola has always been touched by magic. In her Mexico City home, built around a towering tree, she is accustomed to enchanted blooms that change with the seasons, a sandbox that spits out mysterious treasures, and mischievous chaneques that scuttle about unseen by all but her. Magic has always been a part of her life, but now she must embrace the extraordinary as never before. Ever since The Thing That Happened, Lola's brother Alex has been sick. As his condition worsens, something begins eating away at the tree, causing its leaves and blossoms to crumble like ash. The two are related, Lola is sure of it, but how?

Ages 14-17; Gr.9 and up.
Belén Dolores Itzel del Toro wants the normal stuff: to experience love or maybe have a boyfriend or at least just lose her virginity. But nothing is normal in East Oakland. Her father left her family. She's at risk of not graduating. And Leti, her super-Catholic, nerdy-ass best friend, is pregnant--by the boyfriend she hasn't told her parents about, because he's Black, and her parents are racist. Things are hella complicated. Weighed by a depression she can't seem to shake, Belén helps Leti, hangs out with an older guy, and cuts a lot of class.

Ages 5-7; K-Gr.2.
Ana cannot contain her excitement--her abuela is coming to stay with her and Mami for always! Abuela is sure to let Ana play whenever she wants instead of rushing her off to school, like her neighbor and babysitter, señora Mimí, sometimes does. In fact, as Ana's classmate points out, she won't need señora Mimí to babysit at all anymore! But señora Mimí is a good listener, and they have a lot of fun together feeding the squirrels and eating snacks. Maybe Ana isn't ready to say goodbye to señora Mimí just yet?

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
Before the first Christmas light is strung, Grandma is hard at work, making thousands of tamales to sell so she can buy gifts for her family! This heartwarming tale, based on a true story, explores a grandmother's boundless generosity, and the irresistible magic of tamales.

Lexile measure 820; Ages 7-10; Gr.2-5.
Roberto Clemente always loved baseball. Growing up in Carolina, Puerto Rico, he swung tree branches (since he didn't have a bat) and hit tin cans. He was always batting, pitching, running, sliding. His dedication paid off when, at the age of 19, he was tapped for a major league team. First stop- chilly Montreal . . . where he warmed the bench and himself, longing to play baseball. Months later, he finally got his chance with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Clemente became an instant star on the field-hitting the ball and making it to first base and finally home.

Ages 10-12; Gr.5-6.
An insightful novel in verse about the joys and struggles of a Chicana girl who is a warrior for her name, her history, and her right to choose what she celebrates in life.

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
Beautifully illustrated with the gifted colors of Mother Earth, introduce little ones to the hardship and tireless days of a farm worker - in English and Spanish!

Ages 12 and up; Gr.9 and up;
Winner of the 2024 Coretta Scott King John Steptoe New Talent Award.
A raised fist against the destructive forces of gentrification and a love letter to communities of color everywhere, Jade Adia's unforgettable debut tells the darkly hilarious story of three best friends willing to do whatever it takes to stay together. The gang is fake, but the fear is real. Rhea's neighborhood is fading away--the mom-and-pop shops of her childhood forced out to make space for an artisanal kombucha brewery here, a hot yoga studio there. And everywhere, the feeling that this place is no longer meant for her.

Ages 8-12; Gr.5-9; Pura Belpré Author Honor Award.
Aniana del Mar belongs in the water like a dolphin belongs to the sea. But she and Papi keep her swim practices and meets hidden from Mami, who has never recovered from losing someone she loves to the water years ago. That is, until the day Ani's stiffness and swollen joints mean she can no longer get out of bed, and Ani is forced to reveal just how important swimming is to her. Mami forbids her from returning to the water but Ani and her doctor believe that swimming along with medication will help Ani manage her disease.

Lexile measure HL530L; Ages 10 and up; Gr.5-8; Pura Belpre illustrator winner, 2024.
Pedro Martín has grown up hearing stories about his abuelito--his legendary crime-fighting, grandfather who was once a part of the Mexican Revolution! But that doesn't mean Pedro is excited at the news that Abuelito is coming to live with their family. After all, Pedro has 8 brothers and sisters and the house is crowded enough! Still, Pedro piles into the Winnebago with his family for a road trip to Mexico to bring Abuelito home, and what follows is the trip of a lifetime, one filled with laughs and heartache.

Lexile measure AD580l;Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3; Pura Belpre award, 2024.
Little Jesos is excited to spend a Saturday with his landscaper Papa at the "family business." He loves Papa's cool truck and all the tools he gets to use. Papa even puts him in charge of the magical water jug, which is also a clock! When it's empty, Papa explains, the workday will be done. It's a big job, and Jesos wants to do it right. But he just can't help giving water to an array of thirsty animals-a dog in a sweater, some very old cats, and a flock of peacocks. Before he knows it, the magical water jug is empty -but the workday's not over yet! Will Jesos be fired?!

Ages 4-8; K-Gr.3.
Marta is finally old enough for her own slice of the special, sneaky dessert she loves so much--la Rosca de Reyes. The colorful crown of sweet bread is so tempting, but Marta knows the truth--there's a baby hiding in the dessert: el Niño Dios. Marta can't help but wonder what will happen if she accidentally eats the little figurine of baby Jesus. Suddenly, Marta will do whatever it takes to avoid picking the last slice of la rosca--no matter how badly she wants a bite!

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
Laugh and count along with this lively cumulative romp told in a lyrical blend of Spanish and English by Anika Aldamuy Denise and illustrator Zara Gonzalez Hoang! Nine kittens follow Gato Guapo around, but when it's time to count them, one by one, they go missing, along with a piece of Gato Guapo's clothes!

Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
As a boy prepares for his school's Spanish spelling bee, he asks his grandmother for help with some of the words he doesn't know how to spell yet. When she studies with him, she tells him how different things were back when she was a girl, when she was only allowed to speak English in school. This only inspires him to study even harder and make his family proud.