Picture Books for Latine History Month

This is part of an adorable new bilingual English/Spanish board book series called Teeny Tiendas. Enter Mr. Manzano’s fruit shop, where so many different types of fruit are sold, from figs/higos, dragon fruit/pitayas, to peaches/melocotones. The store is full of children and caregivers shopping. At the end, they all gather in a park for a picnic. Also check out The Flower Shop / La Florería.

Young Jesús is back in this stand-alone follow-up to the picture book Papá’s Magical Water-Jug Clock. When Jesús gets home from school, he wants to go outside and play, but Mamá wants to watch a novela. She tells Jesús he’ll have to wait until it’s done and she finishes her chores. Jesús decides to help with the chores and creates a giant mess. So Mamá appoints him Chief Plant Officer. At first, Jesús loves watering the plants and reading up on them. But when he puts on a dance party for the plants, things take a turn for the worse. This is hilarious and so fun.

Alfredo loves going to school, but this year, things are different. Alfredo was born in Mexico before moving to Texas with his family, and a new state law has passed that only U.S. citizens with papers can attend school. But his parents decide to fight the law and take the state of Texas to court. While this picture book is historical fiction, it is based on true events, which the author discusses in the back matter.

Ana is excited that her abuela is coming to permananetly live with her and her mother. However, that means there will be no reason for her to stay with Señora Mimí before and after school. Ana’s excitement fades into sadness when she realizes her time with Señora Mimí will end. This is a lovely picture book about change.

This picture book biography is about Puerto Rico’s first female mayor. When a hurricane hits, decimating people’s homes, the islanders know exactly who to turn to for help: Doña Fela. She accepts them into her home, and they ask that she run for mayor. Before then, she was a child witnessing the injustices of the early 20th century, and when women were allowed to vote in 1929, she was the fifth woman to register to vote. Back matter includes more details about her life, a glossary, and an artist’s note about her connection to Doña Fela.

This is a picture book biography about Guatemalan environmental scientist Nicole Hernández. Nicole survived an earthquake as a child, and the family moved to a tropical forest. But then they moved to the U.S., and Nicole felt out of place, missing her grandparents and unable to speak English. She found a home and joy in nature, and connected with her community when they moved again to Miami. Her home was destroyed by Hurricane Andrew when she was 17, and that inspired her to research climate change. She became a climate activist, advocating for communities most affected by climate change and educating the public. Back matter includes climate change facts and a list of things children can do to help.

This bookish tee in Spanish looks super comfy and super cool. $28+

It’s fair season, and we visited the Nashville Fair over the weekend. I love the animal, produce, and craft competitions. This beautiful lil bunny won first prize.

If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, X @AReaderlyMom, Bluesky @AReaderlyMom, and blog irregularly at Baby Librarians. You can also read my Book Riot posts. If you’d like to drop me a line, my email is [email protected].