5 Latine Picture Books for Everyone to Read

This book is a love song to lowrider culture. It centers on young Gabi, who loves her family’s lowrider (named Pico Nights) immensely. So of course she’s devastated when her dad puts Pico Nights up for sale, and she’s determined to save the day… and the car. I adored the way Gabi’s character slowly realizes that while the car itself is special, the memories she’s made together with her Papi and her Abuelo are priceless. Vanessa Morales’ vibrant illustrations are the perfect counterpart to Laura de la Cruz’s story. Between the colorful graphics and the alliterative writing, this book is highly engaging.

Every community has that special person at its heart—the person who wears many hats and supports people in whatever way is needed. Mamá Elena is that person in Paola Santos’ book. Featuring colorful collage-like illustrations by Olivia Sue, A House in My Barrio shows a community coming together to support the elder who usually supports them. Sue’s illustrations drain of color when Mamá Elena is struggling, but as Manuel rallies the community to come together and support the beloved woman in her moment of need, color returns once again, paralleling the way they reinvigorate her. The animal friends add a fun extra touch to the story, too (I mean, who doesn’t love a toucan??).

With Peruvian American writer and artist Martinez-Neals’ exquisite pencil illustrations and lovingly told story, it’s no wonder this book earned a Caldecott. It opens with Alma expressing frustration that her name is “too long.” From there, her dad tells her the story behind each of her six names. As his reasons for selecting these names for her come to light, the visuals help young readers see the ways our ancestors live on in us. It’s a simple enough premise, but this book has so much depth. I love that it’s told in a way that young readers can both understand and connect with.

This award-winning book is based on author/illustrator Yuyi Morales’ own experiences immigrating from Mexico to the United States as a young mother. The multimedia illustrations alone will transport you, embodying one aspect of the title’s meaning. The nonfiction story itself will also move you, as it touches on everything from the challenges of immigrating to a new country, the impact of literacy and libraries, and the contemporary political context impacting undocumented immigrants and their children. It’s a beautiful book with a broad appeal and an important takeaway.

Originally published in 1996, this holiday tale of a potential cooking disaster has become a staple in Latine picture books. Ed Martinez’s realistic illustrations depict the combined warmth of winter holidays and family gatherings. They’re a beautiful complement to the humorous story of a girl who’s afraid she may have committed the ultimate double-whammy: losing her mama’s ring in the masa for the tamales. And the book is also offered in Spanish under the title ¡Que Montón de Tamales!