Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15th to October 15th and there's so many incredible story books for the occasion.
A quick note: Given the purpose of this month, I've only included books by Hispanic writers. There are many fantastic books about Hispanic music that I personally love, but this month it seems important to specifically highlight Hispanic voices.
And boy are there some incredible stories for this month! This list is only a small selection of the many great books to choose from, but they are some of my personal favorites that I find myself returning to every year.
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Written by Margarita Engle, Illustrated by Rafael López
This is such a beautifully told story about Venezuelan pianist, Teresa Carreño. As a young child fleeing a war-torn country, Teresa achieved great fame and notoriety that she turned into an illustrious and life-long career. She was known as a prolific composer, conductor, performer, and highly respected teacher. This is a must read for the first half of Hispanic Heritage Month which also overlaps with National Piano Month!
Written by Margarita Engle, Illustrated by Rafael López
This is another great read by the powerhouse duo Engle and López! The story is inspired by Cuban-born drummer, Millo Castro Zaldarriaga. Millo started performing in the 1930's and became a pioneer for women drummers in Cuba. She went on to have an impressive career performing with some of the greatest musicians of her time.
Written by Veronica Chambers, Illustrated by Julie Maren
There's a couple great story books about the infamous Queen of Salsa, but this one is my favorite. Chambers clearly has a strong personal connection to Celia's music which makes this book beautifully poetic and such a joy to read.
If you aren't yet familiar with Celia Cruz, she was THE voice of salsa music and was beloved ever since her early years singing as a child in Havana. Her story is one of determination, social and political conflict, and a classic Hollywood rise to fame.
Written by Michael Mahin, Illustrated by Jose Ramirez
No book list for this month would be complete without Carlos Santana, one of the greatest rock musicians of all time. Born in Mexico to humble beginnings, Carlos fought his way to the top, overcoming every obstacle in his path, to become one of the best rags to riches stories in music!
Written by Silvia López, Illustrated by Paola Escobar
Most people know the incredible and heartbreaking story of superstar, Selena Quintanilla. Her music was a bridge between her Mexican and American heritage that millions of fans around the world related to and loved.
This is a wonderfully detailed telling of Selena's story that explores the many facets of her short life including her marriage, fashion design, and cultural identity.
A couple of notes for teachers: This book does not put much focus on Selena's tragic death in the story portion. Instead it ends with an uplifting summary of Selena's legacy. After the story there are multiple pages that discuss some of the topics covered as well as the circumstances around Selena's death. Also, this book is a little longer than the average picture book with 48 pages, so I'd definitely recommend it for slightly older kids with a longer attention span.
Written by Monica Brown, Illustrated by Rafael Lopez
The story of Tito Puente ties in so well with the other books on this list. He was known for his intoxicating dance rhythms and collaborations with great musicians including Carlos Santana and Celia Cruz.
Tito was a drummer, a dancer, and an incredibly prolific artist that recorded over 100 albums that include songs we still listen to today. He was also a great human being that started a foundation to provide scholarships to music students.
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