Inspiring Latino Children's Books | Bilingual & Spanish Titles for Young Dreamers
The list below features our vibrant collection of children’s books that spotlight bold, creative, innovative, and loved dreamers within the Latino community! Showcasing inspiring Latino characters—both fictional and non-fictional—these stories foster empathy, resilience, and big dreams. Discover powerful Latino children’s books at The Young Dreamers’ Bookstore, where every story inspires children to help create a better, more beautiful world.
Important Note: This book list includes some Spanish and bilingual titles ! Lastly this book list organized using our Dream Categories
Bold Dreamers
Here is the inspirational story of Major League Baseball player Roberto Clemente—not Bob—who endured years of racism and discrimination to become one of the greatest baseball players of all time.
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 had an instant impact on the field—hitting the ball and making it to first base and finally home. Many Pittsburgh fans loved his bold style on the field, but not everyone was quick to embrace a Black man from Puerto Rico who spoke español.
This nonfiction picture book by MLB.com journalist Nathalie Alonso and award-winning illustrator Rudy Gutierrez shows the emotional highs and lows of Roberto Clemente’s career as he fought racism—from fans, reporters, and other figures in the sport—to become one of the greatest baseball players of all time. With English and Spanish words intermingled in the text, this book will inspire young readers as they learn about Clemente’s contributions to Black, Latino, and American history.
Nacho's Nachos: The Story Behind the World's Favorite Snack
by Sandra Nickel (Author), Oliver Dominguez (Illustrator)
Ignacio Anaya was born in Mexico in 1895, and like a lot of Ignacios, he was nicknamed Nacho. Young Nacho loved to eat and cook, and when he grew up, he found a job in a restaurant. Eventually he became head waiter at the Victory Club, a popular restaurant in Piedras Negras, Mexico, right across the Rio Grande river from Eagle Pass, Texas.
One afternoon in 1940, during the Victory Club's quiet hours between lunch and dinner, Mamie Finan, a regular customer from the US, walked in with three friends. They wanted a snack--something new, something different. Nacho rushed to the kitchen and improvised with what was on hand: corn tortillas, cheddar cheese, and jalapeño peppers. In that moment, Nacho's Special, the dish that later became known simply as "nachos," was born!
Word of this delicious new snack spread quickly. Soon restaurants all over Mexico, the United States, and later the world, were serving nachos. Little did Nacho know that his name would one day be a household word around the globe!
A gorgeous and inspiring picture book based on the life of José Alberto Gutiérrez, a garbage collector in Bogotá, Colombia who started a library with a single discarded book found on his route.
In the city of Bogata, in the barrio of La Nueva Gloria, there live two Joses. One is a boy who dreams of Saturdays-- that's the day he gets to visit Paradise, the library. The second Jose is a garbage collector. From dusk until dawn, he scans the sidewalks as he drives, squinting in the dim light, searching household trash for hidden treasure . . . books! Some are stacked in neat piles, as if waiting for José́. Others take a bit more digging. Ever since he found his first book, Anna Karenina, years earlier, he's been collecting books--thick ones and thin ones, worn ones and almost new ones-- to add to the collection in his home. And on Saturdays, kids like little Jose run to the steps of Paradise to discover a world filled with books and wonder.
With an evocative text by a debut author, and rich, stunning illustrations from an up-and-coming Colombian illustrator, here is a celebration of perseverance, community, and the power of books.
An original middle-grade graphic novel from Graphix starring Miles Morales, by bestselling author Justin A. Reynolds and Eisner nominee Pablo Leon!
Join MIles Morales in his most epic adventure yet!
Miles Morales has just about gotten used to this being Spider-Man thing. Keeping Brooklyn safe, taking down bad guys, and finishing his homework―he’s got this! But when Spider-Man is invited to a launch for a brand-new video game, things go sideways fast. Anyone who plays the game is frozen, and it’s all because of a villain named the Stranger. He’s judged humanity and found it lacking, and his idea of justice is extreme.
Left with the fate of the world in his hands, and the clock is ticking on Miles. Can he turn old foes to friends and find the answers he needs in time?
Miles Morales Spider-Man: Through a Hero's Eyes
by Denene Millner (Author), Mónica Paola Rodriguez (Illustrator, Cover Art)
This picture book will delight every Spider-Man fan with its vibrant illustrations and heartfelt story about self-discovery.
New York Times bestselling author Denene Millner’s picture book follows Miles Morales as he explores what it means to be an artist, to be Spider-Man, and to be himself.
Miles Morales is captivated by the murals in his neighborhood, bursting with color and life. Each one tells a story about the artist who created it, and as an aspiring artist himself, Miles dreams of making his own one day.
But Miles isn’t just an artist—he’s Spider-Man! When he makes friends with fellow artist Mr. Arty, Miles learns even more about his passions, his Puerto Rican heritage, and the importance of his neighborhood.
Creative Dreamers
Duncan Tonatiuh (Author/Illustrator)
Discover the life and legacy of celebrated Mexican artist Diego Rivera in this picture book by award-winning author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh.
A Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Winner!
STARRED REVIEW *“The author makes art both aspiration and action. . . . This book will thrill budding artists.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“Young artists will find inspiration for their own creations.” ―Booklist
Diego, one of the most famous painters of the 20th century, was once just a mischievous little boy who loved to draw. But this little boy would grow up to follow his passion and greatly influence the world of art. After studying in Spain and France as a young man, Diego was excited to return to his home country of Mexico.
There, he toured from the coasts to the plains to the mountains. He met the peoples of different regions and explored the cultures, architecture, and history of those who had lived before. Returning to Mexico City, he painted great murals representing all that he had seen. He provided the Mexican people with a visual history of who they were and, most importantly, who they are.
Tonatiuh, who has also been inspired by the art and culture of his native Mexico, asks, if Diego was still painting today, what history would he tell through his artwork? What stories would he bring to life?
Drawing inspiration from Rivera to create his own original work, Tonatiuh helps young readers understand the importance of Diego Rivera’s artwork and to realize that they too can tell stories through art.
Game of Freedom: Mestre Bimba and the Art of Capoeira Hardcover
by Duncan Tonatiuh (Author)
In the powerful, vibrant biography Game of Freedom, award-winning creator Duncan Tonatiuh sheds light on the legacy of a legendary capoeira player, Mestre Bimba, who resisted racial oppression through art and turned a marginalized practice into a global phenomenon.
A meia lua whooshed in the air. The strike was evaded and followed with an aú.
Two young men were playing capoeira in the middle of the roda. Bimba wanted to play too.
Although it is debated when and where capoeira—an art form that blends martial arts, dance, acrobatics, music, and spirituality—originated exactly, one thing is certain: in the early 20th century, Brazil was the only country in the world where capoeira was played, and it was mainly practiced by people of African descent. In 1890, two years after Brazil officially abolished slavery, the game was outlawed. Wealthy, lighter-skinned society feared and looked down on capoeira, seeing it as a game for malandros—what people in power called the poor Black communities they disdained. But in the early 1920s in the city of Salvador, a man called Bimba advocated for capoeira, and those who practiced it, demanding they be treated with dignity and respect.
Duncan Tonatiuh’s lyrical prose and beloved full-color illustrations, inspired by pre-Columbian codices, tell the story of arguably the greatest capoeirista of all time, who fought to turn a misunderstood, persecuted Afro-Brazilian activity into a celebrated art practiced by millions around the world. In 2014, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named capoeira an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a distinction awarded because of the game’s promotion of social integration and the memory it holds of the struggle against historical oppression. From an award-winning author-illustrator, Game of Freedom is a stirring celebration of solidarity and resistance through art.
Innovative Dreamer
Pura's Cuentos: How Pura Belpré Reshaped Libraries with Her Stories
by Annette Bay Pimentel (Author), Magaly Morales (Illustrator)
A lyrical, vibrant picture book tribute to the amazing life and legacy of Pura Belpré, a lauded storyteller, librarian, and pioneer of bilingual storytimes
Pura’s abuela always has a cuento to share. She crows ¡Qui-qui-ri-quí! for Señor Gallo, booms Borom, Borom for Señor Zapo, and tells of a beautiful cockroach who loves a mouse. Pura clings to these stories like coquíes cling to green leaves.
When Pura grows up and moves from Puerto Rico to Harlem, she gets a job at the library, where she is surrounded by stories—but they’re only in English. Where is Señor Gallo? Where is Pérez the mouse? Where is Puerto Rico on these shelves? She decides to tell children the tales of her homeland in English and in Spanish.
Lyrically written by Annette Bay Pimentel with lively illustrations from award-winning artist Magaly Morales, Pura’s Cuentos captures the exuberant spirit and passion of Pura Belpré: celebrated storyteller, author, folklorist, and the first Latina librarian in New York City. A pioneer of bilingual storytimes, she welcomed countless new families to the library, formed cultural bridges in her community, and broke the rules by telling stories that weren’t printed in books—at least, not yet.
“Morales’ vivid artwork in warm, saturated colors wittily captures the movement, rhythm, and energy of Belpré’s legacy, which is echoed in the lyrical text. Emphasizing the importance of books as mirrors, as well as inclusion, diversity, proactiveness, talent, and social impact, this is a treasure of a picture-book biography.” —Booklist (starred review)
Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay Hardcover
by Susan Hood (Author), Sally Wern Comport (Illustrator)
From award-winning author Susan Hood and illustrator Sally Wern Comport comes the extraordinary true tale of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay, an orchestra made up of children playing instruments built from recycled trash.
Ada Ríos grew up in Cateura, a small town in Paraguay built on a landfill. She dreamed of playing the violin, but with little money for anything but the bare essentials, it was never an option...until a music teacher named Favio Chávez arrived. He wanted to give the children of Cateura something special, so he made them instruments out of materials found in the trash. It was a crazy idea, but one that would leave Ada—and her town—forever changed. Now, the Recycled Orchestra plays venues around the world, spreading their message of hope and innovation.
Loved Dreamers
In this celebration of Latino children, Myles Pinkney's joyous photographs and Sandra Pinkney's buoyant text showcase traditional food, music, and more through each of the five senses. From dancing the salsa and the tango to smelling delicious empanadas and mouthwatering tamales, to treasuring time with family members and even learning Spanish words and phrases along the way, this is the perfect way to celebrate Latino culture.
Author Isabel Quintero / Illustrated by Zeke Peña
Un homenaje al amor entre un padre y su hija, y a un dinámico barrio de inmigrantes, del galardonado dúo de Isabel Quintero y Zeke Peña. Cuando Daisy Ramona recorre su barrio en motocicleta con su papi, ve a la gente y los lugares que siempre ha conocido. También ve a una comunidad que está cambiando rápidamente a su alrededor. Pero mientras el sol azul púrpura y dorado se va poniendo a sus espaldas, Daisy Ramona comprende que el amor que siente por su ciudad nunca cambiará. Con brillantes ilustraciones y un texto lleno de sentimiento, Mi papi tiene una motocicleta es un mensaje lleno de amor de una niña a su padre, esforzado trabajador, y a los recuerdos que todos guardamos de nuestro hogar a pesar de los cambios o la distancia.
A celebration of the love between a father and daughter, and of a vibrant immigrant neighborhood, by an award-winning author and illustrator duo. When Daisy Ramona zooms around her neighborhood with her papi on his motorcycle, she sees the people and places she’s always known. She also sees a community that is rapidly changing around her. But as the sun sets purple-blue-gold behind Daisy Ramona and her papi, she knows that the love she feels will always be there. With vivid illustrations and text bursting with heart, My Papi Has a Motorcycle is a young girl’s love letter to her hardworking dad and to memories of home that we hold close in the midst of change.
by Arthur Dorros (Author), Rudy Gutierrez (Illustrator)
In Papá and Me, a young boy and his papa may speak both Spanish and English, but the most important language they speak is the language of love. In this beautiful bilingual picture book, Arthur Dorros portrays the close bond between father and son, with lush paintings by Rudy Gutierrez. Fans of Abuelo; Abuela; and La Isla will be thrilled by this multigenerational picture book that emphasizes the overall message of love between a parent and child.
In profound, uplifting verse and sumptuous artwork, beloved creators Matt de la Peña and Corinna Luyken explore the endless possibilities each child contains: A young dancer may grow into a computer coder; a basketball player might become a poet; a class clown may one day serve as an inspiring teacher; and today’s quiet empath might be tomorrow’s great leader.
Here's a profound and uplifting new classic with an empowering message for readers of all ages: Your story is still being written.
From the Newbery Medal-winning author of Last Stop on Market Street comes this moving picture book about the perils of perfectionism.
Lucas goes to the perfect school in the perfect neighborhood. And when he gets perfect grades, he feels like he fits right in.
But life at home is not so perfect. His dad’s old work truck keeps breaking down. His mom works long hours at her job at the diner. And Lucas has to share his small room with his baby sister.
One night, Lucas is awakened by a strange light, which he follows all the way to the place where the perfect people live. Everything there is more beautiful than he could have imagined. But the longer Lucas stays, the more he wonders what it really means to be perfect. Does it mean never making mistakes? Does it mean rejecting his bustling neighborhood and his loving family? And what’s so great about being perfect, anyway?
by Carlos Matias (Author), Gracey Zhang (Illustrator)
Author Carlos Matias and Ezra Jack Keats Award–winning illustrator Gracey Zhang deliver a stunning picture book based on a finalist in the New York Times Metropolitan Diary “Best of the Year,” about a young boy in the city who tries his best to avoid spending his precious quarters on tempting local treats in case of an “emergency.” A poignant, playful tale for fans of Matt de La Peña, Antwan Eady, and Jacqueline Woodson.
Ernesto has waited his whoooole life to become a niño grande. A big boy. Now he’s finally old enough to walk the six blocks to school without his parents.
Every morning, his mom hands him a shiny new quarter and reminds him they’re for emergencies. If Ernesto needs her, she’s only a pay phone call away. But each day reveals a tempting new treat to enjoy with his friends: crisp packs of baseball cards, arcade games, hot tamales, and fresh juices! Ernesto has the coins jingling in his pocket, so how will he choose to spend them?
Islandborn Writing by Junot Diaz and Illustrated by Leo Esponosa
A 2019 Pura Belpré Honor Book for Illustration
Every kid in Lola's school was from somewhere else.
Hers was a school of faraway places.
So when Lola's teacher asks the students to draw a picture of where their families immigrated from, all the kids are excited. Except Lola. She can't remember The Island—she left when she was just a baby. But with the help of her family and friends, and their memories—joyous, fantastical, heartbreaking, and frightening—Lola's imagination takes her on an extraordinary journey back to The Island. As she draws closer to the heart of her family's story, Lola comes to understand the truth of her abuela's words: “Just because you don't remember a place doesn't mean it's not in you.”
Gloriously illustrated and lyrically written, Islandborn is a celebration of creativity, diversity, and our imagination's boundless ability to connect us—to our families, to our past and to ourselves.
Learning Dreamers
Explore a world of shapes in this vibrant, bilingual picture book from award-winning author-illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh
From award-winning and beloved author-illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh comes ¡Felicidades!, a celebratory bilingual concept picture book of shapes featuring a birthday party. ¡Felicidades! includes a double gatefold finale reveal, and a brief author’s note in English and Spanish that lends additional context.
cuadrado–una mesa/square–a table
circulo–un pastel/circle–a cake
triangulo–gorritos/triangle–party hats
ovalo–globos/oval–balloons
rectángulo–regalos/rectangle–gifts
diamante–un papalote/diamond–a kite
medio circulo–rebanadas de fruta/half-circle–fruit slices
pentágonos y hexágonos–un balón de fútbol/pentagons and hexagons–a soccer ball
estrella–una piñata/star–a piñata
corazón–una paleta/heart–a lollipop
¡Feliz cumpleaños!/Happy birthday!
Explore a world of colors in ¡Fiesta!, a vibrant, bilingual picture book from award-winning author-illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh.
A celebratory bilingual concept picture book, this book of colors features a street fiesta with green avocados, yellow tortillas, purple dance dresses, and brown charro pants—concluding with a double gatefold finale reveal.
Included at the back of the book is a brief author’s note that lends additional context to individual objects showcased.
Long ago in Puerto Rico, the animals ate, slept, and snacked all day—every day. The queen of the forest, the parrot, knew this wasn’t good, so she challenged them to a race. They each had great skills—the snake slithered, the pelican cawed, and the turtle just yawned—but they were excited and got ready to run. Everyone strutted their stuff except the frogs. No one paid attention to them. They were too tiny. Could this be their chance to get noticed?
