The most fabulosos Latinx picture books

Ana Siqueira Author Of Bella's Recipe for Success
By Ana Siqueira

Who am I?

Ana Siqueira is a Spanish-language elementary teacher, an award-winning Brazilian children’s author, and a published author in the Foreign Language educational market. Her debut picture book is Bella’s Recipe for Disaster/Success (Beaming Books, 2021), Her forthcoming books are If Your Babysitter Is a Bruja/ Cuando Tu Niñera Es Una Bruja (SimonKids, 2022), Abuela’s Super Capa/La Super Capa De Abuela (HarperCollins 2023) - two-book deal auction, Room in Mami’s Corazon (HarperCollins 2024) and some others that can’t be announced yet. Ana is a member of SCBWI, Las Musas Books, and co-founder of LatinxPitch. You can learn more about Ana, by following her.

I wrote...

Bella's Recipe for Success

By Ana Siqueira, Geraldine Rodríguez (illustrator),

Book cover of Bella's Recipe for Success

What is my book about?

Bella wants to find out what she's good at. But she quits everything she (barely) tries because she's a disaster at it. Her somersaults are like clumsy jirafas rolling downhill, her piano playing like elephant feet. When she decides to learn how to bake with her wise old abuela, her first attempt at dulce de leche frosting looks like scaly cocodrilo skin. She must learn it's okay to try again or she won't be good at anything. Peppered with Spanish vocabulary and set in an intergenerational Latinx home, Bella's Recipe for Success will show all kids the value of practicing to learn a new skill, and that it's okay to make mistakes along the way.

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The books I picked & why

Bisa's Carnaval

By Joana Pastro, Carolina Coroa (illustrator),

Book cover of Bisa's Carnaval

Why did I love this book?

A festive book filled with dance, culture, family, and love. The text and the illustrations bring alive this Carnaval in Olinda, Brasil. And even though this party is all about dancing and fun, in this book, this party is also about not leaving anyone behind, especially your lovely bisa (great-grandma). I love seeing all the colors and movement of the Carnaval in Olinda. This is a great book to share with kids about another culture and the universal theme of love. 

Bisa's Carnaval

By Joana Pastro, Carolina Coroa (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Bisa's Carnaval as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Discover the sights and sounds of Brazil through the eyes of a young girl and her great-grandmother as they share in the excitement of Carnaval!

BISA'S CARNAVAL is the 2022 Bronze Medal Winner of the Alma Flor Ada Best Latino Focused Children's Picture Book Award - English

It's time for Carnaval and Clara cannot wait to celebrate her favorite holiday with family, but especially with her great-grandmother. Even if Bisa can't attend, Clara knows the Carnaval parade will still be special.Costumed lovingly by their bisa, everyone takes to the street for the annual parade. But even among all the colors,…

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Felíz New Year, Ava Gabriela!

By Alexandra Alessandri, Addy Rivera Sonda (illustrator),

Book cover of Felíz New Year, Ava Gabriela!

Why did I love this book?

This is a book for all shy kids and the ones not so shy, so we can all understand each other. Felíz New Year, Ava Gabriela! is a book for all Latinx kids and not Latinx kids, so we can all learn about this beautiful culture, and that children all over the world go through similar feelings and struggles. Readers will cheer for this sweet girl to find her voice and have fun. And I smile every time I see this little Latinx girl solving her own problems. 

Felíz New Year, Ava Gabriela!

By Alexandra Alessandri, Addy Rivera Sonda (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Felíz New Year, Ava Gabriela! as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

2020 Florida Book Awards, Young Children's Literature category, Silver Award
2021 International Latino Book Awards Bronze medal in The Mariposa Book Awards Best First Book, Children & Youth category

STARRED REVIEW! "This gentle family story lets readers know that shyness is nothing to worry about."―Kirkus Reviews starred review

Ava's excited to say goodbye to el Año Viejo―but will her shyness keep her from joining in the celebration?

Ava Gabriela is visiting her extended family in Colombia for the holidays. She's excited to take part in family traditions such as making bunuelos, but being around all her loud relatives in an…

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Run, Little Chaski!: An Inka Trail Adventure

By Mariana Llanos, Mariana Ruiz Johnson (illustrator),

Book cover of Run, Little Chaski!: An Inka Trail Adventure

Why did I love this book?

Through this book, little ones will learn about history, the Inkas, Peru, and its animales. But all in a super fun way filled with tension. Will our little messenger - a Chaski - deliver the important message on time? Kids will be involved in this story, cheering for our little Chaski all the way. This book has received many awards. So well deserved to both the author and the illustrator.

Run, Little Chaski!: An Inka Trail Adventure

By Mariana Llanos, Mariana Ruiz Johnson (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Run, Little Chaski! as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In this tale set in the ancient Inka empire, Little Chaski has a big job: he is the Inka King's newest royal messenger. But on his first day things quickly start to go awry. Will Little Chaski be able to deliver the royal message on time?

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Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré

By Anika Aldamuy Denise, Paola Escobar (illustrator),

Book cover of Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré

Why did I love this book?

In this story about Pura Belpre, the Puerto Rican librarian, we learn about her journey of planting story seeds throughout the country. It all starts when she moves to the United States. Working as a bilingual librarian assistant, she notices there are no Puerto Rican stories. So, she writes her own and plants also dream seeds. This is a sparse, lyrical book with vivid and sweet illustrations. 

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré

By Anika Aldamuy Denise, Paola Escobar (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked Planting Stories as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

FOLLOW LA VIDA Y EL LEGADO OF PURA BELPRE, THE FIRST PUERTO RICAN LIBRARIAN IN NEW YORK CITY

When she came to America in 1921, Pura carried the cuentos folkloricos of her Puerto Rican homeland. Finding a new home at the New York Public Library as a bilingual assistant, she turned her popular retellings into libros and spread story seeds across the land. Today, these seeds have grown into a lush landscape as generations of children and storytellers continue to share her tales and celebrate Pura's legacy.

This portrait of the influential librarian, author, and puppeteer reminds us of the…

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Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music

By Margarita Engle, Rafael López (illustrator),

Book cover of Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music

Why did I love this book?

This rhythmic book will take you on a magic drum trip with this Chinese-African-Cuban girl, who broke the taboo of girls not being allowed to play drums. This is a poem song filled with rhythmic words, sounds, and heart. Beautiful words, beautiful art,  gorgeous story. I hope after reading it, you'll feel inspired to dance and to dream. I danced around the house, then I sat down and wrote beautiful stories and dreams. 

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music

By Margarita Engle, Rafael López (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Drum Dream Girl as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?



Girls cannot be drummers. Long ago on an island filled with music, no one questioned that rule—until the drum dream girl. In her city of drumbeats, she dreamed of pounding tall congas and tapping small bongós. She had to keep quiet. She had to practice in secret. But when at last her dream-bright music was heard, everyone sang and danced and decided that both girls and boys should be free to drum and dream.

Inspired by the childhood of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl who broke Cuba's traditional taboo against female drummers, Drum Dream Girl tells an inspiring true…

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5 book lists we think you will like!

The best children’s books celebrating libraries
The best children’s books about libraries and librarians
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The best children’s book biographies about perseverance
The best picture books about the magic of libraries

Interested in Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Cuba?

9,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Cuba.

Puerto Rico Explore 20 books about Puerto Rico
Brazil Explore 59 books about Brazil
Cuba Explore 81 books about Cuba