From September 15 to October 15, families and classrooms around the world will be celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month.
The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.~HispanicHeritageMonth.gov
During this month-long period, individuals, teachers, parents, caregivers, leaders, and librarians will recognize the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements. We always have believed that one of the best ways to expose kids to new cultures, traditions, and values is with books. With that in mind, here are some excellent book suggestions and sites to use when creating your celebration.
Diverse Kidlit Booklist Recommendations for National Hispanic Heritage Month
Ami from Walking By The Way has an excellent booklist of Best Books for Latino Heritage Children. “Our children need to know we value all races and cultures.” ~Ami
Jenny Brunk from Spanish Playground not only has amazing Hispanic book recommendations, but her site is also a treasure trove info information on teaching kids Spanish and sharing Spanish puzzles, games, songs, and more. View her booklist and more HERE.
P.S. Jenny is also one of Multicultural Children’s Book Day’s long-time CoHosts!
Frances from Discovering The World Through My Son’s Eyes is definitely a “go-to” source for wonderful book recommendations and booklists along with teaching the history, food, and heros of Puerto Rico and more.
P.S. Frances is also one of Multicultural Children’s Book Day’s long-time CoHosts!
Linda from Hispanic Mama has a passion for kids’ books that feature the culture, folklore, and heritage of Ecuador. Check out her wonderful list of Favorite Children’s Books About Ecuador Culture in Spanish.
How You Can Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month
- Pick out a new recipe and spend time as a family creating a classic Latin American dish.
- Support a Hispanic or Latino-owned business.
- Play a game of lotería or dominoes.
- Make a playlist of Hispanic artists.
- Scholastic.com also has a great list of creative ways to share the beauty, wonder, foods, and culture of the Hispanic community with the youngest generation.
Keep Calm and Read On!
Rebecca “Becky” Flansburg is an author, freelance writer, and project manager for the non-profit online children’s literacy initiative, Multicultural Children’s Book Day/ #ReadYourWorld. Join the celebration! Our 9th annual celebration will take place on January 28, 2022. For more information, visit Multicultural Children’s Book Day on the web.
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