By Amy W., Public Services Librarian
National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed September 15 – October 15. Why is that? Many Latin American countries celebrate the anniversary of their independence during this time, including: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua (September 15), Mexico (September 16), and Chile (September 18).
Each year, we use this time to highlight and “celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America” (US Census Bureau). If you’re looking for suggestions for how to celebrate, we’re here to help!
Read an award winner
The Pura Belpré Award is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
2024 Winners
Children’s Narrative & Youth Illustrator: Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir, written and illustrated by Pedro Martín
Young Adult Narrative: Saints of the Household by Ari Tison
2023 Winners
Author: Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega
Illustrator: Where Wonder Grows by Xelena Gonzalez
2022 Winners
Author: The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
Illustrator: ¡Vamos! Let’s Cross the Bridge by Raúl the Third
You can also learn about the namesake for the award: Pura Belpré, New York City’s first Puerto Rican librarian and champion of bilingual literature.
Author List
Acevedo, Elizabeth
Allende, Isabel
Caña, Natalie
Cañas, Isabel
Cervantes, J. C.
Cleeton, Chanel
Cruz, Angie
Daria, Alexis
De Robertis, Carolina
Escandón, María Amparo
Garcia, Gabriela
García Márquez, Gabriel
Gonzalez, Xochitl
Gonzalez James, Elizabeth
Grande, Reyna
Lares, Mariely
Moreno-Garcia, Silvia
Navarro Aquino, Xavier
Quade, Kirstin Valdez
Rojas Contreras, Ingrid
Ruiz, Rudy
Ruiz Zafón, Carlos
Tobar, Héctor
Urrea, Luis Alberto
Villarreal-Moura, Ursula
Please note: this list only a selection of authors but there are many more! Ask a librarian if you’d like help finding titles from other Latinx & Hispanic authors.
Try a New Recipe: Check Out a Cookbook!
Latinísimo : home recipes from the twenty-one countries of Latin America by Gutierrez, Sandra A.
Gaby’s Latin American kitchen : 70+ kid-tested and kid-approved recipes for young chefs by Melian, Gaby
Diasporican : a Puerto Rican cookbook by Maisonet, Illyanna
Mi cocina : recipes and rapture from my kitchen in México by Martínez, Rick
The Dominican Kitchen : Homestyle Recipes That Celebrate the Flavors, Traditions, and Culture of the Dominican Republic by Mota, Vanessa
Other helpful catalog search terms:
Cooking, Mexican.
Cooking, Latin American.
Cooking, Puerto Rican.
Cooking, Cuban.
Cooking, Dominican.
Cooking, Spanish.
Mexican American cooking.
Explore the Spanish Language!
Search for Bilingual Books for all ages in our catalog.
Use Mango Languages to learn/practice Spanish [FREE with your library card!].
Watch a Spanish language film, find a title in our catalog.
Use your HEPL Library card to login to Novelist Plus
Latinx Own Voices books & authors
Borrow e-books or downloadable audiobooks
Look on Libby for Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month titles.