Spanish Children's Books
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So if someone types Spanish children's books into a search engine, are they looking for children's books in Spanish or children's books that honor Latino culture?
Are they Hispanics looking to help their children understand their cultural identity, or Anglos seeking to broaden their children's horizons?
I can't know for sure, but I hope to help you either way.
Children's books are under attack
It's true. Today, reading has to fight for our children's attention. Good Spanish children's books have to compete with TV, music and video games.
The time previous generations spent reading is now more likely to be spent on a cell phone.
And yet...
And yet reading remains more important than ever. A child's best chance for success lies in books, perhaps even moreso for a minority child than for others. A thirst for knowledge - un anhelo de sabiduría - is what separates children with futures from children without them.
Since we know that a love of reading is essential to our children's future success, it's up to us as parents to provide good fuel for that love!
A Spanish children's book that doesn't entertain, that doesn't compel your child to keep turning pages, is as bad as no book at all.
It can be even worse than no book at all if it discourages your child from reading!
So the pressure is on YOU to find the BEST Spanish children's books
Fortunately, there's help to be had. Let me tell you about some award-winning Spanish children's books.
English language Spanish children's books - The Pura Belpré Award
The Pura Belpré Award honors "Latino/Latina writers and illustrators whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth."
These are Spanish children's books - usually in English - that speak to children about what it means to be Latino. The awards are given every two years - one for best writing, one for best illustrating.
English language Spanish children's books - The Américas Award
The Américas Award recognizes outstanding Spanish children's books that "portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States."
(Some of the books The Américas Award honors are picture books, and some are chapter books. The ones for which an illustrator is named are picture books. The one where no illustrator is named are probably chapter books.)
The Américas Award for Spanish Children's Books Honoring Latino Culture
Award-winning English language children's books translated into Spanish
The most prestigious awards for children's books in America in English are the Caldecott and Newbery Medals.
The Caldecott honors the best illustrations in a children's book for a given year. The Newbery honors the best writing.
A large number of these top books are now Spanish children's books because they've been translated. I list them below.
Pura Belpré Writing Award - Spanish children's books
- 2006 - Viola Canales. The Tequila Worm.
- 2004 - Julia Alvarez. Before We Were Free.
- 2002 - Pam Munoz Ryan. Esperanza Rising
- 2000 - Alma Flor Ada. Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba.
- 1998 - Martinez, Victor. Parrot in the Oven: mi vida
- 1996 - Cofer, Judith Ortiz. An Island Like You: Stories of the Barrio
Pura Belpré Illustrating Award - Spanish children's books
- 2006 - Raul Colón. Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart. Written by Pat Mora.
- 2004 - Yuyi Morales. Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book
- 2002 - Susan Guevara, Illustrator. Written by Gary Soto. Chato and the Party Animals
- 2000 - Carmen Lomas Garza. Magic Windows.
- 1998 - Snapshots from the Wedding, illustrated by Stephanie Garcia. Text: Gary Soto
- 1996 - Guevara, Susan. Chato's Kitchen written by Gary Soto
Each year the Pura Belpré Award also honors Spanish children's books that were almost good enough to win. You can find this more complete list at
Pura Belpré Award winners and honorable mention books
Back to awards list
- 2004 - My Name is Celia/Me llamo Celia by Monica Brown; illustrated by Rafael López
- 2004 - Sammy & Juliana in Hollywood by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
- 2003 - Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales
- 2003 - The Meaning of Consuel by Judith Ortiz Cofer
- 2002 - Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez
- 2001 - A Movie in My Pillow by Jorge Argueta; illustrated by Elizabeth Gómez
- 2001 - Breaking Through by Francisco Jiménez
- 2000 - The Composition by Antonio Skármeta; illustrated by Alfonso Ruano
- 2000 - The Color of My Words by Lynn Joseph
- 1999 - Crashboomlove, by Juan Felipe Herrera
- 1998 - Barrio: José's Neighborhood by George Ancona
- 1998 - Mama and Papa Have a Store by Amelia Lau Carling
- 1997 - The Circuit by Francisco Jiménez
- 1997 - The Face at the Window by Regina Hanson; illustrated by Linda Saport
- 1996 - In My Family/En mi familia by Carmen Lomas Garza
- 1996 - Parrot in the Oven by Victor Martínez
- 1995 - Tonight by Sea by Frances Temple
- 1994 - The Mermaid's Twin Sister by Lynn Joseph
- 1993 - Vejigante Masquerader by Lulu Delacre
Caldecott - translated into Spanish children's books
- 2002 - Los tres cerditos (The Three Pigs)
- 2001 - Asi que quieres ser presidente (So You Want to be President)
- 1995 - Noche de humo (Smoky Night)
- 1991 - Blanco y negro (Black and White)
- 1989 - Cantante y bailarín (Song and Dance Man)
- 1986 - Expreso polar, El (The Polar Express)
- 1982 - Jumanji (Jumanji)
- 1981 - Fábulas (Fables)
- 1979 - La niña que amaba los caballos salvajes (The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses)
- 1978 - Arca de Noé, El (Noah's Ark)
- 1976 - Por qué zumban los mosquitos en los oídos de la gente: Un cuento de Áfica Occidental (Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale)
- 1975 - Flecha al sol (Arrow to The Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale)
- 1972 - Un buen día (One Fine Day)
- 1970 - Silvestre y la piedrecita mágica (Sylvester and the Magic Pebble)
- 1969 - Tontimundo y el barco volador: un cuento ruso (The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship: a Russian Tale)
- 1967 - Sam, Bangs y Hechizo de Luna (Sam, Bangs and Moonshine)
- 1964 - Donde viven los monstruos (Where the Wild Things Are)
Newbery - translated into Spanish children's books
- 2000 - Me llamo Bud, no Buddy (Bud, Not Buddy)
- 1999 - Hoyos (Holes)
- 1998 - Lejos del polvo (Out of the Dust)
- 1997 - Retrato del sábado (View from Saturday)
- 1996 - Aprendiz de comadrona (The Midwife's Apprentice)
- 1995 - Entre dos lunas (Walk Two Moons)(reviewed on this site)
- 1994 - El Dador (The Giver)
- 1992 - Shiloh (Shiloh)
- 1990 - ¿Quién cuenta las estrellas? (Number the Stars)
- 1987 - El niño que pagaba el pato (Whipping Boy)
- 1986 - Sarah, sencilla y alta (Sarah, Plain and Tall)
- 1984 - Querido señor Henshaw (Dear Mr. Henshaw)
- 1981 - Amé a Jacob (Jacob Have I Loved)
- 1978 - Un puente hasta Terabithia (Bridge to Terabithia)
- 1977 - Lloro por la tierra (Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry)
- 1976 - El rey gris (The Grey King)
- 1974 - La danza de los esclavos (The Slave Dancer)
- 1973 - Julie y los lobos (Julie of the Wolves)
Back to awards list
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