Hispanic Multicultural Children’s Books – Preschool
Multicultural Children’s Books for ages 3 to 5, featuring Hispanic or Hispanic American children and families
Fiesta! // Siesta // Bravo!
by Ginger Foglesong Guy
A group of multiethnic children make their way around a village gathering items for a party. Fiesta is a refreshing counting book that teaches in English and Spanish. Siesta focuses on colours, following a sister and brother as they pack their blue backpack with all sorts of colourful things for an adventure. The same sibling pair goes on an exciting treasure hunt in Bravo! The colourful illustrations complement the simple text of these delightful little books.
How Far Do You Love Me?
by Lulu Delacre
How Far Do You Love Me? is an “I love you” book with a twist. With every expression of love, readers visit different locations of natural beauty around the world. The stunningly beautiful illustrations complement the poetic text of this wonderful, warm book. A gem that belongs on any list of Hispanic multicultural books for preschool children!
More books about love: Multicultural Picture Books about Love
Hooray, a Piñata!
by Elisa Kleven
Little Clara is faced with a dilemma: She wants to keep Lucky, her dog piñata, as a pet. But if she does, she won’t have a piñata at her birthday party! Clara’s friend comes to the rescue with a wonderful solution. Hooray A Piñata! is an upbeat story about the power of imagination that comes to live with the colourful collage artwork.
Dreams
by Ezra Jack Keats
Dreams is another classic by famous author and illustrator Ezra Jack Keats. Late at night, little Roberto sees a dog terrorizing his friend’s cat. He accidentally knocks a paper mouse he made in school off the window sill. Down it falls, casting a bigger and bigger shadow on the wall, until it scares away the dog. “Sometimes real life is even more surprising than dreams.”
More books by Ezra Jack Keats and information about the author: Author Spotlight: Ezra Jack Keats
My Grandma/Mi Abuelita
by Ginger Foglesong Guy
My Grandma/Mi Abuelita follows a family on their trip above the clouds and across the sea to visit their beloved grandma/abuelita. Simple text and charming watercolour illustrations draw the reader gently along the family’s journey from their urban neighborhood to the rural, tropical surroundings at grandma’s home.
Big Sisters Are the Best
by Fran Manushkin
A little girl tells the reader all about life with her new sibling, explaining the differences between her and the baby and how she helps her parents. The book also addresses the more difficult feelings caused by not having the parents’ undivided attention anymore, and emphasizes that their love for her hasn’t changed. Big Sisters Are the Best is a sweet and reassuring book, lovingly illustrated with cute and colourful pictures.
More books about new siblings: 20 Multicultural Picture Books about new siblings
Gracias / Thanks
by Pat Mora
A young biracial boy recounts some of the simple everyday things he is thankful for, like his comfy old pyjamas, bees not stinging and the sun waking him up in the morning. With poetic text and vivid acrylic illustrations bilingual Gracias ~ Thanks encourages young children to think about all the things they are grateful for.
Green Is a Chile Pepper // Round Is a Tortilla
by Roseanne Greenfield Thong
The children in Green is a Chile Pepper discover a world of colours all around them, from red spices and swirling skirts to yellow tortillas and sweet corn cake. Round is a Tortilla explores the world of shapes, from rectangular ice-cream carts to triangular slices of watermelon and quesadillas With rich, boisterous folk-art illustrations, a fun-to-read rhyming text, and an informative glossary, these lively picture books will be a hit with your preschooler!
Abuela
by Arthur Dorros
Judging by the amount of books about Abuelas out there, Grandmothers must play a very important role in Hispanic families! While riding on a bus with her Abuela, a little girl imagines that they are carried up into the sky and fly over the sights of New York City. The melodic text and the exuberant mixed-media illustrations perfectly capture the jazzy energy of this imaginary trip.
Chavela and the Magic Bubble
by Monica Brown
Littlle Chavela loves chewing gum – and blowing bubbles! On a day out with her abuelita (the grandmother theme again!), she finds a mysterious kind of gum and blows a giant bubble that lifts her up into the air and carries her on a magical journey. Luscious, candy-coloured paintings illustrate this fantastical story with an ecological twist. The afterword of Chavela and the Magic Bubble provides information on natural chewing gum, the rainforest, and sustainable farming, as well as music to a traditional Latin American folksong.
My Abuelita
by Tony Johnston
Another one about grandmas! Abuelita’s hair is the colour of salt. Her face is as crinkled as a dried chile. She booms out words as wild as blossoms blooming. Her grandson knows he has the most amazing grandmother ever – with a very important job: Abuelita is a storyteller. Sprinkled with Spanish and infused with love, My Abuelita is a glorious celebration of family, imagination, and the power of story, stunningly illustrated by Yuyi Morales.
Santiago Stays
by Angela Dominguez
Santiago Stays. He does not budge when offered a walk, a treat or even a hamburger. Nothing can lure this stubborn French bulldog away from his post, much to the disappointment of the little boy trying to engage him. When the boy’s frustration bubbles over into a yell, it wakes his baby sister and the reader realises whom it was that Santiago was guarding all along.The mixed-media illustrations add to the effortless charm of this humorous story.
Gilberto and the Wind
by Marie Hall Ets
The wind calls little Gilberto to come out and play. Written in 1978, Gilberto and the Wind with its sweet text and simple drawings has become a classic that continues to appeal to preschool children.
What Can You Do with a Paleta?
by Carmen Tafolla
There’s so much to do with a paleta – the traditional Mexican popsicle sold from the wagon with the tinkly bell that brings children running from every direction! Create a masterpiece, make tough choices (strawberry or coconut?), or cool off on a warm summer’s day. Vibrant acrylic paintings and lyrical text make bilingual What Can You Do with a Paleta? a fun read.
A Birthday Basket for Tia
by Pat Mora
Little Cecilia puts together a birthday basket for her beloved great aunt, containing items that represent activities they both like to share. A Birthday Basket for Tia is a sweet story about a very special relationship, accentuated by the warm cut-paper illustrations.
Little Night
by Yuyi Morales
As the day comes to an end, Mother Sky calls Little Night for her bedtime routine, but Little Night keeps running off. The beautiful text, coupled with Morales’ exquisite dreamlike illustrations make Little Night an absolute treasure for bedtime.
Jay and Ben
by Katharine Swanson
I was delighted to find a multicultural children’s book aimed at children with special needs! Jay and Ben is an interactive book developed for use with children with developmental and learning differences and disabilities. It is designed to help educators, parents and caregivers teach children about language, reading, story comprehension, functional skills and basic concepts.
Dear Primo
by Duncan Tonatiuh
Two cousins, one in America and one in Mexico, write letters to each other. Their lives are different yet similar. Charlie eats pizza after school, Carlitos helps his mother make quesadillas. Charlie cools off in an open fire hydrant, Carlitos jumps into a small rio. Simple text infused with Spanish words, and colourful collage illustrations make Dear Primo a fun read.
Two White Rabbits
by Jairo Buitrago
Told from a little girl’s perspective, Two White Rabbits follows her and her father as they travel north toward the US border. Along the way, the girl counts everything she sees, from animals by the road to the clouds in the sky. A 2016 Américas Award commended title, this moving picture introduces children to the struggles of undocumented immigrants.
More 2016 Américas Award titles: 2016 Américas Award Winning Children’s Books
More books about immigration: 30 Multicultural Children’s Books about Immigration
*You can buy any of the books on this site from Amazon USA, CAN or UK by clicking on the book titles or covers*
More books with Hispanic or Hispanic American characters:
