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Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos is celebrated in Mexico and Mexican communities throughout the world from the 31st of October to the 2nd of November. It is an important holiday that honours deceased loved ones.

It is believed that the deceased return during that time to rejoice with the living. Families visit their graves and build altars decorated with flowers, candles, pan de muerto, sugar skulls, and pictures. They bring their loved ones' favourite dishes and treats, as well as drinks to quench the thirst of the dead after their long journey back home.

Teach your children about this joyous celebration that includes singing, dancing and telling stories!

19 Day of the Dead Children's Books

Babies & Toddlers

Introduce your toddler to Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos with this colourful counting primer! Day of the Dead is an engaging board book that features popular Day of the Dead activities and objects, from1 Comparsa (a carnival-like celebration) to 6 Pan de muertos ("bread of the dead"), and more. And there are even more hidden objects to seek within the illustrations, listed at the back of the book. ~ Babies & Toddlers

Related: Hispanic Children's Books for Babies & Toddlers

Based on well-known symbols of Dia De los Muertos (Day of the Dead), bilingual La Catrina teaches little ones to recognize feelings like emocionado (excited), triste (sad), and confiado (confident). ~ Babies & Toddlers

Related: 21 Multicultural Children's Books About Feelings

Two children celebrate their ancestors with marigolds, sugar skulls, special bread, and other delicious foods. By spreading marigold petals, they guide the dead home to join the singing and dancing. With lyrical bilingual text and vibrant collage illustrations incorporating traditional symbols, The Day of the Dead is a fun introduction to this important Mexican holiday. ~ Preschool

"It's Dia de Los Muertos, / the sun's coming round, / as niños prepare in each / pueblo and town..." Children throughout the town are decorating with streamers and sugar skulls, making pan de muertos, and covering altars in marigolds and twinkling candles. With effortless rhymes sprinkled with Spanish words, and vibrant, child-friendly illustrations, Dia de los Muertos is a charming introduction to the holiday. ~ Preschool

The Harvest Sprites (4) (Magic of the Seasons)
by Hayley Nystrom

"When a crispness cuts through painted skies / With scents of leaf and hay...It means that fall is here! / Fall is a magical time of year, / filled with bursts of color, crackling fires, tricks, treats, and so much more. Part of the beautiful Magic of the Seasons series, The Harvest Sprites celebrates autumn activities (such as picking apples and pumpkins) and festivals (including Day of the Dead). ~ Preschool

More in the series: The Sun Gnomes, The Pixies of Bloom, The Fairies of Frost

With vibrant illustrations by Golden Globe-winning Mexican illustrator Jorge Gutierrez, Día de los Muertos is a festive picture book that teaches young readers about the traditions of this ancient holiday that truly commemorates the cycle of life - from sugar skulls to altares and papel picado. ~ Preschool

"Wait/Espérense. Till when? Soon." Two siblings in a small Mexican town can't wait till the celebrations for Day of the Day begin. They watch in anticipation as the fruits are being picked, food cooked, and flowers gathered. With bold illustrations framed by decorative borders, Day of the Dead is an appealing introduction to a fascinating holiday. ~ Preschool

"¡Hola! ¡Hola! Hey! Qué fiesta! Yay!" With rollicking rhyme sprinkled with Spanish words Clatter Bash! follows a bunch of playful skeletons as they celebrate Day of the Dead. They party all night long, rattling their bones, singing, dancing, telling stories, and playing games. At dawn they tidy up after themselves and return to their coffins until next year. ~ Preschool

Tomba-la-ca, tomba-la-ca, tomba-la! Enter the creepy-crawly, mischievous and mysterious world of Skeletitos, where being on the other side of life is never an excuse for not having a good time! Skeletitos is a Day of the Dead themed tales with a comedic twist, encouraging kids to be wary, conscious, funny and self-aware. It features a moveable clock for little fingers to change the hour along with the story, while learning to count and tell time. ~ Preschool

On a rooftop patio in Mexico, Don Pedro's calaverascome to life. The whole family helps making the papier-mâché skeletons for the Day of the Dead fiesta. There's a special calaverafor each letter of the alphabet, from the Angel and the Doctor to theMariachi and the Unicornio. Calavera Abecedario is an unusual alphabet book with fun, folk-art style illustrations. ~ Preschool

Gustavo is good at doing all sorts of ghostly things: walking through walls, making objects fly, and glowing in the dark. And he loves almost nothing more than playing beautiful music on his violin. But Gustavo is shy, and it's hard for him to make friends with other monsters. Whenever he tries getting close to them, he realizes they just can't see him. Now that the Day of the Dead is fast approaching, what can he do to make them notice him? With fancifully detailed artwork and visual humor, Gustavo The Shy Ghost sweet story of loneliness, bravery, and friendship. ~ Preschool

Related: 18 Multicultural Children's Books about Friendship

Elementary School

Follow little Conchita as she celebrates the life of her deceased sister by setting up a memorial altar on the Day of the Dead. Rosita y Conchita is his heartfelt story with bilingual rhymes and colourful illustrations. Includes instructions on how to make your own sugar skulls. ~ Elementary School

Unlike all the other skeletons in the Land of the Dead, Angelito is not looking forward to celebrate the Day of the Dead with the Living. He is scared of their bulgy eyes, red tongues and squishy skin. When Angelito is separated from his family during the celebrations he is petrified - until he befriends a living boy. The Dead Family Diaz is a fresh and humourous take on the Mexican holiday, brought to life by vibrant, Tim Burton-esque illustrations. ~ Elementary School

Follow the adorable little Mexican-American protagonist as he celebrates Día de los Muertos in Mexico for the first time. With cartoon-style illustrations and a fun storyline, bilingual Chicano Jr's Day of the Dead Adventures teaches children about the history and symbolism of this ancient holiday, as well as the common roots it shares with Halloween. ~ Elementary School

Related: 23 Multicultural Children's Books about Halloween

A Gift for Abuelita tells the story of a young girl's bond with her deceased grandmother. Abuelita taught Rosita how to braid, make tortillas, and grow chiles. On the Day of the Dead, Rosita makes a beautiful braid as a gift to her beloved abuelita. With unique paper pulp illustrations, this is an affectionate picture about loss and the healing power of remembrance. ~ Elementary School

Related: 40+ Multicultural Children's Books about Grandparents

When the monarch butterflies return to her Mexican village, Lupita knows that it will soon be Day of the Dead. Her uncle, Tio Urbano, reminds her that she should never hurt a monarch because they are believed to be the souls of the departed. A few days before the holiday, Tio Urbano dies. Uncle Monarch and the Day of the Dead is a heartfelt story about loss and remembrance, beautifully illustrated with soft coloured-pencil illustrations. ~ Elementary School

Celebrating Day of the Dead teaches children the history and traditions of this important Mexican festival. Encouraging cultural understanding and exploration, this colourful book is written with beginning readers in mind. ~ Elementary School

Funny Bones tells the story of artist José Guadalupe Posada, famous for his skeletons in the park, skeletons wearing fancy hats, and the skeletons for Mexico's Day of the Dead. With a stunning mix of biography and art, young readers are invited to look at the deeper meaning behind Don Lupe's artwork: His critiques about social class, quickly changing technology, and violence during the Mexican Revolution. This 2016 Américas Award winning book lends itself for classroom use. Includes an author's note, glossary, and bibliography. ~ Elementary School

Related: 2016 Américas Award Winning Children's Books

Day of the Dead sounds like it should have a morbid, depressing tone. But the Latin American holiday is really focused on love and remembrance. Yes, people gather in cemeteries, but for dancing and decorating graves! Day of the Dead shows kids a holiday that honors the lives of lost loved ones.

*You can buy any of the books on this site from Amazon USA by clicking on the book titles or covers*

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19 Day of the Dead Children's Books | Colours of Us

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Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos is celebrated in Mexico and Mexican communities throughout the world from the 31st of October to the 2nd of November. It is an important holiday that honours deceased loved ones. It is believed that the deceased return during that time to rejoice with the living.

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Slides w/videos

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Hispanic Heritage Month/Mes de la Hispanidad

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Hispanic Heritage Month/Mes de la Hispanidad

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September 15 - October 15

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Bilingual Read Aloud by Ms. Kirby

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Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

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Video: differences in the terms Hispanic, Latino, and Spanish

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Video: differences in the terms Hispanic, Latino, and Spanish

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For adults and older kids

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What's the difference between Hispanic, Latino, and Spanish?

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Scroll down for English/Spanish

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LibGuides: Children's Literature: Bilingual Picture Books

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A guide to assist in locating and researching children's and young adult literature. A bibliography of bilingual picture books owned by Staley Library

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Bilingual book list featuring strong female characters

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Bilingual book list featuring strong female characters

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A Mighty Girl's top picks of girl-empowering bilingual board and picture books in English and Spanish.

From the moment they're born, kids are like sponges for language, and many parents decide to take advantage of that natural ability by introducing more than one language early. Whether you speak multiple languages at home or want to teach your child a second language, bilingual books are a fun way to introduce kids to new vocabulary and develop fluency! And in the United States, where 45 million people speak Spanish as a first or second language, there's a huge demand for high-quality books that incorporate both English and Spanish text.

To introduce you to many of our favorite bilingual pictures books, we've showcased 25 Spanish/English titles in this post. From simple board books for the littlest babies to more complex picture books for preschoolers and early school aged kids, these books provide an opportunity to introduce multiple languages to young readers - and non-bilingual parents will likely learn a few new words too!

For more books for all ages about Latin American and Latina Mighty Girls, visit our Multicultural Fiction section.

Bilingual Books for Mighty Girls

Counting With / Contando Con Frida

Introduce babies and toddlers to numbers in English and Spanish - and to one of Mexico's groundbreaking artists! In this clever counting book, each number reflects something relating to the story of Frida Kahlo, beginning with "one blue house / una casa azul," and the illustrations draw on Kahlo's style and famous works. With vibrant colors and simple text perfect for little readers, this is sure to be a favorite counting book.

How Do I Love You? / ¿Cómo te quiero?

How many ways does a parent love a child? As the bees love a flower, a duck loves a shower, a bird loves to sing, a bear loves the spring, and even more! This best-selling board book, inspired by the poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, is now available in an English / Spanish edition, perfect for families that want to introduce a second language to their children early. With appealing illustrations and poetic but simple text, it's sure to become a fast favorite with your toddler or preschooler. This sweet story is also available in an English only edition.

I Am a Big Sister! / ¡Soy una hermana mayor!

There's no question that becoming a big sister can bring many changes. The little girl in this toddler book discovers that babies come with their share of inconveniences, from remembering to be quiet at naptime to dealing with dirty diapers, but she's still excited by the baby's arrival - and by how grown-up she feels when she realizes how much she can do. Simple text and colorful illustrations help toddlers and preschoolers celebrate the joys of being the big sister, and bilingual families in particular will love this English / Spanish edition.

Hermanas / Sisters

Sisters can be very different from one another - one big, one little; one early riser, one who sleeps in; one who chases fireflies, one who watches stars - but there is one way in which they're the same: they both love the other more than words can say! This classic story that celebrates the trials and joys of sisterhood is now available in an English / Spanish version, perfect for sharing with a new generation of Mighty Girls. Every pair of sisters is sure to find something to relate to in this charming story! This beloved story of sisterly love in also available in an English only edition.

What Can You Do With A Rebozo? / ¿Qué puedes hacer con un rebozo?

What can you do with a rebozo, a traditional Mexican shawl? Well, you can dance with it or keep warm under it; you can play hide and seek or give it to Mama so she can carry your baby brother; you can use it with your best dress or even turn it into a superhero's cape! In this bilingual edition of What Can You Do With A Rebozo? kids will learn the many uses of this seemingly ordinary shawl in lively English and Spanish text. It's a playful introduction to a household item that you'll find in many Mexican and Mexican-American homes. You can also find this delightful story in an English only edition.

Dalia's Wondrous Hair / El cabello maravilloso de Dalia

Most kids will be familiar with the story of Rapunzel, but that's not the only flight of fancy with amazing hair! In this story, Dalia wakes up one morning to discover that her hair has grown "tall and thick as a Cuban royal palm tree." When her mother wonders what Dalia will do with her wondrous hair, Dalia has an idea and starts plastering her hair with mud and leaves. The next morning, when she carefully unwraps her towering hair, it turns out that her hair has been protecting something very special! This imaginative bilingual picture book is sure to charm nature-loving Mighty Girls.

Margaret and Margarita / Margarita y Margaret

Margaret speaks only English, and Margarita speaks only Spanish. When their mothers take them each to the park, both complain (in their respective languages) that there's nobody to play with - until each spots the other. Their mothers assume that their lack of a common language will be a barrier, but as far as the girls are concerned, that just means they have to get a little more creative! By the time playtime is over, each girl knows a few words in the other's language and their mothers are smiling at the realization that friendship can go beyond words. This clever bilingual picture book celebrates multilingual friendships.

Growing Up With Tamales / Los tamales de Ana

Every year, Ana's family makes tamales for Christmas... and every year, it seems like her older sister, Lidia, is so far ahead of her that she'll never catch up. When Ana is six, she can mix the dough, but Lidia is old enough to spread it in the corn husks; and as the years go on, every time Ana is allowed to try a new step, Lidia is already learning the next one. Finally, though, when Ana is eighteen, she's old enough to do it all - and old enough to be planning her own business, which will deliver her tamales to people around the world. And maybe she'll even let Lidia work for her!

Floating on Mama's Song / Flotando en la canción de mamá

Anita's mother loves to sing - and her songs are so uplifting that, one day, the people and animals who hear her literally float in the air! Mama is delighted: "Singing makes me so happy!" But then Mama stops singing - and the joy leaves Mama's eyes. And when Anita goes hunting for a cure for her Mama's sadness, she finds proof of an unexpected family gift... and a reason Mama's song should rise again. This exuberant and lyrical bilingual story is full of the joy of language and song.

Waiting for the Biblioburro / Esperando el Biblioburro

Even if there aren't roads, books can still get to eager readers, young and old! Inspired by the story of real-life librarian Luis Soriano, this book tells the story of the most beautiful sight that book-loving Ana has ever seen: a traveling library, brought by a kind man on the backs of two burros. In Colombia, where Soriano works to bring literacy to isolated villages, there are thousands of children just like Ana, who sit and wait excitedly for the Biblioburro to come. This English / Spanish edition of Soriano's story will encourage kids to imagine themselves in rural village's like Ana's, waiting and hoping that the library will be here soon.

¿Has Llenado una Cubeta Hoy? / Have You Filled A Bucket Today?

This award-winning book teaching empathy is now available in a bilingual edition! With the simple metaphor of an invisible bucket, author Carol McCloud explains how you can choose to "fill buckets" by being kind and helpful, or "dip buckets" by being cruel and thoughtless. It's a positive and easy to understand concept that incorporates charity, anti-bullying, appreciation for others, and more! The bilingual edition has won its own awards for multilingual children's books, and incorporating both languages provides an excellent jumping-off point for discussions about diversity and acceptance.

Viva Frida

Children get an introduction to groundbreaking artist Frida Kahlo with dreamy, spare language and stunning illustrations in this picture book. Author / illustrator Yuyi Morales keeps her words sparse, focusing on strong verbs like "Soy / I am" and "Veo / I see" to capture Kahlo's unique perspective and artwork. As children follow Kahlo through exquisite photographs by Tim O'Meara, they see her see, search, and finally, create. With simple text that allow unexpected depth and exploration, this book provides a tantalizing look at Kahlo's remarkable world. An author's note in both English and Spanish describes Morales' connection with Kahlo and the enduring impact of her work.

Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match / Marisol McDonald no combina

Marisol doesn't look - or act - like anyone she knows: she has flaming red hair and nut-brown skin, enjoys peanut butter and jelly burritos, and loves being a soccer playing pirate princess! And for some reason, this confuses other people around her, who'd rather that she stop being herself so that she would fit into one of their boxes. But this Peruvian-Scottish-American girl doesn't mind, and she wouldn't give up her "mis-matched" life for anything. With its vibrant illustrations and fun text, this book celebrates individuality and the power of being proud of your uniqueness. Fans of Marisol can check out the sequels: Marisol McDonald and the Clash Bash: Marisol McDonald y la fiesta sin igual and Marisol McDonald and the Monster: Marisol McDonald y El Monstruo.

Side by Side: The Story of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez / Lado a lado: La historia de Dolores Huerta y Cesar Chavez

For years, thousands of farmworkers harvested crops that filled other families' tables, but their own wages were so low, they couldn't afford the bounty they'd helped produce. Then Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez teamed up to lead the workers in protests, strikes, and other action, demanding reasonable working hours, safe working conditions, and fair pay. In fact, it turned out that the workers could do a lot when they stood side by side! This tribute to Huerta and Chavez captures the power of working together to fight for justice; it's an inspiring title no matter which language you read!

We Are Girls Who Love to Run / Somos Chicas y A Nosotras Nos Encanta Correr

These girls share one thing in common: they love running! This celebration of girls and sports celebrates so many things, from the power of friendship to the joy of being a girl, all through the lens of young runners. Whether they are fast or slow, tall or short, a new runner or a seasoned competitor, they all love the feel of the wind in their hair and the ground under their feet as they run, run, run! The final page includes inspiring quotes from women of all ages and backgrounds, exploring their love of running and the lessons they've learned over the many miles. Kids will love the free-spirited feeling captured by the English and Spanish text.

My Name Is Gabriela: The Life of Gabriela Mistral / Me llamo Gabriela: la vida de Gabriela Mistral

Before Gabriela Mistral became the first Latina woman to win a Nobel Prize, she was a Chilean girl who loved words, sounds, and stories. She taught herself how to read, and even chose her own name because she liked how it flowed off the tongue. She grew up to become a beloved teacher, who inspired thousands of children and young adults, and a poet, whose writings inspired millions around the world. In this lyrical picture book biography, kids will learn how Mistral's musical language became beautiful poetry. It's sure to inspire kids to experiment with their own poetry - in English, Spanish, or maybe both!

I Remember Abuelito: A Day of the Dead Story/ Yo Recuerdo a Abuelito: Un Cuento del Día de los Muertos

It's the Day of the Dead, and this Mighty Girl is excited to celebrate - especially since her beloved abuelito passed away several months ago. But what if Abuelito loses his way? His spirit has never had to travel home before! Fotunately, her mother is able to reassure her that, just like the monarch butterflies know where to go, Abuelito will find his way home too. This sweet story, which is an excellent introduction to the tradition of Día de los Muertos, includes recipes and crafts for a Day of the Dead celebration. For another book about remembering a grandparent on Día de los Muertos, check out A Gift for Abuelita: Celebrating the Day of the Dead/ Un regalo para Abuelita: En celebración del Día de los Muertos for ages 5 to 8.

Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx / La juez que creció en el Bronx

From a young age, Sonia Sotomayor wanted to be a lawyer, but that was a big dream for a young girl in the Bronx. In this bilingual picture book, kids follow her as her mother's love, a desire to learn, and the willpower and bravery to defy all the naysayers, led Sotomayor to overcome obstacles like financial hardship, juvenile diabetes, and the death of her father in order to achieve a seat on the Supreme Court of the United States. Vibrant artwork makes Sotomayor's childhood come alive, while a detailed author's note provides plenty of additional information about her life and career.

Maya's Blanket / La Manta de Maya

When Maya was very, very little, Grandma stitched her a blanket with her own two hands. But as Maya grows, the blanket gets frayed. Fortunately, Grandma is able to rework it each time: into a shirt, a shawl, a scarf, a hair ribbon, and finally, a bookmark. But what will Maya do when she loses her bookmark and the last precious scrap of her blanket is gone? Well... why not write a book about her special blanket - one that preserves its memory and shares it with lots of other little boys and girls - including Maya's own daughter! Inspired by the traditional Yiddish folk song Hob Ikh Mir a Mantl (I Had a Little Coat), this sweet story recognizes the power of creativity and family love.

In My Family / En mi familia

Author Carmen Lomas Garza recounts her fondest childhood memories growing up in a Mexican-American family in Texas in this charming story. She remembers special holidays and family dinners; music and dancing at a local restaurant; and even seemingly simple moments like a visit to her grandmother's house. Each scene is illustrated in vivid color and accompanied by a text description of the event in both English and Spanish. Gentle and welcoming, this book captures the extraordinary and everyday moments that make up the stories of a cherished family.

Mamá The Alien / Mamá la Extraterrestre

When Mamá's purse spills one day, Sofia sees a card that describes her mother as a Resident Alien. An alien?! But Mamá looks like a human mother! Sofia is still trying to figure out this mystery when she stumbles upon her mother one night looking like an actual alien... but it turn out that Mamá is just doing a beauty treatment, getting ready for a special day: her citizenship ceremony. That's when Sofia learns that, in English, alien can also mean someone born in a different country. How funny to think that her Mamá really is an alien! This lighthearted book celebrates the milestones of immigration and the importance of family - no matter where that family comes from.

The Storyteller's Candle / La velita de los cuentos

Cousins Hildamar and Santiago are having trouble adjusting to their new home in New York City: the winter of 1929 is cold and harsh, not at all like Puerto Rico. Worst of all, Three King's Day is approaching, and Hildamar is worried about how they can have this special holiday in their new country. Fortunately, a storyteller and librarian named Pura Belpré comes to their classroom and teaches them - and their classmates - about the value of celebrating many different holidays in their diverse community. This lovely introduction to the life of groundbreaking librarian Pura Belpré captures the lasting influence of this advocate for New York's Spanish-speaking communities.

I Love Saturdays y domingos

Weekends are a very special time for this little girl! On Saturdays, she visits Grandma and Grandpa, her European-American family, and on Sundays - los domingos - she visits Abuelito y Abuelita, her Mexican-American grandparents. Each pair of grandparents has their special rituals and treats, and they are different in many ways, but they are the same in one very important respect: they adore their granddaughter and the rest of her loving family. Instead of presenting a family with dual cultures as competing, this family complements and celebrates one another, creating a unique and special atmosphere. While not a strictly bilingual book, the language in this book, like that of the young protagonist, moves between English and Spanish with ease.

Rainbow Weaver / Tejedora del Arcoíris

Ixchel dreams of weaving beautiful fabrics, just like her mother, her grandmother, and generations of other Mayan women have done. But her mother is struggling to weave goods to sell - if she doesn't sell enough, Ixchel can't go to school - so she has no time to teach her, and no extra thread for her to practice. So Ixchel decides to find something she can use, and while her first efforts don't work out, she eventually comes across an inventive solution: if she washes the discarded plastic bags that litter her village, then cuts them into strips, she's not only cleaning up her community: she can also make beautiful rainbow weaving! This bilingual picture book even incorporates some words in Kaqchikel, one of the Mayan languages spoken in Guatemala.

My Name is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz / Me llamo Celia: la vida de Celia Cruz

Celia grew up in Havana, Cuba; she loved to sing and she loved to dance. She built a career, entering every competition she could - even though she was barred from many because of her racial heritage. When Fidel Castro's regime drove her into exile, she moved to Miami and New York City, where she kept singing and dancing... and where she and other musicians like her created a new form of music called salsa. This lyrical bilingual picture book dances through Cruz's story with the same enthusiasm and joy that she displayed on stage.

That's Not Fair: Emma Tenayuca's Struggle for Justice / ¡No es justo!: La lucha de Emma Tenayuca por la justicia

Emma Tenayuca grew up in a comfortable life in 1920s San Antonio. But she saw first-hand that others were not so fortunate and the degree of poverty experienced by those working for slave wages at the local pecan-shelling factories. As she grew up, she remained deeply aware of the injustice others suffered, and as a teenager, she spoke movingly on their behalf. When she was 21, the pecan shellers wages were cut even further - from six cents an hour to only three cents an hour - and she decided she had to do more: Tenayuca ended up leading a successful strike by 12,000 pecan shellers. This compelling English and Spanish telling of Tenayuca's story will encourage kids to speak up when they see injustice in their own community.

Finding the Music: En pos de la música

Reyna loves spending time at her mom's restaurant, the hub for a diverse group of customers from her local community. So when she accidentally breaks her abuelito's vihuela, a small guitar-like instrument that has always hung on the wall, Reyna figures one of them can help her fix it. The first few she asks can't help, but they tell her fascinating stories about her abuelito's music...and when she finally talks to the owner of the music store, he not only promises they can fix the vihuela together, he also gives her something precious: a recording of her abuelito, playing the music that brought a community together. This poignant and heartwarming story about a girl learning her family's story is sure to delight young readers.

My Diary from Here to There / Mi diario de aquí hasta allá

Amada hears her parents whispers, debating whether to move to Los Angeles, where there should be better opportunities for the family. She wants to be hopeful, but secretly, she can't stop thinking about how she'll miss the best friend she's leaving behind, her worry that she'll struggle to learn English, and her fear that they'll never return to Mexico. In her diary, she writes about both her travels and her thoughts about the family's journey, until finally, in their new home, Amada realizes that with the love of her family, there's no change she can't weather. Thoughtful and poignant, this English / Spanish telling of one family's immigration is based on author Amada Irma Perez's own experiences.

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Grades K-2

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Read Aloud of "Islandborn" by Junot Diaz

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Read Aloud of "Islandborn" by Junot Diaz

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Grades 3-5

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Identity - Poem by Angela Trudell Vasquez

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Identity - Poem by Angela Trudell Vasquez

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White-Mexican looks like a Latina,

from a Guatemalan student

in Caucasian corn country

that all looked the same,

and one household of Mexicans,

no two, us and the Renterias

to whom we were related by marriage

before and after my divorce,

still, it was a good living,

classes, classes, classes,

piano, jazz, tap, ballet,

trombone, tennis, Finishing School,

and one awful summer golf;

Christened, Confirmed, Cathechismized;

it all cut me in several places,

molding of head and heart

making me ultrasensitive,

an observer of the outside,

an outsider among my own kind,

living among blue eyed dyed blond bombshells,

who held up her head higher

because she's shy not stuck-up,

understood, undenied, sacrificed to at any price

by my beloved little brown parents

so their daughters could shine

and they'd swell with pride

at the life they had given us,

in mutual admiration after mass

singing our church songs while making breakfast,

according to the unspoken doctrine in our house of:

fast first eat later after communion,

we intruded with our Mexican music

bellowing out the open windows

the smell of bacon frying,

and eggs scrambled to order

it wafted out on beautiful summer mornings

out of our house in Pleasant Hill, Iowa,

perched on the highest spot

one could reach on the East Side of the street

for first and second generation immigrants.

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Identity by Angela C. Trudell Vasquez | Poetry Foundation

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White-Mexican looks like a Latina, from a Guatemalan student in Caucasian corn country that all looked the same, and one household of Mexicans, no two, us and the Renterias to whom we were related by marriage before and after my divorce, still, it was a good living, classes, classes, classes,

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Meet Angela Trudell Vasquez - Madison's Poet Laureat

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Meet Angela Trudell Vasquez - Madison's Poet Laureat

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Article from Channel3000.com

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Photo by John Ficenec

Angela Trudell Vasquez

By the time Angela Trudell Vasquez decided on graduate school, she'd been writing poetry for four decades, having started while growing up in Iowa.

She went on to publish poetry books, teach workshops and perform countless readings. Yet in 2015, at 48, she sought a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing at the Institute of American Indian Arts in New Mexico.

"I wanted to find out what I was doing wrong, how I could better define myself on the page," Trudell Vasquez says. "I wanted to learn."

"A lot of times once people publish, they think, 'I'm good. I know what I'm doing,' " says Jon Davis, a distinguished poet and founder of the MFA program at the institute. "Angie saw an opportunity to learn and get better. It was exciting to watch."

In January, Trudell Vasquez's lifelong dedication to writing was rewarded when she was named Madison's poet laureate. She's the first Latina to be named to the position and the city's seventh poet laureate overall.

She and her husband, Devin Trudell - son of Madison poet Dennis Trudell - own a home near Hiestand Park. They've lived in the city since 2015, having returned to the Midwest in 2005 (in Milwaukee) after two decades in Seattle.

They moved back in part to be closer to family, an important component of Trudell Vasquez's life and poetry.

Her family's roots go back to Mexico and - since the late 1800s - Iowa, where Trudell Vasquez grew up. She graduated from Des Moines East High School. She was writing poems by then - having been gifted a diary by her grandmother at 7 years old - about the same time she read the classic children's book "Frederick the Mouse."

Frederick was a poet and Trudell Vasquez decided she would be, too.

"I realized the power of words," she says. "How they can make people feel loved and whole."

Trudell Vasquez has been writing almost daily ever since, getting her first thoughts down in longhand. That's still the way she works, but now editing -  interrogating every word, as she says - defines her craft. Her subjects have evolved, too, but certain themes - social justice, family, place - have endured.

After high school, Trudell Vasquez earned an English degree with a poetry emphasis from Drake University.

She and Devin moved to Seattle in 1997, where Trudell Vasquez integrated quickly into the arts, cultural and political scene: volunteering to teach English as a second language; performing at the Bumbershoot arts and music festival; putting on events at the Hugo House, named for the eminent poet Richard Hugo; getting involved with the writers group Los Norteños; and publishing many poems in Real Change, the city's award-winning street newspaper.

It was much the same when they relocated to Milwaukee in 2005. Trudell Vasquez was the office manager for the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin - poetry does not pay the bills - and she led a workshop titled, "Poetry, Politics and Power" for the group's Youth Social Justice Forum. She read at Milwaukee's Woodland Pattern Book Center's poetry marathon and later became both a donor to the organization and a board member.

She also made regular trips to Madison, often for poetry. In 2013, the late Madison poet Susan Elbe invited Trudell Vasquez to read at the Chazen Museum of Art as part of the museum's poetry-inspired-by-art series.

Trudell Vasquez read her poem "Eyes Alive," inspired by Lily Furedi's painting "Subway." It included this:

"Even with lids closed the eyes reach out from the picture and claim, I am, I was, I did once exist, and this is proof of my existence."

The move to Madison in 2015 - Trudell Vasquez now works as operations manager for End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin - coincided with her desire to go back to school.

The two-year MFA program at the Institute of American Indian Arts is called low residency: Students work online and visit twice a year for two weeks the first year and make three two-week visits the second year. Trudell Vasquez loved it all: walking amid the jackrabbits and deer in the mornings outside Santa Fe, tapping into the institute's resident poets and recalling again the power of words.

"She sharpened her imagery and focused on the language," Davis says. "The sound of the language - how words chime off each other."

Last fall, Trudell Vasquez nominated herself for the Madison poet laureate post, which Oscar Mireles was vacating after consecutive two-year terms.

"I've always been a big proponent of 'There's no harm in asking,' " she says. Her body of work was certainly worthy of consideration. "I've been part of the literary scene for a long time," she says. "I've seen people be literary citizens, and I really wanted to be a poetry ambassador, a poet for all the people."

She got the good news call from Madison Arts Program administrator Karin Wolf in December, and the City Council made it official the following month.

Trudell Vasquez's plans as laureate include doing free workshops and readings and establishing a youth poet laureate position.

"I'm just thrilled," she says. "It's the 7-year-old poet's dream come true."
Doug Moe is a Madison writer and a former editor of Madison Magazine. Read his blog, "Doug Moe's Madison," on madisonmagazine.com.

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Meet Angela Trudell Vasquez, Madison's poet laureate

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By the time Angela Trudell Vasquez decided on graduate school, she'd been writing poetry for four decades, having started while growing up in Iowa. She went on to publish poetry books, teach workshops and perform countless readings. Yet in 2015, at 48, she sought a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing at the Institute of American Indian Arts in New Mexico.

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Video: LGBTQ Latinx youth explain Hispanic Heritage Month

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Video: LGBTQ Latinx youth explain Hispanic Heritage Month

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LGBTQ Students Celebrate Latinx Heritage

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FYI: Although this is meant to be an inclusive term, not all Hispanic/Latinx people agree with or use this term.

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Video interviews/info about popular Hispanic authors

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Video interviews/info about popular Hispanic authors

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Colorín Colorado invites you to meet some of our favorite authors, illustrators, and storytellers! Learn how they got their start, what they love about their work, and where they find their inspiration - as well as stories behind some beloved books. These are also a wonderful resource for author studies, literature units, and parent engagement events.

For additional author interviews, see our sister sites:

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Colorín Colorado invites you to meet some of our favorite authors, illustrators, and storytellers! Learn how they got their start, what they love about their work, and where they find their inspiration - as well as stories behind some beloved books. These are also a wonderful resource for author studies, literature units, and parent engagement events.

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Hispanic Picture Book list organized by topic

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Hispanic Picture Book list organized by topic

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The following children's booklists feature titles about Hispanic Heritage organized by topic that can be used all year long! Many books on our recommended lists are bilingual or are available in Spanish.

Also, don't miss our Hispanic Heritage titles for young adults or the recommended resources below.

Elementary School
Books for Young Children History and Biographies Growing Up Latino Family Stories
Recommended Resources

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The following children's booklists feature titles about Hispanic Heritage organized by topic that can be used all year long! Many books on our recommended lists are bilingual or are available in Spanish. Also, don't miss our Hispanic Heritage titles for young adults or the recommended resources below.

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Coloring/Activity Book on Central America

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Coloring/Activity Book on Central America

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Bilingual Read Aloud by Ms. Kirby

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Bilingual Read Aloud by Ms. Kirby

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Bilingual Read Aloud by Ms. Kirby

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Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

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Bilingual Read Aloud by Ms. Kirby

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Read Aloud by Ms. Kirby

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Danza + info about Ballet Folklórico (3-5)

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Danza + info about Ballet Folklórico (3-5)

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Read Aloud by Ms. Kirby

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Bilingual Read Aloud by Ms. Kirby

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Somos un arcoiris/We Are a Rainbow (K-2)

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Somos un arcoiris/We Are a Rainbow (K-2)

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Bilingual Read Aloud by Ms. Kirby

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Information/Videos

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Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15 every year, "celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America (from HispanicHeritageMonth.gov). While it's important to continue learning about cultures throughout the year, Hispanic Heritage Month offers a chance to highlight Latin American cultures; communities often offer museum exhibits, folkloric dancing, children's activities and even parades during this time.

Today I'm sharing the biographies of 5 famous Latinos, plus resources to learn about their contributions to US society: an astronaut, a teacher, an author, an athlete, and a scientist.

Even though she was teased in school for liking science, nothing stopped Ellen Ochoa from achieving her dreams of becoming an astronaut! Now she is Dr. Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman to ever go into space, an inventor, a mother, and a mentor for young girls.

Read this Scholastic biography of Ellen Ochoa and check out this video where she is interviewed:

Jaime Escalante was born to two teachers of Aymara ancestry in Bolivia, and taught math and physics. When he immigrated to the US he taught himself English and went to college. Jaime Escalante is well known for teaching Calculus at an under-performing school in Los Angeles. He inspired and encouraged and motivated poor students at record numbers to take and pass the AP Calculus class, despite many cynics who didn't believe in him.

Read this kid-friendly biography of Jaime Escalante and check out this video where he is interviewed:

3. Pat Mora: Author

Pat Mora is a Latina author of poetry, nonfiction and children's books. Pat Mora founded the community-based, family literacy initiative, El Día de los Niños, El Día de los Libros/ Children's Day. Her goal is to promote literacy and a love of books in children. In her children's books, she focuses on the rich cultural diversity in the towns around the border between Mexico and the US. My kids love her books! !

Here is a great interview where she speaks on how she became an author, and how all books are culture:

4. Mario Molina: Nobel Prize Winning Scientist

Mario Molina grew up in Mexico loving science. His aunt, who was a chemist, used to make up experiments for him and he was soon doing projects that rivaled university work. He studied in Europe and the United States, and got his PhD. Molina is most known for his Nobel Prize winning work in understanding how the ozone layer is formed and depleted-particularly by chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs); this crucial work in atmospheric chemistry had a profound impact on our environment.

Read this Scholastic biography of Mario Molina to discover how he became a scientist and more about his discoveries.

5. Roberto Clemente: Baseball Player & Humanitarian

Our final pick for this famous Latinos list is Roberto Clemente was born in Puerto Rico, and played baseball as a child. He later was drafted for the Pittsburgh Pirates and had a stunning career playing 15 Al-Star Games, reaching the 3000 hits milestone, and being named MVP of the year. People also remember Roberto Clemente as a humanitarian, who worked in the off-season organizing charity drives and donating his time and money. He once said "If you have a chance to help others, and you fail to do so, you're wasting your time on this Earth." When Roberto died in a plane crash in 1972, he was on his way to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

Read this kid-friendly biography of Roberto Clemente and check out this video of his life:

___________________________________________________

Welcome to the Third Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Blog Hop, hosted this year by Multicultural Kid Blogs and 22 of our member blogs!

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15 every year, "celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America" (from HispanicHeritageMonth.gov)
MKB Hispanic Heritage Month Blog Hop: Participating Blogs.
Now that you've learn about 5 inspiring famous Latinos, check out all our partners who are sharing more about Hispanic Heritage for kids:

Multicultural Kid Blogs All Done Monkey Spanish Playground

Kid World Citizen Mommy Maestra Kids Yoga Stories Inspired by Familia

Entre Compras y El Hogar Discovering the World Through My Son's Eyes

Spanglish House Crafty Moms Share Toddling in the Fast Lane

Mama Tortuga Our Whole Village

Changing Plate A Life With Subtitles Spanish Mama

Pragmatic Mom Daria's Music My Favorite Multicultural Books

Trilingual Mama Mundo Lanugo The Good Long Road

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5 Famous Latinos for Kids: Hispanic Heritage Month

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Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15 every year, "celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America (from HispanicHeritageMonth.gov).

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Craft Project

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It is Hispanic Heritage month. I wanted to talk about this with my kids. Having a Hispanic mother and being half Hispanic myself it is important to me to share that culture with my children. I decided to find a fun craft for us to do and talk about our Mexican Culture around it. We set out to make fun Mexican Folk Art and the kids loved it. This post is part of Multicultural Kids Blog Hop.

Mexican Folk Art for Kids

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.

Supplies you need:
*foil~ similar to these Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil (200 Square Foot Roll)
*paper plates~ similar to these Nicole Home Collection 200 Count Everyday Dinnerware Paper Plate, 9-Inch, White
*sharpies~ similar to these Sharpie 1949557 Color Burst Permanent Markers, Fine Point, Assorted Colors, 24-Count

How to make Mexican Folk Art for Kids:
I wrapped paper plates in foil. Then I set out the sharpeis.

We when got daddy involved today.

We all decided to try and make sunshine faces.

We all enjoyed creating our own face and we learned a little about Mexican folk art too.

Welcome to the Third Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Blog Hop, hosted this year by
Multicultural Kid Blogsand 22 of our member blogs! Don't miss our amazing giveaway, and share your own posts at our linky! Hispanic Heritage Monthruns from September 15 to October 15 every year, "celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America" (from HispanicHeritageMonth.gov) Be sure to visit all of the participating blogs (listed below) and follow our related Pinterest boards:

Don't miss our Twitter party "Celebrating Hispanic Heritage with Kids," Tuesday, September 23, from 9 - 10 pm ET! Follow #mkbhhm to participate!
MKB Hispanic Heritage Month Blog Hop: Participating Blogs
Multicultural Kid Blogs
All Done Monkey
Spanish Playground
Kid World Citizen
Mommy Maestra
Inspired by Familia
Entre Compras y El Hogar
Discovering the World Through My Son's Eyes
Spanglish House
Crafty Moms Share
Toddling in the Fast Lane
Mama Tortuga
Frogs, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
Our Whole Village
Changing Plate
A Life With Subtitles
Spanish Mama
Pragmatic Mom
Daria's Music
My Favorite Multicultural Books
Trilingual Mama
Mundo Lanugo
The Good Long Road
Ana & Zelli

Hispanic Heritage Month GIVEAWAY!

This year to celebrate we are giving away fabulous prizes! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post for a chance to win! Please note that there are shipping restrictions on some prizes. In the event that the winner lives outside of the shipping area, that portion of the prize will be added to the following prize package.

Grand Prize Package

A basket from Smart Play Pad (SRP $ 24.99): Interactive tablet like electronic toy makes early learning fun and exciting for little ones. More than 30 touch sensitive keys teach language and pronunciation skills to help prepare children for school. Bilingual feature helps kids learn in English & Spanish. Lightweight and truly portable for on-the-go learning. Ships to US and Canada only.

A basket of fun from Escuela Falcón in Guanajuato, Gto., Mexico. This prize includes educational games, ceramic Day of the Dead skulls, a hand-painted ceramic box, wooden toys, and a certificate for 5 hours of Skype Spanish lessons with Escuela Falcón.
Lanugo that includes Lanugo's new book, "Lula la Consentida," a limited edition "Latino de Corazón" infant apparel, and Seventh Generation's earth conscious baby product essentials. US shipping only.

A Spanish edition of the award-winning game Bananagrams.

DVD of Spanish music videos from Rockalingua.

A Movie in my Pillow and Poems to Dream Together - Books of poetry in English and Spanish from Lee and Low.

First Prize Package

A child's sweater and bag from Peru courtesy of Kid World Citizen. The handmade, wool sweater is typical from the Andes and might fit a child ages 2-4. The little backpack is also handmade with gorgeous details typical of the region.

A Spanish edition of the award-winning game Bananagrams.

Chocolalala - CD of songs in English and Spanish from Mister G.

Hola Hello - A CD of children's songs in English and Spanish from Mariana Iranzi.

printable minibooks, games and activity pages from
Mis primeros poemas - A book of poems and audio CD for Spanish learners from All Bilingual Press.

Digital download of Spanish Colors Activities Pack with Mundo de Pepita.
Spanish activity book with an audio CD with listening exercises for kids between 3-10 years old (value: 12€) from Lingua Toys.
Hand-crafted guiro (traditional instrument), hand-carved from a gourd in Bolivia with a sun and moon pattern. Great instrument as well as a piece of folk art. From DARIAMUSIC. US shipping only.

Second Prize Package

Handwoven scarf from Nicaragua courtesy of Spanish Playground.

¡Las letras! and Señorita Bienvenida en el aeropuerto - Two children's books in Spanish from Libros Arellano.

A CD of children's songs in English and Spanish from Mariana Iranzi.

ABC Fiesta - CD of songs in English and Spanish from Mister G.

Digital download of 6 printable Spanish high frequency words books from Custom Literacy.
Hand woven and leather Guatemala coin purse, a fun and vibrant gift. Given by www.AlarconRestaurants.com - from their Gift Gallery in Antigua Real Restaurant, Mukwonago WI.
Bonus Prize: France Shipping Only!
Beautiful piñata created especially for this contest by Piñatas de Laly.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Link Up Your Posts Now it's your turn to share your posts! The linky will be open through October 15, so come back and share throughout Hispanic Heritage Month!

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I hope you can enjoy this with your family too!

Follow along with us and be inspired to play on

Written by Jaime

Hi! I am Jaime, mama to three high energy boys. With three boys, life never slows down, but I wouldn't have it any other way! We love creating, learning, and crafting together and we can turn anything into an adventure.

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It is Hispanic Heritage month. I wanted to talk about this with my kids. Having a Hispanic mother and being half Hispanic myself it is important to me to share that culture with my children. I decided to find a fun craft for us to do and talk about our Mexican Culture around it.

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Craft Project

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Ready to make a festive paper flower garland for your next fiesta? Here are step-by-step directions with photos to help you make decorative paper flower pom-poms which can be hung on a string, from the ceiling, on tree branches or wherever you like! (It's a great craft to do with your niños!)

How To Make Paper Fiesta Flowers
What you need:
Crepe paper (Tissue paper will probably work but that isn't what I used.)
Wire (Small children may feel more comfortable working with pipe cleaners.)
String
Scissors
Directions:
1. Cut 4 sheets of crepe paper to the same length. (Mine were about 9 1/2 inches by 22 inches.) As I mentioned above, this will probably work with tissue paper but I use crepe paper because it's stronger, doesn't tear as easily, and has a little added texture compared to tissue paper.

2. With the sheets of paper lined up on top of each other, fold width-wise in 1 1/2 inch fan/accordion style folds.

3. Secure in the middle with a length of wire about 7 inches long. Don't secure it so tightly that you crush the paper too much. (It should now look like a bow tie.)

4. Spread out the fan folds.

5. Carefully separate each layer. Fluff and adjust as needed on each side so it is round in shape.

6. Secure the wire to a long length of string. Repeat until you have the garland as long as you want it.

7. Hang up your garland of pretty pom-pom flowers and throw a fiesta!

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How To Make Paper Fiesta Flowers For Hanging

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Ready to make a festive paper flower garland for your next fiesta? Here are step-by-step directions with photos to help you make decorative paper flower pom-poms which can be hung on a string, from the ceiling, on tree branches or wherever you like! (It's a great craft to do with your niños!)

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Craft Project

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Thanks to Melissa for suggesting this project!
Papel picado (punched paper) is a Mexican popular art form with roots in the country's ancient cultures. The Aztecs used the bark of wild mulberry and fig trees to make a rough paper called amatl . Amatl was used to make flags and banners to decorate temples, streets and homes.

Today, professional craftsmen use awls, chisels and blades to make intricate designs depicting flowers, birds, angels, crosses, skeletons, historic figures and even words. They design the pattern on a piece of paper and then cut through it and as many as 50 sheets of tissue paper with their special tools.

Sound complicated? Well, never fear... In it's simplest form, papel picado is done as papel cortado (cut paper) and is made a lot like a paper snowflake. Toddlers and up will be proud to display their unique artwork!

Materials:

tissue paper (I cut store bought sheets into 4 pieces -- each about 8x10 inches)

scissors,

string

scotch tape

Instructions:
Print friendly version of these instructions

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Thanks to Melissa for suggesting this project! Papel picado (punched paper) is a Mexican popular art form with roots in the country's ancient cultures. The Aztecs used the bark of wild mulberry and fig trees to make a rough paper called amatl . Amatl was used to make flags and banners to decorate temples, streets and homes.

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September 15 - October 15

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage month with the following lessons, activities, videos, and more.

Tolerance: Comparing Cultural Holidays
Students in grades K-4 compare Halloween and El Día de los Muertos by looking at traditions, music, and visual art.

Dia de los Muertos: Celebrating and Remembering ( PDF, 139 KB, 6 pgs.) Students in grades K-2 explore how Dia de los Muertos is celebrated in Latino communities in the U.S. and Latin America.

Let's Travel to Mexico!
Students in grades 1-2 learn about the language and literature of Mexico.

Journal of Time: A Historical Perspective (Esperanza Rising)
Students in grades 5-8 use photographs as inspiration to write journal entries from the point of view of someone living during the Great Depression in California.

Hispanic Heritage Month begins today.
Students in grades 5-12 work in groups to research and present projects on Hispanic culture through PowerPoint, a webpage, a display, or an interactive tool such as the flip book or stapleless book.

Additional Lesson Plans

Smithsonian Education - Hispanic Heritage Teaching Resources
Lessons for grades K-12.

Hispanic Heritage Month
Lessons, activities, interactives, and resources for grades K-12.

Activities

Bring Hispanic Heritage Month to Life: A Collection of Resources ( K-8)
Interactive timelines, scavenger hunts, and other learning fun all about Hispanic Americans.

24 Great Ideas for Hispanic Heritage ( K-12)
From Aztec math to Carnival masks, these ideas are easy to put together and offer students the chance to celebrate their own heritage while appreciating the uniqueness of others.

Fact Monster - Hispanic Heritage Month Activities
Crosswords, population statistics, and more.

Colorín Colorado - Hispanic Heritage Month
Information, puzzles, biographies for English language learners. In English and Spanish.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage with Recipes full of flavor ( K-5)

Printables

Famous Hispanic Americans ( K-5)
Coloring pages and hero cards for sports, science, politics, and the arts.

Background Resources

Day of the Dead - El Dia de los Muertos K-12 curriculum resources.

Articles Tagged as Latino American History

Library of Congress - Hispanic Heritage Month
Images, exhibits, audio, and video.

Smithsonian Latino Center Includes exhibitions, virtual museum, Virtual Museum Bilingual Teacher Training Took Kit, and more.

Smithsonian - Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
82 articles, musical samples, and videos.

National Hispanic Heritage Month Selected resources for teachers.

Multimedia

Music

Video
Find 31 videos and 18 photo galleries.

Coco (2017) (1:45) Miguel, a 12-year-old frustrated musician, visits the land of the dead to get the blessing of a famous singer, his great-great-grandfather. This movie could be used as an introduction or culminating activity in an exploration of Dia de los Muertos and other aspects of Latino culture.

last updated: July 15, 2019

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National Hispanic Heritage Month, Grades K-5

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Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage month with the following lessons, activities, videos, and more. Tolerance: Comparing Cultural Holidays Students in grades K-4 compare Halloween and El Día de los Muertos by looking at traditions, music, and visual art. Dia de los Muertos: Celebrating and Remembering ( PDF, 139 KB, 6 pgs.)

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Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated September 15 through October 15, is a great opportunity to kick off a whole year of cultural discovery. These fresh ideas - from Aztec math to Carnival masks - are easy to put together, and they offer students the chance to celebrate their own heritage while appreciating the uniqueness of others.

What Does "Hispanic" Mean?

The term "Hispanic," as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, refers to a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central America, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race. According to the 2010 Census, more than 50.5 million people identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino. Hispanics trace their heritage to the following countries that were colonized by Spain and continue to use Spanish as an official language: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Community Connections

Take Your Learning Beyond the Classroom

1. Read, Review, and Recommend: Partner with a local library to create a display of Hispanic heritage-themed books. Have each student select a book and write a short review to be displayed at the library.

2. A Day in the Life of Our Class: Share your classroom culture by creating a web page filled with photos and captions.

3. Plant a Memory Forest: Plant a tree in your community for each Hispanic hero your class selects. Tag each tree with a mini biography highlighting that hero's contributions.

4. Ecudorian Migajon Miniatures: Students can create tiny animals, flowers, and people just like artisans in Ecuador do. To make the dough, each student will knead one slice of white bread, crust removed, with one tablespoon of white glue. The dough will be quite sticky at first but will become manageable with kneading. Mold the dough into tiny shapes and allow to air-dry overnight. Decorate with acrylic paint and display!

5. Ponce Carnival Masks: Bring the vivid colors of Puerto Rican Carnival to your classroom with traditional papier-mâché masks of red, yellow, and black. Begin with one large paper plate for each student. Thinking of the plate as the face of a clock, cut 2-inch slits at 2 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 10 o'clock. Overlap the edges of the slits and affix with tape to make the mask 3-D. Cut two holes for eyes. Add horns to the mask by rolling small sheets of poster board into cones and attaching them with tape. Using a thin paste of water and flour and strips of newspaper, cover the mask with 3-4 layers of papier-mâché. Once the mask is dry, bring it to life with brightly colored paint and traditional patterns of dots. Then take your masks on parade!

6. Papeles Picados: Add a festive touch to the classroom with traditional Mexican punched papers called papeles picados. Fold thin construction paper in a variety of colors into quarters, eighths, cone style, or fan style to achieve a variety of looks. Use scissors and hole punches to create a perforated pattern. Hang the completed papers along a string using tape.

7. Zapotec Rug Paintings: When there's not enough time to weave, recreate these beautiful geometric rugs from Mexico using paint. Begin with a sheet of poster board for each student. Using rulers and pencils, draw zigzag, stair-step, and straight lines across the poster board. Incorporate angular shapes such as diamonds and triangles. Once the pencil layout is complete, use poster paints or markers to fill in the design.

8. Grow a Heritage Garden: Plant staple crops common in many Spanish-speaking countries, such as corn, beans, squash, and peppers. Have students keep a log tracking the growth of the various plants. Extend the project by researching staple foods of other regions.

9. The Air We Share: Monitor the daily air-quality index for your city (available at AirNow). Have students study the results and look for trends. What are small actions we can take to help improve air quality for everyone on the planet?

10. Try Your Luck: Play a simple Mexican game called Toma Todo. Create six-sided tops and have students spin them to see if they have to take or contribute chips into the pot. Whoever scores the most chips wins!

11. Adopt a City: Select a world city to "adopt," such as your city's international sister city. Display photos of people and places, as well as a clock set to the local time. Have students report on local news events.

12. My Home Country: Celebrate diversity in your classroom by inviting ELL students to share photos of their hometowns, important cultural items, and basic phrases in their native language.

13. What's Your Heritage?: Ask students to investigate their own heritage and report back to the class on the origins of their ancestors. Graph the results and discuss how the class reflects, or differs from, city, state, and national demographic statistics. For current census data, visit the United States Census Bureau.

14. Aztec Math: Spice up a math review activity by replacing the Arabic numerals with Aztec numbers.

15. International Outfits: Do you know how far your clothes traveled before they even reached the store where you bought them? Have students inventory the items they are wearing and the country of origin for each item. What is the total number of miles for each student? For the entire class?

16. My Spanish Dictionary: Have the class create a lively illustrated dictionary of Spanish words, complete with visual or verbal memory tricks for remembering words' meanings.

17. Label Maker: Give pairs of students a pad of sticky notes and a Spanish-English dictionary. Play festive music while students label everything in the classroom with a bilingual label. When the music stops, have students take a tour of the room and practice the new words.

18. World Alphabet Collection: Gather newspaper clippings or online printouts showcasing scripts from other languages. Create a special bulletin board celebrating the myriad of ways people write. An excellent resource is Omniglot.

19. Play Color, Colorcito: In this traditional Spanish street game, the child who is "It" says "color, colorato" ("color, little color") and then the name of a color. Everyone must run to touch something that color in order to be "safe." If It tags a player, he or she becomes the new It and play continues.

20. Move to the Beat: Reenergize students between activities with a Latin dance party. Play selections of tango, merengue, folk music, or Tex-Mex and ask students to feel the differences in the beat as they move their bodies.

21. Can You Read Mayan? Introduce students to the ancient Mayan alphabet and ask each student to write his or her name in Mayan glyphs on a sheet of paper. Collect all the sheets, then give each student a sheet to decode.

22. Write Your Own Folktale: Read one of the many traditional folktales from Spanish-speaking countries and then write new stories based on the traditions of these tales.

23. Our Heritage Album: Compile a class album of significant Hispanic Americans throughout history featuring lots of drawings, invented memorabilia, and simulated newspaper clippings. Browse the Smithsonian's Hispanic Heritage Teaching Resources or take your kids to the virtual Smithsonian's Latino Center's Kid's Corner for inspiration for your album.

24. Musical Stories: Give students the beginning paragraph of a traditional folktale, and then play a selection of Spanish music to inspire them to write the end of the story. Is the music sad or happy? On what kind of occasion would this music be played?

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24 Great Ideas for Hispanic Heritage Month | Scholastic

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Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated September 15 through October 15, is a great opportunity to kick off a whole year of cultural discovery. These fresh ideas - from Aztec math to Carnival masks - are easy to put together, and they offer students the chance to celebrate their own heritage while appreciating the uniqueness of others.

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Hispanic Countries Represented at Lowell

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Hispanic Countries Represented at Lowell

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Bilingual Read Aloud

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English: Playing Loteria (Bilingual) Read aloud, read along juego