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I love this book because it really captured the power of stories and reading as bridges between cultures. Children will light up when they see their own experiences reflected, but I also appreciate how it sparks curiosity and empathy in all readers. In the classroom, I would use this as a springboard to invite children to share their own family journeys or special traditions, whether through drawings, storytelling, or bilingual vocabulary explorations. Dreamers honors Latinx culture by sharing Morales’ own story of immigrating to the United States with her son, it is also written bilingually in English and Spanish. As a mirror text, it reflects the experiences of Latinx children and families who have journeyed to a new country, it is celebrating resilience, love, and each unique cultural pride. The text validates their experiences by portraying an immigrant mother and child not through deficit or stereotype, but as strong, resourceful, and full of hope. As a window text, it opens opportunities for children from other backgrounds to learn about the challenges and triumphs of immigration and even the richness of bilingualism.

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Felipa and the Day of the Dead by Birte Müller (2004)

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I absolutely adored this book and I think it did a wonderful job of demonstrating how confusing losing a loved one is, as well as how different cultures deal with grief. This is a story about a young girl who lost her grandmother, she began looking for her sole because she missed her so much, then her parents explained that there is a special day for you to celebrate your loved ones who are gone called Day of the Dead. This is a beautiful depiction of what Day of the Dead is as well as why it is so important to people's culture. I know as a young child I did not know what this celebration was, it wasn't till much older that I became aware of this holiday. It is such a wonderful thing to expose young children to other people and their future because inevitably, it will create more kind, inclusive, and understanding people. This book also uses some Spanish words such as "abuela" or grandmother, once again, exposing young children to other cultures/ languages will make them more culturally knowledgeable and accepting.

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A river divides the two towns where two cousins reside in this bilingual picture book. However, they also reside in different countries due to a larger divide—the US-Mexico border. Spanish is the primary language on the boy's side and English on the girl's. The cousins adore their hometowns and enjoy visiting one another's, where they discover that while some things are remarkably similar, others are remarkably different, creating a dynamic world with endless opportunities. This book demonstrates how border towns are unique locations that are both attractive and vibrant because two cultures can coexist peacefully, and both ought to be equally valued and cherished.
By offering an accessible platform for both the original language and its English translation, this book serves as a mirror text that honors and expands Latinx cultures and languages. It also ensures linguistic preservation and cultural continuity by reflecting identities and experiences that validate heritage. The subtleties, histories, and real-life experiences of Latinx communities are reflected in it. It challenges potential misconceptions by validating and celebrating the cultural diversity and depth of Latinx communities through the provision of tales and viewpoints in their native language. The dual-language style makes reading more inclusive by improving comprehension for readers who are already fluent in either language. By presenting real voices and experiences, fostering empathy, and allowing cross-cultural interactions, books like these provide windows into Latinx culture.

I love this book and how it gives a look into how life is different and same in different countries. I also love how the book shows the children embracing their similarities and differences without judgment. I also enjoy reading dual language books, as it is a great opportunity for children to learn a new language.

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Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina (2015)

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Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina (2015)

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This book is amazing to have in the classroom because it helped bridge the language gap between my ESL students and my English-speaking students. The story is about a child's grandmother coming to stay with her and her parents in the city. However, Abuela only speaks Spanish, and the child only speaks English. At first, the child is sad that she can't share experiences or talk to her grandmother. But then together they work to teach each other their own language, breaking that barrier. This book inspired my children to want to label things in the classroom in Spanish and English to help them break their own barriers and be able to connect with each other better. This text also opens opportunities for children to learn about other cultures and family dynamics.

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Islandborn written by Junot Díaz and Illustrated by Leo Espinosa (2018)

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Wow, in all honesty I think this is one of my favorite children's books I've read. Islandborn explores the story of a young Dominican - American girl named Lola's journey in remembering and honoring her home country through the memories and experiences of her neighbors. Lola immigrated to the US as a baby, leaving her with no memories of the Dominican Republic, and is asked to draw a picture of her home. Throughout the book Lola asks cousins, Abuela and mama, and Mr. Mir her landlord what they remember of home. The book captures the vibrant and rich culture of the Dominican Republic: detailing its plethora of colorful people, delicious food, native animals, and its peoples' fierce resilience and love for their home in beautiful imagery. The book tackles themes of political violence, instability, and oppression not by describing the violence, but by referring to it as a big monster. Instead of highlighting the monster as the center of the memories, Díaz highlights the love, pride, and heritage Dominicans have in their home country, and their resilience as they fought off the big bad monster. I believe it is so important to see people and their cultural backgrounds as this: not oppressed people, not as stereotypes, but as courageous people. Additionally, the book drives home the message that you don't have to be living in your home country to identify with it and be proud of it. Throughout the book Lola shares that she feels guilty and upset she doesn't remember the Dominican, but at the end of the story she tells her teacher, "I tried really really hard but nothing came and that made me feel bad. But then I realized that I don't have to feel bad because even if I'd never set foot on the island it doesn't matter: the island is me."

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I really love this book as it helps explain Alma and how she got her name. I connected with this book even though I am not Latinx, but both of my own children have meanings behind their names. They too were named after members of our family. My son was named after his great grandfather, and my daughter was named after her great great grandmother.

In Alma and how she got her name, Latinx children will be able to see themselves mirrored in the way Alma carries a rich layered name, which is tied to family history, language and identity. Allowing them to be proud of their names, heritage and multigenerational stories behind their names. The book intertwines Spanish names and family backstories giving a more natural feel to the bilingual or cultural elements without having them feel overwhelmed. At the same time this sweet book offers a window for others to invite readers into the significance of naming traditions, family legacy and the way language can connect generation after generation. Because this story focuses on Alma's journey her curiosity, pride and questions, it allows this book to avoid stereotyping. It pays attention to details such as names, lineage, emotional tensions help humanize Latinx identity and invites empathy and understanding for this culture. Overall, I really love this book, I think it does a great job explaining the naming of Latinx children.

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The children’s book Lucia the Luchadora by Cynthia Leonor Graza is a great example of how to honor Latinx cultures and languages without relying on stereotypes. The story avoids cliches about Latinx culture and celebrates diverse and complex characters such as Lucia as she navigates both cultural expectations and her own personal growth.  Lucia celebrates her family’s rich cultural heritage when she discovers her abuela used to be a luchadora. It is not portrayed as a stereotype but as a source of pride and empowerment that is still rooted deep in Lucia’s family tradition. The Spanish in the story is very well integrated-it is not overly translated or explained but rather serves as a source of authenticity. Lucia’s bilingualism is seen as normal, a strength, and a part of her identity. The story is relatable to readers (themes like courage, identity and self-expression are universal to all young readers) who may not be in the Latinx community while still shining a positive spotlight on the lucha libre-a vibrant part of Latin American culture. This book is a great way to introduce young readers to different cultures, lucha libre and other Latinx traditions by affirming cultural pride, connections throughout generations, and bilingual identity.

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Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto - Ed Martinez

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Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto - Ed Martinez

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The family was making Tamales to eat. The sister and brothers look so surprised to see so many could be made. The mother wanted the sister to help with making them. The daughter was wanting to try the ring on the mother that she had taken off. She did and the ring was thought to had fallen off in the Tamales mix. The little girl was so scared that the ring had gotten in the mix. After all the children had ate the bunch the ring was nowhere to be found. Finally they had to tell the mother what had happened. I believe this book teaches children to always tell the truth and not to take things that don't belong to them.

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I chose this book because it is a great representative of Latinx culture. I personally would’ve loved this book when I was little. I really enjoyed learning new languages, along with learning about the different foods of different cultures. In my elementary school, we spent a lot of time exploring the foods of different cultures, so this book really brings me back to that time. The entire book is half English, half Spanish, and I think that also helps with integrating both languages into a child’s life. The left page is in English, the right page is in Spanish, and it talks about the different foods and food groups in both languages.

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My Colors, My World/Mis Colors Mi Mundo by Maya Christina Gonzalez

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My Colors, My World/Mis Colors, Mi Mundo

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My Colors, My World/Mis Colors, Mi Mundo

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I love this book. One of my favorite books. I did a project on this book for one of my past courses. I also used this books to teach my nanny kids the colors in Spanish. This book is written in both Spanish and English. I am bilingual myself and I would have absolutely loved this book as a child. I love how this book is showing the life of a bilingual child and the beauty of speaking both Spanish and English. It highlights her family and surroundings without cultural stereotypes.

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I enjoyed reading about this book and how it honors the Latinx culture. What stood out to me the most was the use of the English and Spanish languages to express love within the family. Throughout the challenges the family faces, this book shows a strong family bond and what it means to feel safe at home with people that you love. This children's book highlights the significance of Latinx culture within Latinx families. I also admired the artwork throughout the pages of this book, as it relates to their culture and allows others to view it and understand the importance of "en casa" to them.

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I think this book is very interesting because it shares poems about life in El Salvador and moving to the United States. The book is written in both Spanish and English, which I think helps children see that speaking two languages is special and something to be proud of. In the classroom, this book can help all children feel seen and valued, especially those who speak Spanish at home. These poems may sound familiar to them or may have language that they can recognize. For children who don’t speak Spanish, the book opens a window to learn about another culture in a warm, friendly way. It encourages kindness, curiosity, and respect for different languages and traditions.

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Green Is a Chile Pepper: A Book of Colors (2014) Rosanne Thong

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This book honors Latinx cultures by celebrating everyday traditions, foods, and family moments in a warm and authentic way. The book serves as a mirror for Latinx children because it includes familiar cultural items, like piñatas, tamales, marigolds, and papel picado, without exaggerating or stereotyping them. The Spanish words woven naturally into the text reflect how many bilingual families use language, making the story feel true to real experiences rather than forced or “performing” culture.

For readers who are not Latinx, the book provides a friendly glimpse into the richness of Latinx community life. The illustrations show celebrations, food, and traditions in a way that feels joyful and approachable. This approach helps children learn about another culture with respect instead of relying on clichés. Rather than turning Latinx identity into a single stereotype, the book highlights many small, everyday details that show how diverse and vibrant the culture really is.Personally, I appreciate books like this because they make cultural representation feel natural and inviting. Even though it’s a simple picture book about colors, it teaches young children that their culture whether it’s Latinx or not is something worth sharing and celebrating. In my own experiences working with young children, I’ve noticed how excited they get when a book includes something that reminds them of home. Texts like Green Is a Chile Pepper help create that connection and broaden the perspectives of children who may not be familiar with Latinx traditions.

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The book Abuelita & Me by Leonarda Carranza honors and extends Latinx culture and language while avoiding stereotypes. For Latinx readers, the story can reflect fmailiar family dynamics through the loving and fun relationship between the girl and her grandmother. The use of Spanish words like "Abuelita" and "Amorcito" validates bilingual identities and portrays it in an authentic way in everyday life. The book provides a window for readers from other backgrounds to see how Latinx families can experience both happiness and reslilence when facing prejudice. Instead of portraying the characters in the book as cultural symbols and focusing on stereotypes or exaggerations, it highlights the characters everyday acts of care, courage, connection, and love that portrays the culture in an easy to understand and relatable way.

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This text honors and extendes the cultures and langauges of Lantix people by celebrating who they are as people, while also allowing other cultures to join in on the experience. The culture does not sterotype because the reader is able to get a better understanding of what Day of the Dead is if they are not too familiar with what this day is and what it means to people from the Lantix culture.

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This children's book is relatable to all children, who learn of shapes. It offers culture extension using everyday interactions of the world and environment children are in. Connecting food and family and common familiar words relating to family in Spanish and English language. Opening the avenue to discuss diversity in cultural foods, family traditions engaging in an open dialogue of learning from peers.

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María Mariposa Karla Arenas Valenti 2024

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This story is about a young girl who is about to start her first day of school in a new country when a butterfly comes to visit her, filling her with magical memories from her home in Mexico. The memories of home help give her confidence in a new place. I think this book does a great job of honoring the Latin culture through dialogue and memory connection. No matter where you are from, having good memories of a place is something everyone can relate to. This book also opens opportunities for language discussion because there are some words throughout the text in Spanish.

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Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love, published in 2018 by Candlewick Press.

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“Julián Is a Mermaid” honors Latinx culture by showing an Afro-Latinx family in a positive, everyday way without using stereotypes. Julián’s abuela is caring and supportive, which reflects strong family bonds common in many Latinx communities. The story includes small cultural details, like names and the home setting, that let Latinx children see parts of their own lives in the book. It also gives other readers a window into Latinx culture by showing a diverse community, warm family interactions, and joyful celebration. The book doesn't making the culture seem exaggerated or different and instead shows it as natural and real. By focusing on love and acceptance, the story helps children see both what makes Latinx culture special and what makes the characters relatable to everyone.

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honor and extend the cultures and languages of latin x and open windows for the culture w no stereotypes

Maria Mariposa by Karla Arenas Valenti is a picture book for kids about finding confidence, embracing your identity, and learning that being unique is wonderful. This book honors and extends the culture of the Latinx people by speaking to the experiences of children who have moved/immigrated. It celebrated Mexican identity and is very easy to resonate with for anyone going through a time of change or transition. It provides space and opens doors for the culture to exist beautifully by offering an inspiring and reassuring message that is perfectly age appropriate for young kids. It also is a great tool to use for all kids to be taught empathy and self-love, as well as friendship! It discusses embracing new challenges, being resilient, and strong! The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and it is perfect for professionals who work with kids as well as families and other educators.

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Grandma's Chocolate / El chocolate de Abuelita (2010) Written by: Gabriela Baeza Ventura, Mara Price, Illustrated by: Lisa Fields

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Grandma’s Chocolate is a story about a little girl named Sabrina and her grandma. When Sabrina’s grandma visited from Mexico, she brought many gifts. She brought colorful ribbons, drums, and chocolate. Sabrina's grandma discussed the importance of these items; the ribbons were for Sabrina’s hair, the drums were for playing music together, and the chocolate was for cooking together. The characters play music and sing together. Sabrina’s grandma shares some family history. “Many years ago, our ancestors had palaces and gold, and great plantations of cacao.” The characters carry on traditions to honor their ancestors. Sabrina learns how to make hot chocolate just like the Mayan people did. As the characters drink hot chocolate, they give a toast to their ancestors: the Olmecs, the Mayans, and the Aztecs. Sabrina reflects on her grandma’s religious beliefs. “Grandma always liked birds. She said birds sing the songs of the clouds and they are messengers from the earth to the sky.” This book discussed the important pillars of the Latinx culture: family, religion, food, and music.

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"Mango, Abuela and Me" honors and extends Latinx cultures and languages by authentically portraying an intergenerational experience of navigating language differences within a loving family, avoiding stereotypes. It serves as a "mirror" for bilingual children and a "window" for others, focusing on universal themes of love, family, and cultural identity. The inclusion of Spanish words and phrases, such as "Abuela," creates an immersive experience that celebrates linguistic diversity and validates bilingual families. The book acts as a mirror for Latinx children, reflecting real-life experiences of immigration and language dynamics, and it offers a nuanced, authentic "window" into the Latinx experience for readers from different backgrounds.

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Yuyi Morales' Dreamers is a loving , genuine picture book that draws directly from the author's personal immigration experience while honoring Latinx culture and language. The images emphasize common cultural features such as family rituals, communal areas, and household symbols, and the narrative is seamlessly connected to Spanish , providing Latinx children with a significant mirror of their identities. The book provides a glimpse into immigrant life for readers who are not Latinx, emphasizing perseverance, courage, and innovation above preconceptions. By presenting genuine feelings, real life events, and culturally based visuals that spark inquiry and respectful understanding, Morales unique, intimate narrative avoids stereotypes. Dreamers promotes empathy and multilingual awareness for all young readers while extending Latinx culture through its lyrical language and vivid imagery.

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Abuela honors Latinx culture by focusing on a loving relationship between a young girl and her grandmother. The story shows them riding a bus through the city and imagining flying over familiar places, blending everyday life with imagination. The inclusion of Spanish words throughout the text reflects how many Latinx families use both English and Spanish naturally, without making the language feel foreign or out of place.

This book works as a mirror for children who may share similar experiences with grandparents, bilingual families, or city life. They can see themselves and their daily routines reflected in the story’s events. At the same time, it serves as a window for children from other backgrounds by letting them see the warmth of a close family relationship and hear Spanish used in context, like when the girl calls her grandmother abuela, without exaggerating cultural differences.

One thing I appreciate about Abuela is that it doesn’t rely on cultural stereotypes. The characters are portrayed as real people with a real relationship. The story’s blend of English and Spanish feels natural, which can help children see language as something useful, familiar, and worth celebrating.

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Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal

This book gives honor by showing the reader the naming traditions. It shows that our names can carry the history of our families, identity, and the pride that comes with our culture. The mirror allows for Latinx children to see traditions that they may already see in their own families. The window helps everyone to learn about culture and heritages without the stereotypes.

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In the book Gracias, Thanks shares everyday moments where people show gratitude. The book uses both English and Spanish in a natural way, which honors the language many Latinx families use at home. It shows different people, places, and experiences without stereotypes. Latinx children may see their own language and daily life reflected in the book, while other children get a window into bilingual culture in a positive and respectful way. I chose this book because it is simple, warm, and easy for children to understand. I like how it mixes English and Spanish without making it feel forced. From my experience, children enjoy learning new words and noticing similarities between languages. This book supports children’s engagement in reading by making the text feel familiar, friendly, and connected to real life.

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What a name - I mean names! I love the thought of passing down family names. It keeps those special people in our memories, long after they are gone. This story follows a girl who has many names and in the beginning, she questions why she has so many. By the end of the book, she adores all of her names because she learns that each name has importance and meaning that is special to her and her family.

Knowing names of different cultures is a nice notch to have on a belt as there are people from all over living in our communities. Every child should feel welcomed by their peers and the more a child knows about another child, the more ways they can accept them into their world. This story teaches children understanding their family history is important.