Picture Books for Latine History Month

Young Jesús is back in this stand-alone follow-up to the picture book Papá’s Magical Water-Jug Clock. When Jesús gets home from school, he wants to go outside and play, but Mamá wants to watch a novela. She tells Jesús he’ll have to wait until it’s done and she finishes her chores. Jesús decides to help with the chores and creates a giant mess. So Mamá appoints him Chief Plant Officer. At first, Jesús loves watering the plants and reading up on them. But when he puts on a dance party for the plants, things take a turn for the worse. This is hilarious and so fun.

Alfredo loves going to school, but this year, things are different. Alfredo was born in Mexico before moving to Texas with his family, and a new state law has passed that only U.S. citizens with papers can attend school. But his parents decide to fight the law and take the state of Texas to court. While this picture book is historical fiction, it is based on true events, which the author discusses in the back matter.

Ana is excited that her abuela is coming to permananetly live with her and her mother. However, that means there will be no reason for her to stay with Señora Mimí before and after school. Ana’s excitement fades into sadness when she realizes her time with Señora Mimí will end. This is a lovely picture book about change.

This picture book biography is about Puerto Rico’s first female mayor. When a hurricane hits, decimating people’s homes, the islanders know exactly who to turn to for help: Doña Fela. She accepts them into her home, and they ask that she run for mayor. Before then, she was a child witnessing the injustices of the early 20th century, and when women were allowed to vote in 1929, she was the fifth woman to register to vote. Back matter includes more details about her life, a glossary, and an artist’s note about her connection to Doña Fela.