8 Award-Winning Hispanic Picture Books in Spanish For Kids
Hispanic picture books are a perfect entry point into Spanish for your kids.
If you’re not sure where to look, I prepared a lengthy list of award-winning picture books full of colorful characters, eye-catching artwork, and charming stories related to Hispanic culture.
Let’s look for a red scarf in a park in Argentina or spend time with a female caiman in Venezuela. Or how about following a group of painted birds across Nicaragua?
These eight award-winning Hispanic picture books in Spanish for kids are sure to help your kids or students improve their Spanish.
Table of Contents:
Let’s Explore Latin America
Books are one of the best ways to learn about a new culture. You get to meet wonderful new authors, travel alongside colorful characters, enhance your vocabulary, and be exposed to unique customs and delicious foods!
Plus, if you’re learning a new language, you can practice your reading skills. Children’s literature and picture books are a fun way to challenge your kids and kindle their imagination and creativity. What ‘s more, kids who love books will keep reading throughout their lives!
Travel across Latin America and Spain with these award-winning Hispanic picture books. These books have been nominated for or won prestigious awards such as Spain’s Young Calamonte Prize, the Fundación Cuatrogatos Prize, or the Pura Belpré Award.
1. My Papi Has a Motorcycle (Mi papi tiene una moto) by Isabel Quintero
Ages: 4 to 8
A little girl named Daisy Ramona loves to ride her father’s motorcycle. They live in a barrio in Southern California. The two ride by mercados (markets), murals that celebrate Mexican-American history and its heroes, and working-class California.
This heart-warming tale of love, family, and community will surely put a smile on your face. Plus, the artwork by illustrator Zeke Peña brings Isabel’s vision to life .
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2. The Red Scarf (La bufanda roja) by Nicholás Schuff
Ages: 3 to 5
Little Felix lost his favorite scarf in the park. His mother made it for him, and it’s his lucky scarf! He has to find it!
This is a book about loss and learning how to say goodbye. Even if we lose things or say goodbye to people, that doesn’t mean we stop thinking about or loving them.
Schuff’s lovely book is also about exploration and nature. We see the red scarf flying around, swimming around, and keeping a small bunny warm.
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See also: Crochet and Knitting Vocabulary in Spanish
3. The Caiman (La caimana) by María Eugenia Manrique
Ages: 6 to 8
One day Faoro found a baby caiman. It was so little that it fit in Faoro’s tiny hand. She named it Negro. María Eugenia’s The Caiman is a story about friendship, nature, and conservation.
We see Negro playing with the kids in Faoro’s neighborhood and even attending her owner’s wedding! It’s set in Río Apure, deep in the heart of the Venezuelan jungle. Can you believe this is a real-life story?
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Recommended: Tropical Animals in Spanish
4. The Birds That Flew Out Of The Painting (Los pájaros que volaron del cuadro) by Sergio Ramírez
Ages: 7+
The title says it all! An older woman likes to paint birds she sees in tropical Nicaragua. One day the painted birds come to life and start eating the woman’s guavas.
Her granddaughter tries to catch the birds and take them back to the canvas. Naturally, they refuse. The birds’ leader, a great kiskadee, leads the group across the city.
In this beautiful book, you and your children not only practice your Spanish, but also get to know some of the birds that live in Nicaragua and Central America. Have you heard of the urraca or the guardabarranco? Discover them and other colorful birds in Sergio’s book.
Get the book:
Hand-picked for you: Explore the Captivating Culture And History of Nicaragua
5. Dreaming Doesn’t Cost A Thing (Soñar no cuesta nada) by Alberto Montt
Ages: 4+
A curious and charismatic duck dreams of flying around the world. Even though he thinks he can’t do it, that’s not going to stop him!
The duck starts building a flying machine. He builds an engine. He finds a propeller. He has a toolbox! But then he runs into a fox who will help him on his quest.
Brimming with subtle humor, Soñar no cuesta nada is a tale of hope, perseverance, and friendship.
Get the book: Paperback
6. Sing With Me: The Story of Selena Quintanilla (Canta conmigo: la historia de Selena Quintanilla) by Diana López
Ages: 4 to 8
You’ve undoubtedly heard of the talented and famed Mexican-American singer Selena Quintanilla. Maybe you watched Selena: The Series on Netflix or know some of her songs.
Author Diana López wrote a beautiful and sassy picture book about Selena. In Sing With Me, we get to know her origin story, from the time she first played with Los Dinos when she was nine, when she recorded her first song at 12, all the way to when she sold-out arenas across the U.S.
Get the book: Hardcover
Check out: 10 Female Hispanic Singers Who Conquered the World
7. A Sparrow In My Hands (Un gorrión en mis manos) by Mónica Rodríguez
Ages: 10 to 12
Young Rebeca spends her summer vacation in a fishing town near the sea. One year, she meets Luisa, a shy girl who doesn’t have any friends.
Rebeca must decide if she wants to follow a good-looking boy named Nacho or cultivate her friendship with Luisa, who has proven to be smart and witty and has a great sense of adventure. This young adult book is about friendship and empathy.
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8. Mango, Abuela, and Me (Mango, abuela y yo) by Meg Medina
Ages: 5 to 8
One day, Mia’s grandmother comes to live with Mia and her parents in the city. Naturally, Mia wants to get to know and spend time with her.
Mia’s abuela, however, doesn’t speak English, and Mia doesn’t speak Spanish! With the help of a parrot named Mango, the two come together and overcome a seemingly overwhelming language barrier. It’s a beautiful tale about love, family, pets, and language that’s ideal for Spanish learners.
Get the book: Paperback
Recommended reading: 35 Funny Spanglish Words and Example Sentences
Give Your Kids The Gift of Spanish
Spanish is the language of the future! Did you know that close to 600 million people around the world speak Spanish? Or that up to 4.5 million people learn Spanish every year? What’s even crazier is that experts estimate that by 2050 the Spanish population will rise to 754 million!
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“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”
– Erica P. Parent of 1
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