Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15 to October 15 to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans trailblazers who have inspired generations and enriched our communities.

The mid-September start is significant: September 15 marks the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Additionally, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively.

While heritage months offer important opportunities to spotlight diverse histories, they also serve as a springboard for year-round inclusive learning. The stories, voices and contributions of our diverse communities should be part of the teaching curriculum, every month of the year.

Below are curated resources that can be explored not only during National Hispanic Heritage Month, but throughout the school year to support a more representative learning experience for all students:

Oregon Historical Society

• Oregon Historical Society
• New! Secondary Latine History in Oregon Lesson Plans

Hispanic Heritage Website

• About Hispanic Heritage Month
• Teacher Resources

Reading List

Early Readers (Grades K–2)

Books recommended for grades kindergarten through second grade.

• Anita and the Dragons, by Hannah Carmona; illustrated by Anna Cunha
• Areli is a Dreamer, by Areli Morales; illustrated by Luisa Aribe
• The Cot in the Living Room, by Hilda Eunice Burgos; illustrated by Gaby D'Alessandro
• The Coquíes Still Sing: A Story of Home, Hope, and Rebuilding, by Karina Nicole Gonzalez; illustrated by Krystal Quiles
• Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln, by Margarita Engle; illustrated by Rafael López
• Gustavo, the Shy Ghost, by Flavia Z. Drago
• How to Hear the Universe: Gaby González and the Search for Einstein's Ripples in Space-Time, by Patricia Valdez; illustrated by Sara Palacios
• If Your Babysitter is a Bruja, by Ana Siqueira; illustrated by Irena Freitas
• Mango, Abuela, and Me, by Meg Medina; illustrated by Angela Dominguez
• Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet, by Elizabeth Rusch; illustrated by Teresa Martínez
• Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People, by Monica Brown; illustrated by Julie Paschkis
• Paletero Man, by Lucky Diaz; illustrated by Micah Player
• Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré, by Anika Aldamuy Denise; illustrated by Paola Escobar
• Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates, by Jonah Winter; illustrated by Raúl Colón
• Turning Pages: My Life Story, by Sonia Sotomayor; illustrated by Lulu Delacre

Elementary (Grades 3–5)

Books recommended for grades three through five.

• Cuba in My Pocket, by Adrianna Cuevas
• Efrén Divided, by Ernesto Cisneros
• Frizzy, by Claribel A. Ortega
• Ghost Squad, by Claribel A. Ortega
• I Lived On Butterfly Hill, by Marjorie Agosin; illustrated by Jee White
• Latinitas: Celebrating 40 Big Dreamers, by Juliet Menendez
• Lety Out Loud, by Angela Cervantes
• Lupe Wong Won't Dance, by Donna Barba Higuera
• Manu, by Kelly Fernández
• The Midnight War of Mateo Martinez, by Robin Yardi
• Paola Santiago and the River of Tears, by Tehlor Kay Mejia
• Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and her Family's Fight for Desegregation, by Duncan Tonatiuh
• The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez, by Adrianna Cuevas
• Silver Meadows Summer, by Emma Otheguy

Middle School (Grades 6–8)

Books recommended for grades six through eight.

• Before We Were Free, by Julia Alvarez
• The Bluest Sky, by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
• Esperanza Rising, by Pam Muñoz Ryan
• The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros
• The Insiders, by Mark Oshiro
• Isla to Island, by Alexis Castellanos
• Iveliz Explains It All, by Andrea Beatriz Arango
• The Last Cuentista, by Donna Barba Higuera
• Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish, by Pablo Cartaya
• Miss Quinces, by Kat Fajardo
• The Moon Within, by Aida Salazar
• The Other Half of Happy, by Rebecca Balcárcel
• Tight, by Torrey Maldonado
• Tumble, by Celia C. Pérez
• The Water Bears, by Kim Baker

Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)

Books recommended for grades nine through twelve.

• Breathe and Count Back from Ten, by Natalia Sylvester
• Cemetery Boys, by Aiden Thomas
• Clap When You Land, by Elizabeth Acevedo
• The Distance Between Us, by Reyna Grande
• Don't Ask Me Where I'm From, by Jennifer De Leon
• Furia, by Yamile Saied Mendez
• The Grief Keeper, by Alexandra Villasante
• Keeper, by Mal Peet
• Lobizona, by Romina Garber
• Never Look Back, by Lilliam Rivera
• Reclaim the Stars: 17 Tales Across Realms and Space, edited by Zoraida Córdova
• When We Make It, by Elisabet Velasquez
• Where I Belong, by Marcia Argueta Mickelson
• Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed: 15 Voices from the Latinx Diaspora, edited by Saraciea J. Fennell
• Woven in Moonlight, by Isabel Ibañez