Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month occurs annually from September 15th-October 15th, and this year’s theme, according to the National Archives, is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.” The theme and its corresponding poster are selected by the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEMP), who advocate for Hispanic participation and representation in federal government. As the NCHEMP press release states, “The theme encapsulates the spirit of innovation, resilience, and unity that define the Hispanic experience.” You can learn more about the NCHEMP on their website.
“It’s crucial,” says the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino, “to make sure that the contributions of the Latino community are showcased, and that Latinas and Latinos have a voice. According to 2020 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, one in every four children in the United States is Hispanic/Latino. A recent study found that Latino history is largely left out in high school textbooks that are used across the United States, despite the increasing percentage of Latina and Latino students…it’s necessary for all citizens to learn more about American Latino experiences to recognize and value the many contributions Latinas and Latinos have made.”
Here is a list of recent books to check out from Spokane Public Library this month in celebration of Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month:
Kids
Ellen Takes Flight: The Life Of Astronaut Ellen Ochoa by Doreen Rappaport;
Illustrated by Oliver Dominguez
The Perfect Place written by Matt de la Peña; illustrated by Paola Escobar
How To Eat A Mango by Paola Santos; pictures by Juliana Perdomo
Young Adult
The Making Of Yolanda La Bruja by Lorraine Avila
Shut Up, This Is Serious by Carolina Ixta
There Goes The Neighborhood by Jade Adia
Adult
Self-Care For Latinas: 100+ Ways To Prioritize & Rejuvenate Your Mind Body & Spirit by Raquel Reichard
Flores and Miss Paula : A Novel by Melissa Rivero
Chicano Frankenstein by Daniel A Olivas
Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation On Race And The Meanings And Myths Of “Latino” by Héctor Toba
The Sons Of El Rey : A Novel by Alex Espinoza
The Latino Century : How America’s Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy by Mike Madrid with Marcos Bretón
Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez
