You are here

Viva America Latina!

These award winning picture books in Spanish and English are available in accessible formats from the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library catalog.

Aardema, Verna.
Borreguita and the coyote: a tale from Ayutla, Mexico.
DB 35163
Annotation: Borreguita (which means "little lamb") is taken by her owner to feast in a field of lush, red clover. She is approached by a coyote who has lunch on his mind. but the clever lamb outwits the coyote in this triumph of mind over muscle. A Mexican folktale. For grades K-3 and older readers.

Alarcon, Francisco X., 1954-
From the bellybutton of the moon, and other summer poems.
DB 55041, BRW 70
Annotation: The poet remembers his childhood summers spent in Mexico in this collection of bilingual poems. Companion to Laughing Tomatoes... (DB 55040). For grades K-3 and older readers.

Alarcon, Francisco X., 1954-
Laughing tomatoes and other spring poems Jitomates risueños y otros poemas de primavera : poems
DB 55040
Annotation: Bilingual collection of humorous and serious poems celebrating spring, when nature and poetry make us "see everything for the first time." For grades K-3 and older readers. Pura Belpré Honor Book. Bilingual English and Spanish language.

Ancona, George.
Barrio: Jose's neighborhood.
BRW 74 / BRW 183 (Spanish Language)
Annotation: Presents life in a barrio in San Francisco, and the life of an 8-year-old boy who lives there. Americas Award. Print-braille for grades 2-4.

Ancona, George.
Fiesta fireworks.
BRW 60
Annotation: Describes the preparation of fireworks as well as the festival honoring San Juan de Dios, the patron saint of Tultepac, Mexico. Americas Award. Print-braille for for grades K-3.

Anguissola, Giana, 1906-1966.
Los animales al principio del mundo, v. 1.
DB 15428
Annotation: The elements, plants, and animals tell their amusing stories of the earth's beginning and how things were before man's arrival. Spanish language. For grades K-4.

Behrens, June.
Fiesta! : Cinco de mayo.
DB 36792 in process
Annotation: Cinco de Mayo is a very important holiday for Mexican-Americans. On May 5, 1862, the Mexican army defeated the French army. This victory ended the efforts of foreign powers to invade North America. The author describes the Cinco de Mayo holiday and its celebration. For grades K-3.

Belpre, Pura.
Perez and Martina; a Portorican folk tale.
BR 00522
Annotation: This old Puerto Rican nonsense tale deals with the tragic love affair of a cockroach and a mouse. The Spanish text is bound with the English. Print-braille for grades 2-4.

Bravo-Villasante, Carmen.
Las Tres naranjas del amor y otros cuentos espanoles.
DB 26710
Annotation: Anthology of twenty popular children's stories from Spain. The title story deals with a prince who is cursed by a witch and must find the three oranges of love to regain his happiness. Spanish language. For grades 2-4.

Bunting, Eve, 1928-
A day's work.
DB 41219
Annotation: Francisco's grandfather has just come from Mexico and doesn't speak English, so Francisco has gone with him to help him get work. When Mr. Benjamin is looking for a gardener, Francisco lies and tells him that his grandfather is a great gardener. By the end of their day's work, Francisco has learned a very valuable lesson from his grandfather. For grades K-3

Cabrera, Lydia.
Ayapa cuentos de Jicotea.
DB 12124
Annotation: Jicotea, a small, cunning turtle, stars in this series of nineteen fable-like tales by a specialist in Afro-Cuban lore. Glossary of terms included. Spanish language. For grades 2-4.

Carling, Amelia Lau.
Mama and Papa have a store.
BRW 73
Annotation: A little Asian-American girl describes what a day is like in her family's store in Guatemala City. Americas award. Print-braille for grades K-3.

Ciavonne, Jean.
Carlos, light the farolito.
RC 42692
Annotation: It is Christmas Eve, and tonight the peregrinos will come to Carlos's house as they search for shelter for Joseph and Mary. It is an honor to host the last night of Las Posadas, and Carlos can hardly wait. His grandfather always plays the role of the innkeeper, but Carlos's parents and grandfather have gone to town. So Carlos must fill in when the peregrinos arrive before his grandfather returns. For grades K-3.

Cisneros, Sandra.
Hairs=Pelitos.
BRW 75
Annotation: A small girl describes how each person in her family has hair that looks and acts different. English and Spanish. Print-braille for grades K-3.

Cowley, Joy.
Big moon tortilla.
BRW 71
Annotation: When Marta ruins her homework and breaks her eyeglasses, Grandmother soothes her with an ancient story and one of her delicious tortillas. Americas award. Print-braille for grades K-3.

Dana, Doris.
The elephant and his secret = El elefante y su secreto.
Based on a fable by Gabriela Mistral.
DB 08858
Annotation: A fable telling how the elephant gets his enormous shape and how a secret helps him save all the world's animals. English and Spanish. For grades 2-4.

De Paola, Tomie.
The legend of the poinsettia.
BR 09935
Annotation: Lucida is helping her mother make a new blanket for the baby Jesus for the Christmas procession. Her mother becomes ill, and Lucida tries to finish the blanket but gets the threads all tangled. With no gift for baby Jesus, Lucida does not want to go to church. But an old woman tells Lucida any gift she gives will be loved. A surprise awaits everyone when Lucida brings a bunch of weeds to church. Print-braille for grades K-3 and older readers.

De Paola, Tomie.
Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe.
BR 06984
Annotation: The story of the patron saint of Mexico who, in the year 1531, appeared before a poor Indian named Juan Diego, charging him with the delivery of an important message to the bishop of Mexico. Spanish language. Print-braille for grades 2-4.

Dorros, Arthur.
Abuela.
KIT 68
Annotation: While riding on a bus with her grandmother, a little girl imagines that they are carried up into the sky and fly over New York City. Print-braille & cassette for grades K-3.

Ehlert, Lois.
Cuckoo: a Mexican folktale = Cucú : un cuento folklórico mexicano.
BR 12006
Annotation: A beautiful cuckoo bird proves that she is also brave when a fire starts in the farm fields. Based on a Mayan Indian tale. Bilingual edition in English and Spanish. Print-braille for grades K-3.

Ehlert, Lois.
Moon rope: a Peruvian folktale = Un lazo a la luna : una leyenda peruana.
DB 40759
Annotation: Fox asks Mole to climb to the moon with him on a grass rope. But halfway up, Mole lets go and falls back to earth. To hide his embarrassment from all the other animals, Mole hides in a deep tunnel and now comes out only at night. A Peruvian folktale in Spanish and in English. For preschool-grade 2.

Ets, Marie Hall, 1895-
Gilberto and the wind.
DB 11511
Annotation: A small boy discovers the wind as a playmate of many moods. For preschool-grade 2

Ets, Marie Hall, 1895-
Nine days to Christmas.
BR 05922 / DB 22909
Annotation: Ceci, a little Mexican girl, is excited because she is finally old enough to buy a pinata for the village Christmas party. Caldecott Medal. For grades K-3.

Fine, Edith Hope.
Under the lemon moon.
BR 13019
Annotation: After a thief steals all the lemons from Rosalinda's tree and breaks one of its branches, her grandmother tells her about La Anciana--the Old One who wanders the Mexican countryside helping things grow. Rosalinda meets La Anciana and, under the light of the full lemon moon, learns about healing. Print-braille for grades K-3.

Fuertes, Gloria.
Cangura para todo.
DB 16174
Annotation: Imagine the surprise of a man and his wife when a kangaroo appears at their door looking for work. Included are the stories of Picassin, the abstract cat, the lame camel, the magic cat, the elephant who had no trunk, and the ostrich who laid an aluminum tractor egg. Spanish language. For grades K-3.

Gonzâlez, Lucia M.
El romance de don gato.
DB 50290
Annotation: Senor Don Gato is so thrilled to be marrying that he sings his love to the stars above--and falls off the roof. Five other Latin American folktales complete the collection. Spanish language. For grades K-3 and older readers.

Gonzâlez, Lucia M.
Señor Cat's romance, and other favorite stories from Latin America.
DB 46215
Annotation: Senor Sir Cat is so thrilled to be marrying that he sings his love to the stars above--and falls off the roof. Five other Latin American folktales complete the collection. For grades K-3.

Hancock, Sibyl.
Esteban and the ghost.
BR 05606
Annotation: A merry Spanish tinker spends Halloween night in a haunted castle waiting for a ghost who has terrified the entire countryside. When the strange figure finally appears, it is unlike anything Esteban could possibly have imagined. A spirited tale for grade K-3.

Heide, Florence Parry.
Tio Armando.
BRW 65
Annotation: When Lucita's Great-uncle Armando comes to live with them, he teaches her many truths about life. Americas Award. Print-braille for grades 2-4.

Herrera, Juan Felipe.
The upside down boy = El niño de cabeza.
BR 13098
Annotation: Recollections in both Spanish and English of the year when Juanito's migrant-worker parents settled in town so he could go to school for the first time. He tells about the difficulties of an English-language classroom and the joys of other school activities. Print-braille for grades K-3.

Hitte, Kathryn.
Mexicali soup.
BR 02157
Annotation: After each family member begs Mama to leave out one little ingredient of her famous Mexicali Soup, Mama surprises the family with a soup they will remember for a long time! Print-braille for grades K-3.

Horenstein, Henry.
Béisbol en los barrios.
DB 50971
Annotation: Hubaldo Romero Pez dreams of playing baseball. The nineyear-old boy, who lives in Caracas, Venezuela, talks about his friends, family, and most of all, baseball, a popular sport in his country. Spanish language. For grades 2-4 and older readers.

Jimenez, Francisco.
La Mariposa.
KIT 87
Annotation: Because he can speak only Spanish, Francisco, the son of a migrant worker, has trouble when he begins first grade. Americas Award. Print-braille & cassette for grades 2-4.

Johnston, Tony, 1942-
The iguana brothers, a perfect day.
DB 45469
Annotation: Tom and Don, two iguana brothers in Mexico, spend the day eating flowers instead of bugs, pretending to be dinosaurs, and looking for a new friend. Finally they realize that they can be both brothers and friends. For grades K-3.

Johnston, Tony, 1942-
Uncle Rain Cloud
DB 53318
Annotation: After moving to Los Angeles from Mexico, Carlos's uncle looks so dark and angry that Carlos secretly calls him "Uncle Rain Cloud." Then Carlos learns that his uncle shares his fear of speaking English, and they make a pact that helps them both. For grades K-3. 2001

Kipling, Rudyard, 1865-1936.
Precisamente asi.
DB 12095
Annotation: Nonsense tales about the adventures of various animals in the High and Far-off Times. Spanish language. For grades 2-4.

Lepman, Jella.
Cuentos de las buenas noches.
DB 14483
Annotation: A collection of 26 bedtime stories--some newly invented and some handed down from generation to generation--written by grownups and children. Spanish language. For grades K-2.

Lewis, Thomas P.
Hill of fire.
BR 03641
Annotation: Story of a Mexican farmer and his son who witnessed something that no person had ever seen before--the birth of a volcano in a cornfield. The smoking hill in their field was Paricutin, the Mexican volcano that erupted in 1943. Print-braille for grades K-3.

Lionni, Leo, 1910-
Nadarín.
DB 35844
Annotation: After all Swimmy's brothers and sisters are swallowed by a tuna and he is left alone in the vast ocean, Swimmy soon discovers an ingenious way to protect himself. Spanish language. For grades K-3.

The little red hen. La pequeña gallina roja.
BR 02197
Annotation: The little red hen's friends refuse to help her make tortillas, but are very eager to help her eat them! This bilingual story is told in both Spanish and English. Print-braille for grades 2-4.

Luenn, Nancy.
A Gift for Abuelita: celebrating the Day of the Dead.
BRW 69
Annotation: After her beloved grandmother dies, Rosita hopes to be reunited with Abuelita as she prepares a gift to give her when the family celebrates the Day of the Dead. This bilingual story is told in both Spanish and English. Print-braille for grades 2-4.

McDermott, Gerald.
Musicians of the sun.
BR 11040
Annotation: The Aztec Lord of the Night sees that his people are sad in the gray darkness. He sends Wind to battle Sun for the musicians held prisoner: Red, Yellow, Blue, and Green, because they can bring color, music, and happiness to the people. Print-braille for grades K-3.

Machado, Ana Maria, 1941-
Nina Bonita: a story.
KIT 110
Annotation: A picture book about color differences in families voices a small girl rabbit's questions and her mother's answers. Hans Christian Andersen Award. Mildred Batcheldor Award. Print-braille & cassette for grades K-3.

Menotti, Gian Carlo, 1911-
Amahl y los Reyes Magos.
DB 15713
Annotation: A crippled shepherd boy and his mother give shelter to the Wise Men on their way to Bethlehem. Spanish language. For grades 2-4.

Mistral, Gabriela.
Crickets and frogs ; a fable.
BR 02389
Annotation: The crickets and the frogs in the gully wage a musical battle to see which can sing the loudest. The text is in English and Spanish. For grades K-3.

Mother Goose.
Mother Goose in Spanish = Poesias de la Madre Oca.
DB 09416
Annotation: Popular nursery rhymes translated into Spanish. For grades K-3.

Neasi, Barbara J.
Igual que yo = Just like me.
BR 11016
Annotation: Jasmin and Julia are twins. They look alike, they go to the same school, they take dancing lessons, and they like to skate and chew gum. But even though they are the same in many ways, they also have many differences. Spanish language. Print-braille for preschool to grade 2.

Petersham, Maud Fuller, 1890-1971.
David / segun la narracion del primer "Libro de Samuel" y del segundo "Libro de los Reyes."
DB 12430
Annotation: The Old Testament story of the little shepherd boy who calmed King Saul with his harp music, fought and killed the giant Goliath, and rose to become the great king of Israel. Spanish language. For grades 2-4.

Petersham, Maud Fuller, 1890-1971.
Jose y sus hermanos / adaptado del "Genesis."
DB 12586
Annotation: Old Testament story of the boy whose jealous brothers sold him into slavery. Spanish language. For grades 2-4.

Petersham, Maud Fuller, 1890-1971.
Moises / Adaptacion del relato del antiguo testamento.
DB 12370
Annotation: The life of the great religious leader from his childhood in Egypt to the heavenly inspiration which helped him lead his people to the Promised Land. Spanish language. For grades 2-4.

Petersham, Maud Fuller, 1890-1971.
Rut / segun la narracion del "libro de Rut."
DB 13246
Annotation: The Old Testament story of the Moabite girl who left her own people to follow her husband's mother into the land of Judah. Spanish language. For grades 2-4.

Politi, Leo, 1908-
Juanita.
BR 02657
Annotation: Juanita, a little Mexican girl who lives on Olvera Street in Los Angeles, celebrates both her fifth birthday and the blessing of the animals on the day before Easter. Print-braille for grades K-3.

Politi, Leo, 1908-
Three stalks of corn.
DB 11400
Annotation: Angelica wonders why her grandmother cherishes the three golden corn plants in the corner of their yard. She begins to understand as she hears the old legends about corn, helps her grandmother make tortillas, and plays with a prized collection of tiny old corn-husk dolls. For grades 2-4.

Ransome, Arthur, 1884-1967.
Tontimundo y el barco volador: un cuento ruso.
BR 08877 / DB 33882
Annotation: When the czar proclaims that he will marry his daughter to the man who brings him a flying ship, the Fool of the World sets out to try his luck and meets some unusual companions on the way. Spanish language. For grades K-3.

Rey, Hans Augusto, 1898-
Jorge el curioso = Curious George.
DB 52885
Annotation: Curious George is a mischievous monkey. When he goes to the city with the man in the yellow straw hat, Curious George has many adventures. Spanish language. For grades K-3.

Rohmer, Harriet.
Atariba & Niguayona.
BR 04477 / DB 17752
Annotation: A short folk legend of the Taino Indians of Puerto Rico telling of a young boy who sets out on a quest for a magic fruit that will cure a dying young girl in his village. In Spanish and English. For children and adult readers.

Rohmer, Harriet.
Cuna song = Cancion de los cunas.
BR 04490 / DB 17751
Annotation: A short tale told by the San Blas Indians of Panama about a boy lost at sea who goes to live in the spirit world of the sea creatures. In Spanish and English. For children and adult readers.

Rohmer, Harriet.
The headless pirate = El pirata sin cabeza.
BR 04469 / DB 17753
Annotation: A short Costa Rican folk tale about a greedy pirate and the price he pays for his treachery. In Spanish and English. For children and adult readers.

Rohmer, Harriet.
How we came to the fifth world = Como vinimos al quinto mundo.
BR 04488 / DB 17758 / KIT 59
Annotation: A short account of the Aztec legend telling how the gods of water, wind, fire, and earth destroyed the world four times because of human wickedness. In Spanish and English. For children and adult readers.

Rohmer, Harriet
The invisible hunters=Los cazadores invisibles: a legend from the Miskito Indians of Nicaragua.
KIT 66
Annotation: An early Central American legend tells of the ultimate price of greed, as well as the tragedy of deceiving one's own people. In Spanish and English. For children and adult readers.

Rohmer, Harriet.
Land of the icy death = Tierra de la muerte glacial.
BR 04491 / DB 17757
Annotation: A short tale of the Yahgan indians of southern Chile that tells how the hero Na Ha discovers a way to free his people from the wild creatures that live beneath the sea. In Spanish and English. For children and adult readers.

Rohmer, Harriet.
The little horse of seven colors = El caballito de siete colores.
BR 04487 / DB 16968
Annotation: A short folk legend of Nicaragua about a peasant boy who rises to wealth and respectability with the help of a clever horse. In Spanish and English. For children and adult readers.

Rohmer, Harriet.
The magic boys = Los ninos magicos.
BR 04479 / DB 17754
Annotation: A short folk legend of the Maya Indians of Guatemala telling how two magic boys living in the forest come to live in their grandmother's house. In Spanish and English. For children and adult readers.

Rohmer, Harriet.
The mighty god Viracocha = El dios poderoso Viracocha.
BR 04480 / DB 17759
Annotation: A short folk legend of the Incas telling how men were created and placed on the earth by the god Viracocha. In Spanish and English. For children and adult readers.

Rohmer, Harriet.
Skyworld woman = La mujer del mundo-cielo.
BR 04478 / DB 17756
Annotation: A short folk tale of the Philippines about a sky goddess with the courage to unite the people of the earthworld and the gods of the skyworld through her marriage to a human. In Spanish and English. For children and adult readers.

Rohmer, Harriet.
The treasure of Guatavita = El tesoro de Guatavita.
BR 04489 / DB 17755
Annotation: A short folk tale, based on a legend of the Chibcha Indians of Colombia, telling of a priceless treasure protected by the goddess Bachue at the bottom of the lake. In Spanish and English. For children and adult readers.

Rohmer, Harriet.
Uncle Nacho's hat = El sombrero del Tio Nacho.
DB 33670 / KIT 58
Annotation: Uncle Nacho's hat is old and full of holes and of no use for anything anymore. After his niece gives him a new hat, Uncle Nacho tries to get rid of the old one, but it keeps coming back, time after time. Bilingual title in English and Spanish. A Reading Rainbow selection. For grades K-3.

Sahagâun, Bernardino de, d. 1590.
Spirit child: a story of the Nativity.
DB 24485
Annotation: An English translation of an Aztec Indian folktale that describes the birth of Jesus Christ and the miracles that occurred on the night of his birth. For grades K-3.

Scieszka, Jon.
La verdadera historia de los tres cerditos!
DB 48678
Annotation: Silvester B. Wolf, also known as the Big Bad Wolf, gives his own outlandish version of what really happened when he tangled with the three little pigs. Spanish language. For preschool-grade 2.

Soto, Gary.
Big bushy mustache.
BRW 72
Annotation: In order to look more like his father, Ricky borrows a mustache from a school costume. When he loses it on the way home from school, his father comes up with a replacement. Americas Award. Print-braille for grades K-3.

Soto, Gary.
The old man and his door.
DB 43604
Annotation: An old Mexican man has a habit of not listening too closely to his wife. One day she tells him to bring a puerco (which means "pig") to the picnic. He thinks she said a puerto, which means "door." As he carries the door to the picnic, he has a lot of adventures. For grades K-3.

Steig, William, 1907-
Irene, la valiente.
DB 40853
Annotation: Mrs. Buendia, a poor seamstress, has just completed a beautiful ball gown for the duchess but is too sick to deliver it. So Irene, her daughter, lovingly puts her to bed and starts off for the palace in the midst of a vicious snowstorm. Irene loses the gown to the wind, but she struggles on, lost, cold, and too frightened to tell the duchess what has happened to the beautiful gown. Spanish language. For preschool-grade 2.

Torres, Leyla.
Liliana's grandmothers.
KIT 88
Annotation: Because one of her grandmothers lives down the street, and another in a faraway country, Liliana lives two different ways when she visits them. Americas Award. Print-braille & cassette for grades K-3.

Uribe, Maria de la Luz.
El primer pajaro de Piko-Niko.
DB 32847
Annotation: In the forest of Piko-Niko there are no birds, until one day an egg falls from the sky and breaks open. But the bird inside doesn't know what he is. Nor do any of the other animals of Piko-Niko--not the elephant, nor the lizard, nor the insect. Not even the monster in the cave who pushes the bird over a cliff. Spanish language. For grades K-3.

Van Laan, Nancy.
The magic bean tree: a legend from Argentina.
BRW 67
Annotation: A young Quechuan boy sets out on his own to bring the rains back to his parched homeland, and is rewarded by a gift of carob beans that come to be prized across Argentina. Americas Award. Print-braille for grades 2-4.

Van West, Patricia E., 1952-
The crab man.
BRW 63
Annotation: When Neville sees the hermit crabs which he so gently collected being mistreated by the crab man at a Jamaican hotel, he no longer wants to supply them, but would forfeit his income thereby. Americas Award. Printbraille for grades 2-4.

Van West, Patricia E., 1952-
El hombre de los cangrejos.
BRW 62
Annotation: When Neville sees the hermit crabs which he so gently collected being mistreated by the crab man at a Jamaican hotel, he no longer wants to supply them, but would forfeit his income thereby. Americas Award. Spanish language. Print-braille for grades 2-4.

Williams, Vera B.
A chair for my mother.
BR 17331 / DB 22879 / KIT 44
Annotation: Rosa, who lives with her loving mother and grandmother, describes how they save all their coins to buy a "wonderful, beautiful, fat, soft armchair" to replace the one that burned up in the fire in their old apartment. Followed by "Something Special for Me" (RD 20880 / BR 05622). For readers in grades K-3 to share with their parents.

Williams, Vera B.
Music, music for everyone.
DB 22428
Annotation: Rosa and her friends come up with a wonderful idea for earning money to help her mother with expenses while her grandmother is ill. Sequel to "Something Special for Me" (RD 20880 / BR 05622). For grades K-3.

Williams, Vera B.
Something special for me.
BR 05622
Annotation: Rosa has a hard time deciding on the perfect present to buy with the coins that her mother, grandmother, aunt, and uncle have saved for her birthday. For grades K-3.