Using Literature in the Elementary Classroom to Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration in the U.S. that takes place between September 15 and October 15. It highlights the contributions and achievements of Hispanics and Latinos. You can incorporate this event in your elementary classroom activities in several ways. One way is to have your students study literature written by authors descended from Spanish-speaking cultures. Reading stories written by people who are from the Hispanic or Latin American culture provides an authentic glimpse into the lives of people who have made huge contributions to U.S. society. Read on for some books you can use during National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Do you teach grades K through 3? Why not gather a wide assortment of picture books that feature Hispanic and Latino characters? One picture book that is ideal for the youngest of students is the book called Abuela by Arthur Dorros. In case you didn't know, "abuela" is the Spanish word for "grandmother." In this simple but colorful story, a little girl of Puerto Rican descent and her grandmother fly throughout New York City by using their imaginations. Dorros sprinkles Spanish phrases among the English text as the girl and her grandmother explore the multicultural city, visiting the Statue of Liberty and other places of interest. Reading Abuela to your young students allows them to learn a few Spanish words as they are exposed multiculturalism.

The picture book written by Susan Middleton Elya called Oh No! Gotta Go is a humorous book that elementary students of all ages will enjoy. Reading this book aloud to students teaches them basic Spanish words as they listen to a humorous story about a girl who forgets to go to the bathroom before she leaves the house with her parents. Featuring Spanish words scattered among English text, kids will giggle as they watch the girl and her parents drive around town in search of a bathroom. Another book written by the same author is called Bebé Goes Shopping, a bilingual book that tells the story of a baby and his mother shopping at the supermarket.

Teach your students how reading can expand their horizons by reading Tomás and the Library Lady by Pat Mora. Based on the life of Tomás Rivera, the son of migrant workers who became the Chancellor of the University of California at Riverside, students learn how a librarian helped a young migrant worker discover a love for reading. This inspirational book reveals the difficulties of life as a migrant worker and how the love of reading can catapult you to unbelievable heights.

If you need to share books for students in the fourth or fifth grade, try introducing the middle grade novel Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. Winner of the Pura Belpré Award, Esperanza Rising is a book about a young Mexican girl who comes from a comfortable, wealthy home. When her beloved father is murdered, the family must travel to the U.S. in order to become migrant workers in California.

Reading traditional stories from different Spanish-speaking cultures is another excellent way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Most older kids will shiver with delight when you read the spooky legend of La Llorona (The Weeping Woman) to them. The story is included in several children's anthologies featuring traditional Mexican stories. This chilling tale features an Indian woman who, after being divorced by her Spanish husband so that he can marry someone else, descends into madness. She drowns her children in the river and is condemned to haunt the riverbanks as a ghost.

These titles are just a fraction of the wide selection of books that relate to Hispanic and Latino culture. The U.S. is a melting pot of cultures, none more fascinating than the cultures of those who are descended from Spanish-speaking ancestors. Use these books to incorporate literature during Hispanic Heritage Month. Discover other worthy books written by authentic voices from the Hispanic and Latino culture. Better yet, incorporate literature from these cultures throughout the entire school year and make National Hispanic Heritage Month a year-long event.