RI Latino Arts • Latino Literacy • May is Latino Books Month

Latino Books Month, initiated by Rhode Island Latino Arts and now in its sixth year in Rhode Island, promotes literacy amongst Latinos through the celebration of Latino authors, illustrators and books that highlight Latino culture and Latin American identity.

Through this month-long celebration, RILA encourages librarians, teachers, educators and booksellers to promote books written by and for Latinos, and we encourage all Rhode Islanders to read books in both English and Spanish and written by Latino authors/illustrators.

Follow @LatinoBooksRI

Thank you to Raising Readers in Rhode Island for providing copies of our selected books for Latino Books Month.

For more information about Rhode Island Latino Books Month and/or to participate, contact Maria Cotto, RILA's Latino Books Month Coordinator

For information about Rhode Island Latino Arts, contact
Marta V. Martínez, RILA'S Executive Director

For general queries, you can also use the "Contact Us" tab on the side of this page.

Watch videos of our Author's Talk with Anika

SPECIAL THANKS to the 2020-2021 Latino Books Month Selection Committee:

Maria Cotto, Chair & Bilingual Children’s Librarian, Pawtucket Public Library
Melanie DeSantis, Young Adult Librarian | Westerly Library
Brooke Strachan, Head Lower School Librarian, The Wheeler School
Carla Rennick, Youth Services Librarian, Fox Point Community Library
Joan Wollin, Library Media Specialist, Central Falls
Jane Yedlin, Assistant Professor (TESOL Program), Rhode Island College

See Past Book List & Winners

★ Here's how you can participate: Adults: Visit this webpage for a list of recommended titles written by Latino authors and take the 2021 Reading Challenge!

Young Readers: Below are some titles which we would like to recommend for Latino Books Month • RI. Most of the books can be found in Spanish and English at all the libraries in and around the State of Rhode Island. If your library does not have the book on its shelves, ask your librarian to order a copy from one of the other libraries in Rhode Island. By providing books in English and Spanish on this list, our goal is to encourage parents to read to their children in their native language, so be sure to ask your mamá or papá to read with you every day!

If you have any advice for other readers, you may post comments at the bottom of the list after you've read the book.

Vote Online: We have added an option to submit your ballots and vote for your favorite book online.

Good News! During the COVID-19 outbreak, students can have access to the books online. Here's the link to the ebooks: https://riezone.overdrive.com/library/spanish

If you don't have a library card, no problem — you can obtain a free card by visiting this link: https://www.oslri.org/application/

Before you vote online, we recommend that you download a hard copy of the ballot (scroll down, past book covers) to have on-hand while you read each book. Remember, deadline to vote online is Friday, May 29, 2021. We will announce the winner the next day. Teachers: Please submit any paper ballots to Maria Cotto no later than May 29th so we can announce the winners by the end of May.

Happy Reading!

Click here to vote

Download Flyer

Download 2021 Spine Labels (Word doc)

Download Poster

Download Tracking Chart

Round Sticker

Download Check List

Download Paper Ballot

Voting will open in 2021 ➤

DEADLINE to submit your online vote is May 29, 2021 | Winners will be announced by May 31st