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.
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
- ★ Here's how you can participate …
- Adults: Visit this webpage for a list of recommended titles written by Latino authors and take the 2020 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 lcard 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 28, 2021. We will announce the winner the next day. Teachers: Please submit any paper ballots to Maria Cotto no later than May 28th so we can announce the winners by the end of May.
Happy Reading!
2021 Book List
A New Kind of Wild by Zara Gonzalez Hoang
Already a Butterfly: a Meditation Story by Julia Alvarez
Luna Yes, Luna Si by Jessica Gonzalez
Zombies Don’t Eat Veggies by Megan and Jorge Lacera
The Boy Who Touched the Stars / El niño que alcanzó las estrellas (Bilingual) by José M. Hernández
Fun Fun Fun World by Yehudi Mercado (Graphic Novel)
Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle & Rafael López
My Year in the Middle by Lila Quintero Weaver
The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez by Adrianna Cuevas
Queen of Tejano Music: Selena by Silvia López
Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega
Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Hotel Dare by Terry Blas (Graphic Novel
Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers by Celia C. Pérez
They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid’s Poem by David Bowles
Clap When you Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera
Don't Ask Me Where I'm From by Jennifer De Leon
Suncatchers by Jose Pimenienta
The Truth Is... by Nonieqa Ramos
The New David Espinoza by Fred Aceves
DEADLINE to submit your online vote is May 29, 2020
