Photo above: Author Meg Medina visits Shea High School in Pawtucket (2016)
Yuyi Morales, at the Adams Library reads from her book DREAMERs (2019)
Welcome to one of RILA’s hidden gems
The Rhode Island Latino Books Award is one of RILA’s quietly powerful programs—now entering its 12th year of connecting young people to stories that matter.
Each year, classrooms and school libraries across Rhode Island read books by Latino and Latinx authors and illustrators, talk about them together, and invite students to share which stories resonate most. The program centers reading as something meaningful, personal, and shared—not just an assignment, but an experience.
At its heart, the Latino Books Award helps young people see themselves in stories, learn about others, and discover that their voices as readers matter.
Each year, classrooms and school libraries across Rhode Island read books by Latino and Latinx authors and illustrators, talk about them together, and invite students to share which stories resonate most. The program centers reading as something meaningful, personal, and shared—not just an assignment, but an experience.
At its heart, the Latino Books Award helps young people see themselves in stories, learn about others, and discover that their voices as readers matter.
For Teachers & School Librarians | If you’re a teacher or school librarian, this program was created with you in mind
The Latino Books Award is designed to fit naturally into what you’re already doing—independent reading time, book discussions, library visits, or classroom conversations. Participation is free, flexible, and adaptable to different grade levels and schedules.
You choose how your students engage. RILA provides the framework; you bring it to life in a way that works for your classroom or library.
You choose how your students engage. RILA provides the framework; you bring it to life in a way that works for your classroom or library.
Why Participate?
Schools participate in the Latino Books Award because it deepens students’ connection to reading and opens space for meaningful conversation.
Through the program, students:
Through the program, students:
- Read books that reflect Latino and Latinx cultures, identities, and lived experiences
- Talk about stories that feel familiar, surprising, joyful, or challenging
- Learn that their opinions matter by participating in a statewide vote
- Engage with Latino and Latinx authors and illustrators through virtual or in-school visits when available
How the Program Works
Participation is simple and flexible:
- Read one or more nominated titles with your students
- Create space for discussion—formal or informal
- Invite students to vote for the book that stayed with them
- Submit votes in May and celebrate being part of a shared statewide reading experience
A Shared Reading Experience Across Rhode Island
Participating schools become part of a larger statewide community of educators committed to inclusive, culturally relevant literature. While each classroom experience is unique, students across Rhode Island are reading, reflecting, and voting together.
The Latino Books Award reminds us that reading can connect young people across schools, cities, and communities.
The Latino Books Award reminds us that reading can connect young people across schools, cities, and communities.
Celia Pérez signs a copy of First Rule of Punk at La Galería (2018)
For more information about the Rhode Island Latino Books Award and/or to participate, contact Marta V. Martínez, RILA'S Executive Director.
Thank you to the Rhode Island Center for the Books for providing copies of our selected books
Latino Books Award Committee Members 2024: Patty DeFrancesco, Maria Cotto (Chair), Alaina Moran, Gisele Esquivel, Jennifer McGrath
How do we select our books?
Rhode Island Latino Arts Executive Director and board members support the Rhode Island Latino Books Award (RILBA) Coordinator and the RILBA Committee Members, which includes Rhode Island educators, school librarians, public librarians, and paraprofessionals, who use specific selection criteria to create an annual list of nominated titles. The RILBA Committee is intentional in seeking books that affirm marginalized groups and champions stories and characters that reflect the lived experiences of Rhode Island Latino/Latina/Latinx young people, as well as the larger world. RILBA aims to provide a list of nominees that maintains diversity in race, gender, sexuality, family makeup, socioeconomic background and ability. Nominees are thoughtfully curated to allow all youth to be seen and their voices actively heard.
- +★ Here's how you can participate
- Young Readers: Below are some titles which we would like to recommend to receive the Latino Books Award. 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! Students can have access to these books online. Here's the link to the ebooks. Click here ➤
If you don't have a library card, no problem — you can obtain a free card by visiting this link ➤
Before you vote online, we recommend that you download a hard copy of the ballot (see below) to have on-hand while you read each book. Remember, deadline to vote online is Tuesday May 31, 2024. We will announce the winner the next day. Teachers: If you are using paper ballots, please submit them in person to Maria Cotto no later than May 29th so we can have time to tally them and announce the winners by the end of May.
Happy Reading!
