The books below are found in our elementary schools' Learning Commons collections, as well as in Libby, the digital platform of the Scott County Library.
To see where all copies of a print book can be accessed in our schools' Learning Commons, follow these steps. Teachers may request books from other schools' Learning Commons by contacting the school's Media Assistant (Contact List).
Alma and How She Got Her Name by
Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela asks her father why she has so many names. Her father then tells stories from their rich family history about each of the people Alma is named after and what they have in common with her. Only the name "Alma" is unique to the little girl and Alma begins to understand that one day she will have a story of her own to tell.
Separate Is Never Equal by
Describes how the Hispanic American Mendez family challenged the segregated California school system in 1947 after their daughter Sylvia was denied entry to Westminster School due to her ethnicity.
Carmela Full of Wishes by
For Carmela's birthday things could hardly get better--she is finally old enough to go into town with her big brother, and while in town she finds a dandelion growing in the concrete. Carmela makes a wish, and then sets out to find the most perfect wish possible.
Drum Dream Girl by
Follows a girl in the 1920s as she strives to become a drummer, despite being continually reminded that only boys play the drums, and that there has never been a female drummer in Cuba.
Mango, Abuela, and Me by
When Mia's grandmother moves in with her family, the two struggle to communicate because Mia speaks English and Abuela speaks Spanish. Spending time doing fun things together, like walking to the park and rolling out dough, doesn't seem to be enough to bridge the language barrier. One day, Mia brings home a pet parrot. She and Abuela name it Mango. Together, they teach Mango to speak English and Spanish, and at the same time, they teach one another.
Yes! We Are Latinos by
Thirteen young Latinos and Latinas living in America are introduced in this book celebrating the rich diversity of the Latino and Latina experience in the United States. Free-verse fictional narratives from the perspective of each youth provide specific stories and circumstances for the reader to better understand the Latino people’s quest for identity.
Planting Stories by
Presents a short picture book biography of Pura Belpré, the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City, following her story as she came to America in 1921 and found work as a bilingual assistant at the New York Public Library, and then began to tell stories of her own.
Efrén Divided by
When his mother is deported to Mexico, seventh grader Efrén is the only one who can cross the border to bring his mother home.
Turning Pages by
As the first Latina Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor has inspired young people around the world to reach for their dreams. But what inspired her? For young Sonia, the answer was books! They were her mirrors, her maps, her friends, and her teachers. They helped her to connect with her family in New York and in Puerto Rico, to deal with her diabetes diagnosis, to cope with her father's death, to uncover the secrets of the world, and to dream of a future for herself in which anything was possible.
Dancing Hands by
Piano prodigy Teresa Carreño and her family escape a violent civil war in Venezuela and emigrate to the United States only to find another civil war going on. Nonetheless, Teresa keeps the magic of music alive, and at ten years old, plays for President Lincoln.
Portraits of Hispanic American Heroes by
Profiles the struggles and triumphs of twenty past and present Hispanic Americans who have contributed to the arts, politics, science, humanitarianism, and athletics.
Where Are You From? by
When a girl is asked where she's from--where she's really from--none of her answers seems to be the right one. Unsure about how to reply, she turns to her loving abuelo for help.
Undocumented by
Undocumented is the story of immigrant workers who have come to the United States without papers. Every day, these men and women join the work force and contribute positively to society. The story is told via the ancient Mixtec codex—accordion fold—format. Juan grew up in Mexico working in the fields to help provide for his family. Struggling for money, Juan crosses over into the United States and becomes an undocumented worker, living in a poor neighborhood, working hard to survive. Though he is able to get a job as a busboy at a restaurant, he is severely undercompensated—he receives less than half of the minimum wage! Risking his boss reporting him to the authorities for not having proper resident papers, Juan risks everything and stands up for himself and the rest of the community.
