In this post: Incorporate Black History Month in your Spanish lessons using the books and resources in today’s post.
February is recognized annually as Black History Month. Though it originated in the United States of America, it is now observed in Canada and the United Kingdom as well.
It’s a great opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the noteworthy persons and events in the history of the African diaspora.
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Part of that diaspora includes Afro-Latinos, many of whom along with other influential Latinos, have left an indelible and notable mark on the history of this country.
A 2022 estimate stated that as many as 6 million U.S. adults identify as Afro-Latino. That’s a lot! It’s therefore important that Afro-Latinos are represented as we aim as much as possible to present our kids with a well-rounded and diverse view of history.
One way to do that is by teaching them about Black History Month and it’s never too early to start. While many will agree that history wasn’t exactly a favorite among subjects in school, it’s great once you find engaging and age-appropriate ways to teach it to your kids.
Enjoy the kid-friendly resources in today’s post to get started on introducing the topic or reinforcing what they already know.
What does it mean to be an Afro-Latino?
Are they Latinos or are they Black? Well, actually they get the best of both worlds. Often used interchangeably with Afro-Latinx, the term Afro-Latino is used to refer to persons from Latin America or of Latin American descent who are also of African ancestry and reside in the United States.
Though their African ancestry was not one many wanted to embrace in previous years, this has slowly been changing. It’s great to see many more persons, even celebrities, being proud of and claiming their heritage by identifying as Afro-Latino.
Spanish Children’s Books with Afro-Latino Protagonists
Here are over 10 options of books featuring Afro-Latinos for you to enjoy with your kids. Go for one of these for a bedtime story, choose a new book every week or simply enjoy them over the course of the month. Most of all, ¡Que te diviertas! (have fun!).
- The Afro-Latino Alphabet by Keaira Faña-Ruiz and José Faña-Ruiz
Written in both English and Spanish, enjoy this alphabet book that’s filled with the history and culture of Afro-Latinos.
- Me llamo Celia by Monica Brown
Celia Cruz is one of the most renowned Afro-Latinos from Cuba who was well-known for her singing. Teach our kids all about her life through this beautifully illustrated picture-book biography.
- Pequeña Maria descubre su baile by Luz Maria Mack
Follow along as everyone in the book learns a different style of dance from varying cultural backgrounds. Then join Maria as she experiments to discover her dancing style.
- Pelo bueno by Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro
This book tells the story of the Afro-Puerto Rican and celebrates natural hair through the interaction of a grandmother and her granddaughter. A great read and a lesson in self-esteem regardless of your heritage.
- El día en que descubres quién eres by Jacqueline Woodson
In this book, the author addresses the topic of being treated differently based on the way you look, speak or even where you grew up. Despite these differences, kids are encouraged to stay true to themselves and recognize their worth.
- Amor de pelo by Matthew A. Cherry
This book covers more than just a love for one’s hair. It delves into the great bond between fathers and their daughters as well as the joy that comes from expressing yourself freely.
- El color de tu piel by Desirée Acevedo
Encourage your kids to look beyond skin color and celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of each person they encounter.
- Última parada de la Calle Market by Matt de la Peña
In this New York Times Bestseller, follow the journey of a boy named Jackson and his grandmother as they return home after church and Jackson voices some of his concerns and frustrations. His grandmother invites him to shift his focus and instead appreciate the many beautiful things that exist around them.
- Los deseos de Carmela by Matt de la Peña
Enjoy the adventures of Carmela as she celebrates her birthday and is old enough to explore the city with her brother. This Spanish edition of the book also gives ample opportunity to practice reading.
- Lola (Islandborn) by Junot Díaz
Teach kids to love their heritage and learn more about their family with this story. Lola’s story is one of discovery, creativity and imagination.
- The secret of the plátano by Luz Maria Mack
Inspired by a dream she had about her own grandmother, Luz Maria Mack shares this enchanting and lovely story of a grandmother and her grandson as they enjoy the night sky and dance while listening to the secret of the plátanos.
- El año en que aprendimos a volar by Jacqueline Woodson
Read this book with your kids and use it as a great resource to encourage them to get creative and use their imagination, especially in moments of boredom just like the siblings in the story.
- Una niña, un tambor, un sueño by Margarita Engle
The title is such an apt summary of all that the book entails, the inspiring story of “A girl, a drum and a dream”. Learn how the bravery of one girl brought about a change in music.
More Hispanic Heritage Resources
Celebrate all month long with these resources:
- For even more books by Latinx authors, check out the book recommendations we shared for Spanish Heritage Month last year.
- If you want diverse children’s books in Spanish that help to explain why representation matters then you’d love these.
- Check this blog to teach your kids all about influential Latina women with African ancestry including Virginia Brindis de Salas, Celia Cruz and Sonia Sotomayor.
For open and go Spanish lessons, be sure to hop over to our curriculum shop!
Kimberly is a freelance writer from Trinidad and Tobago who was always fascinated by language and holds a B.A in Spanish with a minor in Linguistics. She considers herself to be a multipotentialite due to her many interests and a few of her favorite things include coffee, pasta and scented candles.