It’s National Hispanic Heritage Month! This celebration, which runs each year from September 15 – October 15 to commemorate the independence days of many Latin American nations, honors the culture and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans. Today, I collected some biographies of amazing Latinx Americans for all ages.

For the younger crowd: 

Dancing Hands: When Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Rafael López. Growing up in Venezuela, Teresa Carreno loved to play the piano; when she felt sad, playing the piano helped her feel better and she loved to share the joy of music. She kept playing even after her family fled revolution in Venezuela and made a new home in the United States. Soon, she grew famous as the talented Piano Girl and President Abraham Lincoln invited her to the White House to play. But could her music still bring joy when the country was being torn apart by war? This is a great read for young musicians or anyone who loves to find joy in music.

Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet by Elizabeth Rusch, illustrated Teresa Martinez. Growing up in Mexico City, Mario Molina loved science and looked at the world through the lens of his microscope. When he got older and moved to California, he discovered that particles called CFCs, found in millions of refrigerators and spray cans, were tearing a hole in the earth’s ozone layer. Today, he is a Nobel laureate and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is a good choice for young scientists or any kids who are concerned about protecting our environment.

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise, illustrated by Paola Escobar. When she moved to New York from her homeland of Puerto Rico, Pura Belpre brought the stories of her childhood with her and shared them with generations of children, the first time many of these stories had been shared in America. Because of her work, Puerto Rican children were able to see themselves reflected in the library and many children learned these stories for the first time. The American Library Association established a children’s book award named for her in 1996 to encourage the publication of more Latinx voices. This is a wonderful read for all book lovers.

Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh. When Sylvia Mendez’s aunt went to register her and her brothers for the local public school in California in the 1940s, they were told that the children would have to attend the Mexican school. The separate “Mexican” school was in a run-down building with very few resources and teachers that expected kids to drop out by 8th grade. The Mendez family decided to fight school segregation and seven years before Brown Vs. Board of Education, they won the right to desegregate their schools. This is an excellent book to read when talking with kids about civil rights or citizenship.

For older kids and teens:

Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings, A Memoir by Margarita Engle. This beautiful memoir in verse by prolific children’s author Margarita Engle tells of her childhood in America and of her mother’s home country Cuba and what happened when the Cold War meant her family could no longer visit Cuba. With lush poems, Margarita’s memoir will resonate with anyone who ever felt like another place was their true home, the place where they could be their truest self. This is a book that is a great pick for young poets and writers. Don’t miss Margarita’s companion memoir about her college years, Soaring Earth, which is a moving book that will hit home with anyone who’s not sure about their path after high school.

Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist by Sylvia Acevedo. Growing up in New Mexico, young Sylvia’s life was forever transformed when she joined the Brownies and started learning skill she never would have learned from her family. Navigating shifting cultural expectations between her home and school, she forged her own trail to become one of the first Latinx students to graduate with a master’s in engineering from Stanford. She went on to become the CEO of the Girls Scouts, helping new generations of students learn and grow. Her memoir is a great story for current Girl Scouts or anyone interested in forging a career in science.

Looking for more books to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? Check out these kids’ books by Latinx authors.