From September 15 through October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month serves as a time period to recognize what Hispanic Americans have contributed to the culture, history, and enrichment of the United States. Reading the following books is a good way to celebrate Hispanic Americans not only during this time period of recognition, but all year round!
These books are available through the Shelby County Public Library System. Place a hold through our online catalog or call 439-5509.
April is National Poetry Month, a whole month-long celebration of poetry in all its many forms. We’ve compiled a list of books written in poetry or verse that we think you might enjoy! These books are available either in eBook or digital audiobook formats on Libby/Overdrive and/or Hoopla. So go ahead if something catches your eye: explore it!
Salsa by Jorge Argueta
(Grades PreK – 2)
eBook available on Hoopla
Two siblings sing and dance their way through this poetical recipe for tasty salsa. Complemented with illustrations by the multiple award-winning Duncan Tonatiuh, Salsa is a delicious poem that will satisfy the whole family!
Gracias/Thanks by Pat Mora
(Grades PreK – 2)
eBook available on Libby/Overdrive
A sweet bilingual celebration of family and friends and the world around us as a young boy expresses gratitude for all of the different things that enrich his life.
Button Up!: Wrinkled Rhymes by Alice Schertle
(Grades K-2)
eBook available on Libby/Overdrive
Do you ever wonder what your clothes might think about their roles in life? In this fun collection, various articles of clothing from shoelaces to bicycle hats express themselves in verse form. Delightful illustrations of animals modeling the clothes add to the whimsical charm of Button Up!.
Blue Sky White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus
(Grades K-3)
eBook available on Libby/Overdrive
A lyrical and richly illustrated ode to America, and all of the symbols, places, and people that make it so unique. America represents something to everyone, and everyone represents America.
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
(Grades 1-3)
eBook available on Libby/Overdrive
A classic collection, Where the Sidewalk Ends is where an unusual and zany world begins. Here, you will read about everything and anything from crocodiles who go to the dentist to a place where shoes fly!
Out of Wonder: Poem Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander, et al
(Grades 3-6)
Digital audiobook available on Hoopla
What better book to celebrate poetry than Out of Wonder? Featuring 20 poems dedicated to 20 poets and their unique styles, this book provides a great introduction into the world of poetry.
Moo by Sharon Creech
(Grades 3-6)
eBook available on Libby/Overdrive and Hoopla
Blending poetry and prose, Moo tells the story of a young girl who moves from the city to the Maine countryside with her family. The young girl, Reena, didn’t know what to expect, but she certainly didn’t expect to befriend a particularly stubborn cow.
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
(Grades 4-6)
eBook and digital audiobook available on Libby/Overdrive
Through her powerful poems, Woodson shares her childhood experiences in poignant detail. Growing up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, she was raised in both New York and South Carolina and struggled to not only find a place to call home, but also to find herself. As she grows older and becomes more aware of herself and the world around her, she discovers a love of stories that would lead her to her future career as a writer.
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
(Grades 4-6)
eBook available on Libby/Overdrive and Hoopla
Written in verse, Other Words for Home tells the story of a young girl who, along with her mother, leaves her home in Syria to live with relatives in the United States. Now, she has a new identity in a new country. Not everything is as she expected, or hoped for, in America, but there are some pleasant surprises as well.
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