I haven’t included any children’s books in my Latino book suggestions until today. Me Llamo Gabriela: My Name is Gabriela by Monica Brown and illustrated by John Parra, is a beautiful book about the Chilean Nobel Prize winning poeta Gabriela Mistral. Winner of the 2006 International Latino Book Award, the bilingual English and Spanish book is a mini biography of Mistral. It tells, through lyrical writing and bright illustrations, the story of Mistral’s childhood in Chile, her becoming a teacher,a poet, and a traveler. It is a story about dreams coming true and recognizing the beauty of things all around us. The pictures are interesting enough to capture the interest of a toddler and the story is interesting enough for older school children as well and is a great way to introduce them to Latin American writers.

You can purchase Me Llamo Gabriela here.