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in Blog on September 12, 2022 by Joanna Martin

Hispanic Heritage Month Picture Books For Kids

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15), and this year’s celebration of Hispanic food and fun feels more personal to me than in years’ past. I’ve spent the past year reading, cooking, and inquiring about my own Hispanic culture to learn more about a part of me that, up until a year ago, always felt unexplored and distant.

I come from Irish, German, and Puerto Rican descent. Having light skin, green eyes and not speaking Spanish fluently, I never felt like I could claim my own history. Witnessing so many movements of cultural recognition and self acceptance over the past few years has truly inspired me to own my heritage with curiosity and love.

I’ve spent the past year asking questions, reading books, and consuming media to learn more about my Hispanic roots. I’ve used DuoLingo to brush up on what I learned from high school Spanish so I can converse more fluently with other Spanish speakers and connect to my culture through language. My library queue is full of requests; I’m seeking out Hispanic authors of both children’s book and adult novelists.

My cultural exploration is also evident in my favorite place in the world: my kitchen. I am a planner by nature and find so much comfort in researching recipes and trying new dishes (you can find my weekly meal plans here!) We love eating Tostones loaded up with shredded chicken, sour cream and black beans. Cheese Pupusas were a fun recipe that my five year-old and I made together and served with guacamole and tomatoes! My family is also a fan of any and all tacos – my girls love to layer a soft taco with jicama wrap from Trader Joe’s and then stuff it with Spanish beans, salsa, and CrockPot Carnitas. Using my weekly meal plans to explore Hispanic recipes in my kitchen has been one of my favorite ways to involve my family in my cultural self reflection.

Rediscovering myself in everything I’ve learned about Puerto Rico and my background has been amazing. But I’ve loved involving my three kids in my cultural exploration even more. It’s been so fun to share photos, books, and recipes as a family. One of my favorite ways to discuss any topic with my kids is to pair our discussions with informative and entertaining children’s literature. With my background in teaching elementary school, I can’t help but want to connect big things I am experiencing and explaining to my kids with an on-level, culturally rich literary resource! 

Whether you are Hispanic or not, use this month to explore new books and authors that celebrate and explain Hispanic culture. I’ve compiled my top ten books for Hispanic Heritage Month below – these books explore the lives of children, adults, change makers, and families. Make sure to check out your local library or local bookseller to find out more! 

Ten Books to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Links will take you to Bookshop.org, our favorite way to support independently owned booksellers! If you click through and make a purchase, The Mom Hour will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We also LOVE when you visit your local public library and indie bookstores near you!

Across The Bay by Carlos Aponte

A book set in the heart of Puerto Rico. I loved the illustrations and vibrant colors that perfectly depicted this beautiful island. The story is silly, quirky, but filled with depth and love as Carlitos discovers the true meaning of home and family.

Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina

I love any book that depicts the loving relationship between a grandparent and grandchild. This book breaks down generational barriers when Abuela learns English from Mia and Mango making their relationship all the sweeter.

La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elyr

Everyone loves a classic fairy tale and I love to find different takes on my children’s favorite stories! La Princesa is from Peru and offers a delightful Latin twist to the tale. I adore the illustrations in this book!

The Day of the Dead by Bob Barner

Ever since we first watched the movie Coco, my kids have loved celebrating El Dia de Los Muertos. We started a ceramic calavera (sugar skull) collection last year and it offers a time to reflect on the love ones we have lost and will never forget.

Islandborn by Junot Diaz

Lola is a little girl who lives in the city and does not remember the island where she was born. She asks neighbors, family, and friends to paint the mental picture for her. This book is a great age-appropriate way to broach the complex topic of immigration and why people leave their home countries.

Round is a Tortilla by Rosanne Thong

My two year old loves this book! He loves pointing out familiar shapes and I love teaching him about bits and pieces of latino culture! This book is one of three and the other two are just as adorable: Green is a Chile Pepper and One is a Piñata.

Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle and Rafael López

This is a story based on the life of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a girl who broke down barriers of Cuba’s old tradition of male-only drummers. My seven year-old loves stories of girl power with strong female leads. I loved sharing this book with her and then showing her photos of the real Drum Dream Girl (this article was especially interesting)!

I love Saturdays y domingos by Alma Flor Ada

This is a story about a child with both Mexican-American grandparents as well as European-American grandparents. They spend the weekends with both sets of grandparents and the differences between family members make their family culture all the more beautiful. I personally really loved this book having both a Latino and European American background!

Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh

This is the story of the Mendez family who fought for desegregation of public schools in 1947 California. This was a story I didn’t even know about until I shared this book with my children and truly feels like a piece of history that is forgotten but so important to bring back to the forefront.

Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

A beautiful book to introduce the concept of memoir to young readers that teaches the concepts of resilience, strength, independence, love, family, and love.

I would love to know what books you read with your kids at home. Who are your favorite Hispanic children’s authors? What are your favorite books that celebrate Hispanic heritage? Diving deeper to explore the richness of other cultures makes our world a more accepting, loving, and beautiful place. 

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Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: books, self

About Joanna Martin

Joanna is a lifelong Dallas resident with a bearded husband, two spirited sisters, one sweet boy and a very needy dog inhabiting the walls of her home. She graduated from The University of Texas at Dallas with degrees in Child Learning and Development and Psychology before becoming a public school teacher. She is now a stay-at-home mom who dabbles in too many hobbies and activities to count, making life very full and very beautiful.

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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

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PS - Listen to the episode in your favorite podcast app, or by clicking this image at the link in our bio!

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...making school decisions for a special needs student 
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Here’s your January reminder to save shoeboxes f Here’s your January reminder to save shoeboxes for February and March classroom projects! Valentine boxes and leprechaun traps are around the corner, and shoe boxes are so much harder to come by these days. Consider this a friendly head’s up from a mom who’s been there.

Want more help and tips, plus reassurance that you’re doing a great job? (You are.) Search for The Mom Hour in your favorite podcast app and hit subscribe!

#kindergarten #firstgrade #valentinebox #leprechauntrap #shoeboxcraft #roomparent #roommom #classroomvalentines #parenting #momlife #parentingtip #tipsformoms
Looking to implement daily "quiet time" for presch Looking to implement daily "quiet time" for preschoolers? Even for kids who want to GO GO GO all day long, having a built-in pause in the day can help develop independent play skills, encourage rest, and - of course - give caregivers a chance to reset as well.

Since this week's podcast episode is all about kids and alone time, we thought we'd revisit this resource on the blog by Sandy Hsu:

👉 How To Encourage Independence In Preschoolers With A “Quiet Time” Routine. 👈 

Sandy (@hopefulsmiles) give tips for implementing a successful quiet time routine AND rounds up products and activities that help make independent play more likely - even in young preschoolers. Check it out by clicking this image at the link in our bio!

#quiettime #parentingtoddlers #parentingpreschoolers #momoflittles #stayathomemom #stayathomeparent #activitiesforpreschoolers #activitiesfortoddlers #threeyearolds #fouryearolds #fiveyearolds #momlife #sahm #sahmlife
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Does solitude come naturally to your kids, or are moments of solo play far and few between? Meagan and Sarah read some research recently that challenged us to think about the importance of alone time, and whether our kids get enough. In this episode, we dive into our own childhood memories, how our children embrace (or run from) solitude, and how challenging it is to find that just-right balance. Join us! 

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! With all the day-to-day planning requ New episode! With all the day-to-day planning required to run a household, it's easy to put longterm planning on the back burner. Today Meagan and Sarah share lessons we've learned (or are still learning) that help us look ahead at a whole year, quarter, or month at a time. From knowing ourselves and our seasonal rhythms to figuring out where they keep next year's school calendar, we've picked up a few things over the years, and we're ready to dive in for 2023. Join us! 

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
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Shoutout to our NEW sponsors:
🍳 @caraway_home (10% off gorgeous, non-toxic cookware!)
💪 @futurefitapp (risk-free trial of 1-on-1 personal training!)
🔪 @prepdish (2 weeks free of healthy, prep-ahead meal plans!)
🎨 @minted (design marketplace with art, bags, gifts & more!)
📚 @chatbooks (deals on the easiest photo books ever!)
😍 @fabletics (2 stylish workout bottoms for $24!)

And welcome back . . . 
⭐️ @stitchfix ($20 off your 1st purchase!)
⭐️ @theessentialcalendar (10% off full-season calendars!)
⭐️ @hiyahealth (50% off 1st order!)
⭐️ @kiwico_inc (50% off your 1st mo!)
⭐️ @athleticgreens (1yr of Vit.D + 5 travel packs!)
⭐️ @vionicshoes (free shipping on cute, comfy shoes!)
Braces on, braces off. First phones, driver's ed, Braces on, braces off. First phones, driver's ed, high school registration. As we discussed in this week's episode, we still get all the feels when older kids meet cultural or developmental milestones - even if they cringe when we celebrate and share.

Would love to hear what you're celebrating about your older kids! Everything from learning a new skill to blossoming independence - leave us a comment! 

PS - Listen to the episode in your favorite podcast app, or by clicking this image at the link in our bio!

#parenting #parentingbigkids #parentingteens #parentingtweens #bigkidmilestone #teenagers #tweens #momoftweens #momofteens #momofteenagers
Turns out, when your last baby approaches double-d Turns out, when your last baby approaches double-digits, you find yourself staring a different milestone right in the (puffy) face:

It's been a decade since I was pregnant for the last time. 

This photo was taken the morning of my scheduled c-section, just a few hours before we'd meet our third and last babe. It's hard to remember, but I'm SURE I was ready to be done. Constant braxton-hicks, heartburn I hadn't experienced with the other two, food aversions that lasted the whole 39w5d, and physical exhaustion trying to keep up with a 2- and 4-year old: all part of an otherwise uncomplicated pregnancy, but still nobody's idea of easy.

I don't miss it - being pregnant. Grateful to have had the experience, absolutely. But I've never really pined for another go-around, at least not seriously. Still, a whole decade removed feels as significant a milestone to me as does the notion that that double-dimpled babe will blow out ten candles this weekend.

Time, like, whoa. 

-Sarah
If you're looking at school options for Fall 2023, If you're looking at school options for Fall 2023, you might be feeling overwhelmed by school tours, open houses, registration deadlines, or the all-too-common "red shirting question". That's why today we're revisiting an enormously detailed resource on our site: 

➡️ What Teachers & Educators Wish Parents Knew About Making School Decisions ⬅️

This piece is a collaboration between four educators on our team whose careers span preschool through middle school. They weigh in what what they wish parents knew about things like...

...choosing “the right school” 
...what it means to be “ready for kindergarten” 
...visiting a school for a tour or open house 
...learning to read 
...kids and friendships; playground politics
...making school decisions for a special needs student 
...becoming part of a classroom or school community 
 
Click this image at the link in our bio to get the guide. Bookmark it, send it to your co-parent or mom friends, and use it as a starting place as you wade through this tricky time of year! 

@lisaapayne4 @ashleydawn519 @thepaperdart @cafedumartin
C-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-e good times, come on! Today’s e C-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-e good times, come on! Today’s episode is number 400! We can’t think of a better way to celebrate hitting a big podcast milestone than talking about how we honor birthdays and milestone celebrations in our families – especially as kids get older. Join Meagan and Sarah as we offer insight into making birthdays special for big kids, tweens and teens; how kids getting older hits us differently as moms, too; and how honoring big kid milestones gets tricker, but still gives us all the feels. 

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Y'all's reaction to our entire catalog now being a Y'all's reaction to our entire catalog now being available has been so fun! Listeners have told us that they're now able to re-listen to old favorites, or - amazing for us - share them directly with friends.

(If you missed it, previously, podcast apps showed only our most recent 300 episodes – less than half our catalog. The rest were only available on our website.)

Just for fun, we rounded up a few more of our team's favorite episodes from the early days of the podcast. Here are five MORE oldies that have stood the test of time, and that make for great entry-points to our early catalog.

You can listen from our website by clicking this image at the link in our bio – but EVEN BETTER, you can find the episodes in your favorite podcast app - just search by episode title, or keep on scrolling until you find them!

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