“You are not lucky to be here. The world needs your perspective.
They are lucky to have you.”
– Antonio Tijerino
Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of the communities, traditions, and contributions of Latinx and Hispanic people to American history and culture. Annually celebrated from September 15th to October 15th, this month-long commemoration highlights the rich culture of Hispanic regions and how present they are in our daily lives.
Why is it celebrated during these specific weeks?
The dates of this celebration are historically significant because many countries celebrate their Independence Day in this month, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras (September 15) Mexico (September 18), and Chile (September 21), among others.
What can we do to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month?
This is the perfect opportunity to read a new author, listen to a new artist, or watch a new show. Here are some of our student book recommendations for Hispanic Heritage Month: some translated from Spanish and some in their original language. Let the narratives from authors all over Spain and Latin America invade your TBR!
- Nuestra Parte de Noche or Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez
- La Sombra del Viento or The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
- En diciembre llegaban las brizas or December Breeze by Marvel Moreno
- En el tiempo de las mariposas or In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
- Esperanza renace or Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
- Como agua para chocolate or Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
To see more of our student recommendations, please visit our Instagram page!
Latinx representation in Publishing
Although Latinx representation in the Publishing industry keeps growing, as we see more Latinx writers being published and titles being translated from Spanish to English, the percentage of workers from Latinx backgrounds working in publishing is significantly smaller. Publisher’s Weekly, in an article published on February 17, 2023, stated that “Latinos make up 18% of the American workforce and nearly 20% of the overall population. But in its report, the GAO found that publishing is just 8% Latino—making it the worst field in media for Latino representation.” Many non-profit organizations, communities, and conferences have been created to provide resources, opportunities, and community for current and future Latinx authors and publishing professionals, as well as to promote Latinx literature.
- Latinx in Publishing: A “non-profit organization of book professionals committed to supporting and increasing the number of Latinx people that work in publishing, and promoting literature by, for, and about Latinx people.” Latinos in Publishing offers a wide range of opportunities, resources, scholarships, and book promotion targeted to Latinxs in the U.S., with incredibly detailed lists of agents and editors, as well as mentorship programs where future writers can learn from current professionals.
- LKBF Latinx Storytellers Conference: An annual in-person conference where Latinx children, book writers, and illustrators can enjoy conferences, masterclasses, professional development, and networking opportunities. This year’s conference took place at Scholastic Headquarters in SoHo, NY, on September 13th and 14th. Although this is a paid event, students who identify as Latinx were able to volunteer at the event.