Season 1 Episodes

Ready to dive into the enchanting world of "Alebrijes" by Donna Barba Higuera? Join us in this episode as we explore the magical journey of our young protagonist Leandro, who discovers the power of his cultural heritage and the mystical creatures known as Alebrijes. We'll discuss the rich blend of …

In this episode, we're turning up the volume on Sing It Like Celia by Monica Mancillas. Join us as we explore the vibrant world of twelve-year-old Salva Sanchez, a young girl who finds solace and strength in the music of Celia Cruz. We'll delve into the heart-wrenching story of Salva's search for h…

In the magical town of Tres Leches, where Texas folklore dances with Mexican legends, the curse of La Llorona has lifted, but now the children of Tres Leches are mysteriously vanishing. Enter the Dancing Devil—a monstruo with a penchant for mischief and secrets. His son, Rooster, straddles the line…

In “Through Fences”, Frederick Luis Aldama and illustrator Oscar Garza weave a poignant tapestry of life in the US–Mexico borderlands. The stories follow Latino kids and young adults as they navigate the challenges of living near the border. From a young girl lost in a forbidding new place to a Tik…

In this captivating middle-grade novel, City Girls by Loretta Lopez is a story of finding refuge with friends who understand the enormous challenges faced by eleven years old. The stories are told through the eyes of three young girls who confront loss, fear, and sorrow. Narrated by each girl in al…

In this episode, we dive into the rich and captivating novel Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar, a Pura Belpré Award winner and a descendant of Sephardic Jews from Cuba. The novel follows the lives of four girls from different generations of a Jewish family, many of them forced to leave their countr…

In this episode, we are honored to have Carmen Tafolla author of Warrior Girl, a novel in verse that tells the story of Celina Teresa Guerrera Amaya. We talk to Carmen about her inspiration for writing this book, her use of poetry and bilingualism, and her message for young readers. We also hear so…

Christian Meneses Jacobs, host of Latino Book Chat, interviews Adriana Erin Rivera, author of "Paloma: Song for Puerto Rico." They discuss various aspects of the book, including the importance of representing Puerto Rican history and culture accurately. Adriana shares her inspiration for the story,…

In this episode, we’ll be discussing the fifth and final book in the series, Stella Diaz Leaps to the Future by Angela Dominguez. In this book, Stella is facing some big changes in her life. How will Stella cope with all these challenges? Will she be ready for what’s next? Join my chat with Angela …

Pam Muñoz Ryan's new novel Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs is full of adventure, villanos, curanderas, and magic. Find out why Solimar wants to be a king, and not a queen. Pam Muñoz Ryan chats with us about how she crafted her fearless Latina princess.

Emma Otheguy invites her young readers to become advocates for important social issues such as immigration, racism, and classism in her middle grade novel "Sofia Acosta Makes a Scene." Young Sofia finds her voice and discovers that even though she is young, she can make a difference in her communit…