The Books Children Should Read on Florida’s Hispanic Roots

The Florida Department of Education kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month by announcing the 2011 Hispanic Heritage Month Recommended Reading List.

“From Pensacola to Key West, Florida is home to strong Hispanic roots that have helped to shape our state in many positive and unique ways,” said Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. He said the book list is meant to help students gain more understanding of Florida’s deep cultural connections.

Hispanic reading list by grade level:

Elementary Pre K-2
Nacho and Lolita by Pam Munoz Ryan
Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale by Carmen Agra Deedy

Elementary 3-5
Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull
The Day It Snowed Tortillas: A Classic from the American Southwest by Joe Hayes

Middle School 6-8
Tropical secrets : Holocaust refugees in Cuba by Margarita Engle
Struggling to Become an American by Robin Santos Doak

High School 9-12
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya
Laughing Out Loud, I Fly: Poems in English and Spanish by Juan Felipe Herrera

The full recommended reading list: http://www.justreadfamilies.org/reading/hhm.asp