Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

During Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 to Oct. 15), we recognize the contributions made and the important presence of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States and celebrate their heritage and culture.

Hispanic Heritage Month, whose roots go back to 1968, begins each year on Sept. 15, the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize also celebrate their independence days during this period and Dίa de la Raza is Oct. 12.

As part of Petworth Library's celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, join us for these special programs:
José Luis Orozco: Children's Singer/Songwriter
Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 10 a.m.

Hispanic Heritage Story Time and Craft
Bilingual stories, songs and a special craft
Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 4 p.m.

If you'd like to read some books about Hispanic life and culture, try these:

• Yes! We Are Latinos by Alma Flor Ada
• Celebrating a Quinceañera by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith
• I Am Latino: The Beauty in Me by Sandra Pinkney
• Mi Barrio: My Neighborhood by George Ancona
• Mis Fiestas: My Celebrations by George Ancona

We also have some wonderful Hispanic folk tales:

• Tales Our Abuelitas Told by F. Isabel Campoy
• Martina the Beautiful Cockroach by Carmen Agra Deedy
• Golden Tales: Myths, Legends and Folktales of Latin America by Lulu Delacre
• Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman With a Great Big Heart by Pat Mora 
• Prietita and the Ghost Woman: Prietita y La Lllorona by Gloria Anzaldúa 

To learn more about some influential Hispanic people, try these books:

• Ellen Ochoa (World's First Female Hispanic Astronaut) by Elizabeth Jaffe 
• Diego Rivera (Mural Painter) by Mike Venezia
• Frida Kahlo (Surrealist Painter) by Margaret Frith
• Oye, Celia! (Celia Cruz, Salsa Singer) by Katie Sciurba
• Cesar Chavez: We Can Do It! (Labor Leader) by Sunita Apte