When you read a child a book you give them more than knowledge, you give them your love. Remember to check your local library for even more suggestions.

Check out our main Cinco de Mayo holiday page for more great tips on how to celebrate the holiday.

AGES 4-8

Cinco de Mayo
by Janet Riehecky, illustrated by Krystyna Stasiak
Although Maria is not too successful at helping her family prepare for Cinco de Mayo, she wins an art contest at the library and gets to break the pinata back home. Includes instructions for making tacos and three crafts.

Colors of Mexico
by Lynn Ainsworth Olawsky, illustrated by Janice Lee Porter
Learn about the traditions, history, geography, homes, and food of Mexico through ten different colors.

El piñatero/The Piñata Maker
by George Ancona
Follow Tico Rico as he buys the materials for his crafts, makes them, sells them, and finally, attends a party where the children break open a piñata.

Mexican Independence Day and Cinco De Mayo
by Dianne M. MacMillan
How time honored holidays are celebrated in modern day America with public festivals featuring traditional foods, music, and clothing.

My Mexico/México mío by Tony Johnston, illustrated by F. John Sierra
Sway to the sounds, reach for the colors, dance to the rhythms, and you will find your own Mexico in these poems in both English and Spanish.

Postcards from Mexico
by Helen Arnold
Through a series of postcards written by fictional children visiting Mexico young readers are given a quick overview of this country.

Saturday Market
by Patricia Grossman, illustrated by Enrique O. Sanchez
A trip to the weekly open-air market at Oaxaca, Mexico, with stops at 11 fictional vendors, male and female, young and old, who have brought chiles, rebozos, huaraches, good luck charms, parrots, flowers, and clay figurines to sell.

AGES 9-12

Cinco De Mayo
by Sarah Vazquez
Introduces the customs and practices of this Mexican holiday. Mexican Americans observe this holiday in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

Cinco De Mayo: Yesterday and Today
by Ma. Cristina Urrutia, designed by Rebeca Orozco, Maria Cristina Urrutia
In the mid-19th century, Mexico was in crisis; using the pretext that the country was not paying off its debt to European powers, Napoleon III decided to invade and annex it. But under Benito Juarez, the Mexican government and the people, who had suffered for centuries as a European colony, surprised Napoleon and fought back. On the fifth of May, in a decisive battle, they routed the French. Today, that day is celebrated as the enduring symbol of Mexican independence and pride.

Viva Mexico! : The Story of Benito Juarez and Cinco De Mayo (Stories of America)
by Argentina Palacios, illustrated by Howard Berelson, Alex Haley
Benito Juáez, a Zapotec Indian, was born and raised in extreme poverty. With hard work, determination, and strong love for his country, Juarez became the president of Mexico and defeated the French, who had occupied the country for five years.

PARENT HELPS

The Latino Holiday Book: From Cinco De Mayo to Dia De Los Muertos: The Celebrations and Traditions of Hispanic-Americans
by Valerie Menard
A full year of Hispanic-Amercan celebrations and special traditions including: new year's traditions, Dia de los Reyes, Calle Ocho, Easter, Cinco de Mayo, the feast day of San Juan Bautista, the Cuban and Mexican celebrations of independence and more.

Alecia Dixon is a contributor to Kaboose.