Picture Books About Delicious Latin Food

Everyone makes mistakes, but when you combine mistakes with taco night, you get a mistaco. Mistake-prone Izzy wants to forget her bad day, but it’s tortilla-making night with Abuelito (Lito). Keeping her big feelings inside causes her to make distorted-looking tacos, but Lito encourages Izzy, saying he will eat her mistakes. Soon, the whole family joins the fun, sharing mistakes and eating their mistacos. Author-illustrator Eliza Kinkz stirs together a silly story of one girl’s embarrassing day that leads to a family bonding moment.

Anita can’t wait to help her Abuelita make flan for Abuelo’s birthday, but she accidentally breaks the family’s heirloom flan plate from Cuba. Anita is scared to confess that she broke the plate, but with Abuelita’s patience, storytelling, and guidance, Anita gets more than a cooking lesson. A traditional recipe for flan and a glossary of Spanish terms make this intergenerational story a sweet, hands-on celebration of culture, family, and food.

“Chicharrones are fun to munch. Each bite makes a loud, salty crunch.” From empanadas to zanahoria, learning your ABCs has never been so delicious. Vibrant illustrations, lyrical rhyming text, and word pronunciations make this board book of Mexican food fun and accessible for your youngest readers.

Swirling in the earthy palette of acrylic illustrations, our little narrator marvels at the sights, sounds, and smells of her barrio on a summer day. She rejoices at the arrival of the paleta truck and imagines all the things she can do with the different flavors and colors of this sweet, icy treat. She can make tough decisions between strawberry and coconut, she can paint on a blue mustache, or she can even paint her tongue purple and scare her brother. This book makes a tasty read during the dog days of summer.

In this story of tradition and community, Emi and Papi move to the big city, leaving behind their familia and Emi’s favorite tradition: churro Fridays. With Papi busy at work, Emi feels lonely until she smells something sweet coming from her neighbor’s apartment, giving her a fantastic idea. Borrowing ingredients from her neighbors and working with strangers-turned-friends, Emi continues her old traditions in a new place.

As fall begins, Grandma prepares to make tamales by the dozens. By the time the Christmas lights are strung, she has made thousands of tamales. She has enough to sell to earn money for Christmas gifts and to give some away to those in need. Based on the author’s own Grandma, this story of love, sacrifice, and family was named a 2024 Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year and is sure to stir both the heart and the stomach.

Uno, one cozy casita; dos, two grinning abuelitos; tres, three primos playing. This fun Spanglish counting book will help readers learn to count from 1 to 15 while following along on a yummy family tradition. Every Sunday, a family gathers to eat and make Menudo, a delicious Mexican soup. But when playtime between the cousins and family dogs goes awry and the menudo dish breaks, they all pitch in to make a second batch. Make sure to check out the glossary of Spanish words, a note from the author, and tips for hosting your very own Menudo Sunday at the back of the book.

“I don’t like eating mangos,” Carmencita tells Abeulita. “They are sticky and get stuck between my teeth!” Undaunted, Carmencita’s grandmother shows her how to use her five senses to unlock the joy of eating mangos. The wind rustling through the mango tree’s leaves reminds Carmencita of her mother’s singing. Learning to peel a mango correctly becomes bonding time with her grandmother. The sweet smell and taste of the fruit become a lesson about living in the moment. With Perdormo’s immersive illustrations, readers can easily imagine the taste, touch, and feel of mangos on their tongues.

After Abuela Ana dies, her home feels empty without her dancing, laughter, and cooking. Lila and her Abuelo Carlos try to keep her memory alive by cooking her favorite dish, sancocho. Armed with a fading recipe, they browse the stalls of a local market, gather ingredients, and stir memories along the way. This is a poignant tale about the power of food and family bonds.