School is in full swing (so are the colds!), and I've had Earth, Wind & Fire's "September" on repeat. Any month with its own song is my kind of month.
September always feels like a month of transition. School is back, routines are starting up again, fall is around the corner, and somehow the holidays don't feel that far away.
Around here, we're settling back into our routine after a summer of camps, travel, late nights, and days when we didn't always know what day it was. And it started off a little rocky, to be honest. On the first day of school, I completely forgot to pack the kids' lunches and had to make a quick run to Safeway. Grapes, carrots, snap peas, cheese, salami, crackers... kid charcuterie! I can now add "packing school lunches in the Safeway parking lot" to my list of skills.
But today they left the house with water, snacks, and lunches, so I'm calling that a win.
This month, I'm sharing how we're getting back into our reading routine, some books to discover for Hispanic Heritage Month, a classic my kids still love, and one for the grown-ups.
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Back to Our Reading Routine
Summer threw a wrench into a lot of families' schedules, and sometimes that included our nightly reading.
We always pack a few books when we travel, and the kids can now read on Epic, the reading app they use through school, so most nights we still managed to read. But there were definitely nights, especially when we were away from home, when everyone was just too wiped to open a book.
Now that school is back, our set time for nightly reading is back too.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month kicked off on September 15 and runs through October 15. Here are a few children's books we love, all by Latino authors and illustrators, full of family, tradition, and everyday moments.
As I mentioned in Mom Mondays, books like these belong on our shelves all year, but this month is a great chance to spotlight them. If you haven't read them yet, they're new to you! And if you have, tell us what you thought or pass the title along to a friend.
Picture books
The Muéganos by Jaque Jours
Every parent can relate to this one. The moment your child starts shifting toward independence can be a little earth-shattering, and definitely full of emotions. The Muéganos are an extremely close family who do everything together, stuck to each other like the traditional Mexican candy they're named for. But during a trip to the museum, their eldest, Julia, wants a little distance, and that causes a crack. It's a lovely, relatable story about independence and family bonds.
Abuelita's Song by Gloria Amescua, illustrated by Mariyah Rahman
This is the sweetest book. A mother sings a special lullaby to her son when he's a baby and all through his childhood. When he has his own family, he sings the same song to his girls. And when Abuelita comes for a visit, the girls sing it to her. It's about how a song, or any family tradition, connects us. Sing the song to your kids, and don't worry if you can't carry a tune.
My Papi's Hands by Melissa Seron Richardson, illustrated by Edel Rodriguez
My kids are fascinated by my hands and love to compare theirs to mine. This one explores a parent's hands and everything they can do, told through a little girl's eyes as she describes her Papi's hands: how they build the city, build the love in her home, and build a better future. There's also a quieter moment where she notices that his hands get tired, not just from work but from worry, and from hate. It's an honest thing to put in a children's book, and it doesn't stop the story from reaching for a brighter future. By the end, she knows her own hands can change the world too. Edel Rodriguez's woodblock illustrations are striking.
Perla and the Pirate by Isabel Allende, illustrated by Sandy Rodríguez
My daughter made up a story about a super dog, Super Pup, before we ever read this one. Perla is a mighty dog with two superpowers: making everyone love her and roaring like a lion. She and her boy, Nico Rico, befriend the new neighbor they've nicknamed the Pirate, and when Nico gets lost walking home from school, Perla springs into action. Perfect for anyone who wants a super dog (or cat) of their own.
Menudo Sunday by María Dolores Águila, illustrated by Erika Meza
This is a counting book, but it's not your typical counting book. It captures the joy, the love, and the chaos of a family gathering for Sunday dinner. It has so much heart.
For chapter book readers
Lola Levine Runs Out of Steam by Monica Brown, illustrated by Chelen Écija
I'll admit it: our calendar can get packed. Between birthday parties, sports, and all the things my kids want to do and we want to do as a family, we can get overbooked. In the eighth book of this funny chapter book series, Lola struggles to balance her extracurriculars and school, and has to figure out how to find some balance.
Classic Corner: It Looked Like Spilt Milk
It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw
My kids still love this book, and they still love to play the game.
The other day, we were having a slow afternoon in the backyard, looking up at the sky and calling out what each cloud looked like. Sometimes we agreed and sometimes we didn't, but that wasn't the point. It's just fun to use your imagination and see how differently we can look at the exact same thing.
That's probably part of why It Looked Like Spilt Milk still works so well, nearly 80 years after it was first published.
Parent Shelf: Whistler
Whistler by Ann Patchett
I read Whistler this summer, and I'm still recommending it to everyone. It begins with a chance meeting at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, when a woman runs into the stepfather she hasn't seen since she was a child.
I loved how seamlessly Ann Patchett weaves the past and present together, but it's really her writing that pulled me in. Her characters have so much depth, and I could relate to their struggles and feel their pain. I couldn't put it down. I cried, I laughed, and I would read it again. That's how I know I really loved it.
Your Turn
What's your family reading this September? Do you have a Hispanic Heritage Month favorite we should add to our list? We'd love to hear. Send us a message or tag us on Instagram @booklove.box.
Happy Reading,
Kimberly & Christine
