National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 - October 15

Observed each year from September 15-October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month honors the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens who trace their ancestry to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Spanish-speaking countries of Central and South America.

Contrary to popular belief, the word Hispanic does not refer to race, but is an ethnic term for diverse peoples of many races and origins who hold in common the Spanish language.

Celebrate with Bilingual Books

NEA's Read Across America compiled a Bilingual Booklist/Recomendada Lectura with 65 titles for grades kindergarten through young adult. From poetry to folktales to stories of contemporary life, these outstanding selections introduce young readers to a rich vein of literature with a distinctly Hispanic sensibility.

Additional resources:

• Américas Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature, recognizes works of fiction, poetry, folklore, or selected non-fiction that authentically and engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States.
• The Pura Belpré Award is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.

Notable Hispanics

Hispanics make significant contributions to society and are represented in nearly every profession. How many of these names do you recognize?

Sandra Cisneros or Victor Villasenor (writers)? How about Luis Alberto Urrea or Ana Castillo (poets)? Raquel Welch or Martin Sheen (actors)? Linda Ronstadt or Freddy Fender (vocalists)? Rebecca Lobo or Sammy Sosa (athletes)? Cesar Chavez or Linda Chavez-Thompson (civil rights activists)? Katherine Davalos Ortega (Treasurer of the United States)? Bill Richardson (governor of New Mexico)? Antonia Novello (U.S. Surgeon General)? Ellen Ochoa (astronaut)? Luis Walter Alvarez (Nobel winning physicist)? These are only a few of the many Hispanics whose talents and hard work have enriched the lives of all Americans.

If you want to know more about famous Hispanic folks, visit:

• Notable Hispanic Americans From A-Z (InfoPlease)
  
  

Resources for Teachers and Kids

The following sites provide information, ideas and activities for celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month.

• Scholastic.com
• Fact Monster
• Thomson Gale