Argentina
Abuelo by Dorros
Animal Poems of the Iguazú by Alarcón
Gauchada by Lamm
Ghost Hands: A Story Inspired by Patagonia’s Cave of the Hands by Barron (also Chile)
Jemmy Button by Barzelay (2013)
Magic Bean Tree by Van Laan
Bolivia
I’m Jose and I’m Okay: Three Stories from Bolivia by Holzwarth
Miro in the Kingdom of the Sun by Kurtz
Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet! By Deedy
Waira’s First Journey by Topooco
Brazil (and Rainforest)
Adventures of Riley Amazon River Rescue by Lumry
Along the River written and illustrated by Vanina Starkoff, translated by Jane Springer (2014) **(Author lives in Brazil)**
See the different people and boats that travel along the river in the detailed drawings.
Along the Tapajós written and illustrated by Fernando Vilela, translated by Daniel Hahn (2015) **(author is from Brazil)**
Cauã and Inaê live along the Tapajós River and live in a house on stilts. They even take a boat to school and see some amazing animals in the water as they travel. When winter begins and the rainy season starts, the family has to move all their animals and belongings out of the house and move it all to dry land where they build a new house to live in while it’s raining. Inaê realizes they have left something important at their other house and she and her brother go back. At the end of the book is more information about the Tapajós River and the people who live along it.
Amazon Boy by Lewin
Bella and Harry: Let’s Visit Rio de Janeiro! By Manzione
Best Tailor in Pinbauê by Toledo (2017)
Brave Little Parrot by Martin
Dancing Turtle by DeSpain
Great Kapok Tree by Cherry
How Night Came from the Sea by Gerson
Jabuti the Tortoise: A Trickster Tale from the Amazon by McDermott
James the Vine Puller by Stiles
Living in Brazil by Perkins
Nina Bonita by Machado
Princess of the Springs by Finch
Rosa Raposa by Campoy
Rain, Rain, Rain Forest by Guiverson
Sock Thief by Crespo
Songs from a Journey with a Parrot by Lerasle
So Say the Little Monkeys by Van Laan
Slowly, Slowly, Slowly, Said the Sloth by Carle
Umbrella by Brett
Welcome Brown Bird by Ray
We’re Roaming in the Rainforest by Krebs
Yellow Cab by Pfister
Zonia’s Rain Forest written and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal (2021)
Chile
Farmyard Jamboree: Inspired by a Chilean Folktale by Margaret Read MacDonald, illustrated by Sophie Fatus (2005)
A little child gets a large variety of animals in this sing-a-long story, which includes a CD. At the end of the book is more information about the Chilean original sources for this song.
Land of the Wild Llama: A Story of the Patagonian Andes by Audrey Fraggalosch, illustrated by Michael Denman and William Huiett (2002)
Set in the Chilean Patagonia and featuring a heard of llamas throughout the year as well as other animals native to this part of the world. At the end of the book is more information about the Patagonian Andes and a nice fold out illustration of all the animals mentioned in the book.
Lucia’s Travel Bus by Nam-joong Kim, illustrated by Eun-min Jeong (2016)
Lucia and her grandfather travel all the way to the very Southern tip of Chile and see penguins. Her grandfather becomes sick so the family all goes together to see the Atacama Desert.
Mariana and the Merchild: A Folk Tale from Chile by Caroline Pitcher, illustrated by Jackie Morris (2000)
Mariana lives by the sea and one night there is a terrible storm. In the morning she finds all sorts of shells and other sea life washed up on shore and covered in seaweed. She brings it all home and realizes there is a baby mermaid mixed in with the bundle of sea items. The merchild’s mother leaves the baby with Mariana and comes back from time to time to help raise the merbaby until the seas calm and it is safe for the child to return to the water.
My Name is Gabriela by Monica Brown, illustrated by John Parra (2005)
This story talks about Gabriela Mistral who was the first Latina woman to win the Nobel Prize for literature. She grew up in Chile loving words and poems. This story is written in both English and Spanish. At the end of the book is more information about her life.
Ode to an Onion: Pablo Neruda and his Muse by Alexandria Giardino, illustrated by Felicita Sala (2018)
This book was inspired by Pablo Neruda’s poem Oda a la Cebolla-Ode to the Onion. The book features Pablo and Matilde working in their garden which inspires his poem. The poem is shared in both Spanish and English at the end of the book along with some information about Pablo Neruda.
Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People by Monica Brown, illustrated by Julie Paschkis (2011)
Pablo Neruda’s name was originally Neftalí and he changed it when he grew up to be a poet. He started writing about Chile and all the things that make the country so special. When he saw the hard life of the coal miners he began to fight for justice for them. At the end of the book is more information about Pablo Neruda.
Pen Pal for Max by Gloria Rand, illustrated by Ted Rand (2005)
Max’s father works in a vineyard. When Max learns that some grapes are destined for the US he sends along a note looking for a penpal. After several weeks he finally receives a letter, but it is in English which he cannot read. The owner of the vineyard reads English and translates the letter for Max. Max learns about Maggie and the two begin to write letters back and forth. One day there is a special surprise waiting for Max and his classmates at school.
Small History of Disagreement by Claudio Fuentes S., illustrations by Gabriela Lyon (2017) **(author and illustrator both live in Chile)**
A group of children in Chile come to school one day to see that a work crew is set up to start building new classrooms. They learn that an ancient Monkey Puzzle tree will need to be cut down to make space for the classrooms. Some kids are for the new building and others would prefer that the 300 year old tree not be cut down. The school decides to have a debate for both sides to give their arguments. Then the kids set up voting booths and ballot boxes to see what the majority felt. At the end is more information about the Monkey Puzzle Tree.
Colombia
Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter (2010)
Luis is an avid reader and soon has too many books for his house. When his wife complains of all the books, Luis comes up with a great way to share his love of reading with other people in villages near his in northern Colombia. This book is based on the true story of Luis and his Biblioburro (named that because of the burros who help him carry the books to people).
Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built by Angela Burke Kunkel, illustrated by Paola Excobar (2020) **illustrated moved to Colombian as a child**
The story of a young José who looks forward to visiting the library and an older José who collects the books that are being thrown out while he works as a garbage collector. On Saturday’s young José arrives at the libray built from the books the older José has collected. At the end of the book is more information about the lack of libraries in Colombia as well as information about the the real José who made the library as well as a couple photos.
Feliz New Year, Ava Gabriela! by Alexandra Alessandri, illustrated by Addy Rivera Sonda (2020) **Author is Colombian-American**
Ava is visiting her aunt and uncle, cousins, and grandmother for the new year. She is really shy and isn’t ready to talk at first. But as her family includes her in all the traditions for the new year, Ava begins to come out of her shell.
Legend of El Dorado by Van Laan
Mia’s Story written and illustrated by Michael Foreman (2006)
Based on an encounter the author had while traveling from Chile into the Andes. The story however, is set in Campamento San Francisco, which appears to be in the north of Columbia at the end of the Andes mountain range, but pretty far from Chile. Anyhow, based on the name of the city where the girl lives, I’m putting this book in Columbia. The story is about Mia, who one day looses her dog. As she is searching the mountain for the puppy, she discovers a field of beautiful flowers. She thinks people in the city might like the flowers as much as she does.
My Name is/ Me Ilamo Gabito by Monica Brown, illustrated by Raúl Colón (2007)
This story is based on the life of famous Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez. He loves his grandfather and his 100 year old parrot very much. Both inspire Gabito to write stories as do all his encounters with people he sees and meets around Colombia. This book is written in English and Spanish and includes a brief biography of Marquez at the end.
Waiting for the Biblioburro by Brown
Ecuador
Booby Hatch by Lewin
Galápagos Means Tortoises by Heller
Island: A Story of the Galápagos written and illustrated by Jason Chin (2012)
This book details the life of the Galapagos islands from creation during a volcano to varied animals as they begin to arrive on the island. The book also discusses how some animals adapt and change to survive on the island. At the end of the book is more information about the Galapagos.
Take Your Time: A Tale of Harriet, the Galapagos Tortoise by Furrow
Guyana
suggestions?
Paraguay
Ada’s Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by Susan Hood, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport (2016)
Ada’s city is the location for a huge landfill. Sometimes people find treasures but the air always smells. Her family loves music and one day Ada’s grandmother signs her up for violin lessons. There aren’t enough violins to go around so the teacher asks a carpenter to help make instruments out of materials in the landfill. They make all different kinds of instruments including cellos and flutes. Eventually the orchestra gains enough of a following to play at larger venues all around the world. At the end of the book is more information about the recycled band in Cateura, Paraguay.
Peru
Chancay and the Secret of Fire by Charles
Carolina’s Gift: A Story of Peru by Diaz
Festival of the Sun by Jo
From Beans to Batteries by Steve Brace, illustrated by Annie Kubler (1999)
Good Llama: A Picture Story from Peru by Rockwell
How Llama Saved the Day by Palazzo
If You Were Me and Lived in Peru by Roman
Isabella’s Bed by Lester
Kusikiy: A Child from Taquile Peru by Cecilia
Llama and the Great Flood by Alexander
Llama’s Secret: A Peruvian Legend by Palacios
Love and Roast Chicken: A Trickster Tale from the Andes by Knutson
Maria had a Little Llama by Dominguez
Miro in the Kingdom of the Sun by Kurtz
Moon Rope: A Peruvian Folktale by Ehlert
Sharuko: El Arqueólogo Peruano/Peruvian Archaeologist Julio C. Tello by Monica Brown, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri (2020) (illustrator was born in Peru, author’s mother was born there)**
Told in both Spanish and English is the story of Julio C. Tello who was an archaeologist born in 1880. He was really brave exploring caves to look for artifacts and was nicknamed Sharuko which means brave. He finds skulls as a child and while in college his interest in archaeology is renewed. He went on to make important discoveries about many of the first people to live in what is now Peru. At the end of the book is more information about Julio Tello.
Thunder god’s Son: A Peruvian Folktale by Dewey
Tonight is Carnival by Dorros
Up and Down the Andes: A Peruvian Festival Tale by Krebbs
Zorro and Quwi: Tales of a Trickster Guinea Pig by Hickox
Zorro and Quwi: Tales of a Trickster Guinea Pig by Hickox
Suriname
I Lost My Arrow in a Kankan Tree by Lichtveld
Trinidad and Tobago
Gregory Cool by Binch
Island Christmas by Joseph
Jump Up Time: A Trinidad Carnival Story by Joseph
Little Salmon for Witness: A Story from Trinidad by Rahaman
Mermaid’s Twin Sister by Joseph
Wave in Her Pocket: Stories from Trinidad by Joseph
Uruguay
“Dead or Alive?” from the anthology Noodlehead Stories: World Tales Kids Can Read and Tell by Martha Halmilton and Mitch Weiss
As a man sits a tree limb sawing it off, a woman passes by and informs the man that he will fall if he sits on the limb he’s trying to remove. He doesn’t believe her, but when he does fall he thinks the woman must be a fortune teller. He races after her and wants to ask when he will die. She pretends to know and tells him.
Venezuela
Dancing Hands: How Tessa Carreño Played Piano for President Lincoln by Engle (2019)
How Iwariwa the Cayman Learned to Share by Crespo
Streets are Free by Kurusa
Venezuela ABCs by Cooper
