Photo above: Author Yuyi Morales visits Central Falls High School (2019)
An Easy, Meaningful Way to Read Together
The Latino Books Award is designed to fit naturally into classrooms and school libraries—whether you’re working with one class, multiple grades, or an entire school community.
Participation is free, flexible, and student-centered. You decide how deeply to engage, and your students help shape the outcome by reading, discussing, and voting.
Participation is free, flexible, and student-centered. You decide how deeply to engage, and your students help shape the outcome by reading, discussing, and voting.
Who Can Participate?
Classroom teachers (all grade levels)
- School librarians and media specialists
- Reading specialists and literacy coordinators
- Parents and caregivers working in partnership with schools
The Reading Experience
Students read books by Latino and Latinx authors and illustrators that reflect a wide range of cultures, identities, family structures, and lived experiences. The goal is not to rush through titles, but to create space for reflection, conversation, and connection.
RILA provides:
RILA provides:
- A curated list of nominated titles
- Optional discussion prompts
- Simple voting tools when the voting period opens
Meg Medina signs a copy of Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass at Shea High School (2016)
What Participation Looks LIke
Participation can be as simple or as expansive as you choose. Many educators integrate the Latino Books Award into existing routines such as:
- Independent or small-group reading time
- Book clubs or literature circles
- Library visits and reader advisory conversations
- Informal classroom discussions
Student Voice Matters
A defining feature of the Latino Books Award is that students have a say.
After reading and discussing nominated titles, students are invited to vote for the book that resonated most with them. Their collective voices determine the award recipient.
This process reinforces that reading is not passive—and that young people’s opinions matter.
After reading and discussing nominated titles, students are invited to vote for the book that resonated most with them. Their collective voices determine the award recipient.
This process reinforces that reading is not passive—and that young people’s opinions matter.
Why Schools Participate
Educators often tell us that the Latino Books Award:
- Encourages deeper engagement with reading
- Sparks meaningful classroom and library conversations
- Helps students feel seen, valued, and heard
- Builds excitement around books and storytelling
Voting Timeline |
When the voting window opens, participating classrooms and libraries will be invited to submit student votes through an online form. The voting link will be shared on this page and through RILA communications.
Whether you’re an educator planning ahead or a parent encouraging your school to get involved, we’d love to welcome you into this year’s Latino Books Award.
Whether you’re an educator planning ahead or a parent encouraging your school to get involved, we’d love to welcome you into this year’s Latino Books Award.
