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Your public library is here to connect you with books, events, learning experiences, and online resources that celebrate Hispanic heritage and culture this month and all year long. On this page, you can:
- Browse: Titles we suggest for all ages.
- Attend: Upcoming events.
- Watch: Hispanic Heritage Month: Voices From Our Community
- Watch: Spanish-language videos for early learners.
- Explore: Librarian-curated resources.
Titles we suggest
More to explore
- Reading lists for kids: Titles by Latine creators
- Kits for early learners and grade schoolers: Social-Emotional Learning Kits are all available in Spanish
- Stream on Kanopy: Films and documentaries
- Available on Hoopla: Ebooks, digital audiobooks, comics, movies, music, and TV shows
Available in Spanish from your digital library
- Media on Demand/Libby: Ebooks and digital audiobooks (for adults, teens, and kids) and magazines
- PressReader: Magazines and newspapers
- Global Newsstream: Newspapers
Upcoming events
For adults
English Language Conversation
Saturdays, 10 am, Main Library
Join other English language learners to practice English and learn new vocabulary in an informal setting. Conversation facilitators will lead the session with a variety of topics for conversation. Free and open to all English language learners.
Wednesday Movie Matinee: Sergio Mendes in the Key of Joy
Wednesday, September 16, 1 pm, Main Library
A joyful cinematic celebration of this singular musical artist who remains as vital and relevant today as when he exploded on the scene with his group, Brasil ’66.
Dominican University Author Visit: Marcelo Hernandez Castillo
Thursday, September 17, 7 pm, offsite at Dominican University, 7900 Division St., River Forest
Join us for a conversation with the award-winning author of Children of the Land: A Memoir, Cenzontle, and Dulce, and co-editor of the anthology Here to Stay: Poetry and Prose from the Undocumented Diaspora. He is the 2025 guest editor of the Michigan Quarterly Review and has also curated the Academy of American Poet’s Poem-a-Day Series.
Wednesday Movie Matinee: East Side Sushi
Wednesday, September 23, 1 pm, Main Library
Juana, a working-class, single mother, decides to take a job at a local Japanese restaurant. Against all odds, she fights to achieve her dream of becoming a sushi chef.
Book groups
- Paginas y Platicas is a Spanish-language book discussion group. We read books in Spanish and discuss them in Spanish.
- Latine Author Book Cafe discusses works written by Latine authors. Spanish-language copies will be made available when possible.
For kids
Cuenta Cuentos con Kathy/Spanish Storytime With Kathy
Fridays, September 11, 18 & 25, 11 am, Main Library
Friday, October 16, 10 am, Main Library
Join us for a Spanish-language storytime facilitated by Kathy Valdivia. Come hear stories, songs, and dancing! This program is open to all children ages 3 to 6 and their caregivers, and is best for those who are eager to be immersed in Spanish language.
“Being Bilingual Rocks!” Kids Music Concert
Wednesday, October 14, 10 am, Main Library
Join Parents’ Choice Gold Award winners Alina and Hamlet for a joyous and inclusive bilingual family-friendly musical experience. Come prepared to dance and sing!
Latinx KidLit Book Festival: Draw With Us
Friday, October 23, 11 am, Main Library
Want to learn to draw some adorable cats and dogs? Authors María Coco (Cats Love Books, Too) and Carlos Aponte (Precious/Preciosa) will guide us in a prerecorded, interactive art session where we’ll celebrate our furry friends! All materials supplied, best for kids ages 5+.
The Latinx KidLit Book Festival was created in 2020 during the COVID pandemic by members of Las Musas Books. Their aim was to connect Latinx authors and illustrators with readers and educators in classrooms around the globe. Explore the festival site to discover book databases and free, archived presentations on YouTube.
For teens
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
Friday, October 2, 4 pm, Main Library
Teens are invited to enjoy an afternoon of food, games, music, and community as we celebrate the cultures and traditions of Hispanic and Latino communities. Come try a variety of delicious foods, challenge your friends to games, learn something new, and hang out in a fun and welcoming space.
Watch Hispanic Heritage Month: Voices From Our Community
In this video, we spotlight three individuals who have been vital to Oak Park’s vibrant community: Oak Park Township Trustee Juan Muñoz, Vice President of University Advancement at Dominican University Tony Martinez, and Oak Park Village Clerk Christina Waters.
Watch Spanish-language videos for early learners
Created for our youngest patrons and their families, these videos feature Oak Park’s favorite librarians and storytime friends.
- Color Hunt: Amarillo
- Los Pollitos Dicen
- Lego y Amigos
- Uno Dos Tres Chocolate
- Jugando y Contando
- Kathy y Munchy cantan Pin Pon
Online resources to explore
Get access to subscription-based resources that Google can’t offer, with your Oak Park card and PIN:
For kids
- Little Pim (ages 0-6): Learn Spanish with videos, games, and songs.
- PebbleGo (preschool-grades 3) and PebbleGo Next (grades 3-5): Check out the Social Studies module to explore.
- World Book Student (elementary & middle schoolers): Explore a collection of articles, tables, and multimedia of the world, and find maps showing political, population, economic, and meteorological information in the World Resources section.
For adults & teens
- Gale in Context: Biography: Explore authoritative biographical entries covering international figures from all time periods and areas of study, including a collection of biographies on notable Hispanic Americans. To start your search, choose Browse People and from the Topics dropdown, select Hispanic Americans.
- Mango Languages: Reach conversational proficiency in Spanish.
- Novelist Plus: Find book reviews, annotations, read-alikes, discussion guides, and book lists for fiction and nonfiction readers. Use the Advanced Search option to find titles by Hispanic American authors by selecting Hispanic American under Authors Cultural Identity.