BOSTON, MA - September 14, 2026 - To honor National Hispanic Heritage Month, the Boston Public Library (BPL) is releasing Vida Latina, a booklist of recently published titles focusing on the cultures, histories, experiences, and diversity of the Hispanic community. Celebrated from September 15 through October 15 annually, National Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the contributions and experiences of Hispanic Americans - specifically, those whose ancestors originated from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The BPL will also observe National Hispanic Heritage Month by hosting special events for all ages across branches.
The Vida Latina booklist, featuring selected books written either by Hispanic authors or about Hispanic history and culture, is compiled by staff librarians from the Adams Street, Connolly, Faneuil, Lower Mills, Mattapan, and North End branches, along with staff from the Central Library in Copley Square. The 129 titles comprising the Vida Latina booklist highlight selections for adults, teenagers, and children by authors such as David Archuleta, Donna Barba Higuera, Ada Limón, Maria Corina Machado, and Sonia Sotomayor. Genres in this collection include biography, expressions, history and contemporary issues, and fiction.
Each book listing contains a brief synopsis and is accompanied by an image of the book cover as well as classification information. In addition to print books, select titles are available as eBooks, audiobooks, or in Spanish as well as English.
Along with the booklist, the BPL will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with cooking programs, performing arts events, film screenings, book group discussions, and more. The full list of programs can be found at bpl.org/events. Highlights include:
- Spanish Tapas at Home: Bold Flavors to Share with Friends & Family | September 14, Shaw-Roxbury | A hands-on tapas experience where participants will prepare and enjoy two simple Spanish-inspired dishes paired with a non-alcoholic beverage, using seasonal ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes that can be recreated at home.
- The Bean Table: From Pot to Soul with Chef-in-Residence Suman Shah | September 19, Shaw-Roxbury | A culinary class exploring beans as a nutritious, affordable staple and symbol of home. Learn how to cook beans from scratch and build layers of flavor, transforming them from a simple side dish into the heart of a meal.
- Queer Reads Book Club: How We Named the Stars by Andrés N. Ordorica | September 24, Jamaica Plain | A book group discussion of How We Named the Stars, a tender, lyrical debut coming-of-age novel by queer Latinx writer and poet Andrés N. Ordorica.
- Bad Bunny BINGO! | October 3, North End | Calling all Bad Bunny fans! Play a game of music bingo featuring the songs of Bad Bunny. One lucky winner will receive the prize of Debí Tirar Más Fotos on vinyl! Instead of calling out numbers, snippets of Bad Bunny songs will be played, and players will mark down the correct song on their card.
- Storytime with Laura Macias: A National Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration | various dates and locations | Stories and folk tales from around the world told by Laura Macias in English and in Spanish; includes puppets, songs, and movements.
- Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with La Piñata | various dates and locations | Rosalba Solis of La Piñata will engage children in fun and easy traditional Meso-American/Aztec music & dance, utilizing authentic percussion and wind instruments. Young participants will learn basic Aztec dance movements and music styles.
- Hispanic Heritage Month Films at Connolly | various dates, Connolly | Screenings of films with Hispanic themes: Stand and Deliver (1988), Beatriz at Dinner (2017), Bless Me Ultima (2013), Pan’s Labyrinth (2016), and The Curse of La Llorona (2019).
Physical copies of the Vida Latina booklist will be available at all BPL locations starting September 15, 2026; it can also be accessed digitally. In addition, the booklist and information about National Hispanic Heritage Month programs will also appear on the BPL website at bpl.org and on the BPL social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram).
Patrons can view many years' worth of prior affinity booklists, such as those from Black History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Disability Pride Month, and Native American Heritage Month in an online archive.
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ABOUT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library is a pioneer of public library service in America. It was the first large, free municipal library in the United States; the first public library to lend books; the first to have a branch library; and the first to have a children’s room.
The Boston Public Library of today is a robust system that includes the Central Library in Copley Square, 25 neighborhood branches, the Norman B. Leventhal Map and Education Center, the Kirstein Business Library and Innovation Center, and an archival center, offering public access to world-class special collections of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and prints, along with rich digital content and online services.
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