I always love introducing our 6 year old to a new country through stories. But I’ve been especially eager to share some of my favorite children’s books about Guatemala. That’s because I was able to visit this beautiful country about 10 years ago on a study tour with other U.S. women labor activists.
In this post, I’m sharing 10 great children’s books about Guatemala for preschoolers through older elementary children. You’ll also find craft ideas, plus resources for further learning.
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Our favorite children’s books about Guatemala
Abuela’s Weave by Omar S. Castañeda and Enrique O. Sanchez
Esperenza and her grandmother, like generations of Mayan women before them, weave beautiful clothing and wall hangings by hand. It’s almost time for them to travel to the market in Guatemala City to sell what they’ve made.
Esperenza is nervous because so many people these days are buying machine made cloth. Because of her grandmother’ birthmark, some of the children have started a rumor that her Abuela is a witch. This made some people frightened to buy from her, so Esperenza will have to sell their cloth by herself.
I loved all the details children learn about the art of weaving. Esperenza’s persistence despite her fears drew us into this quiet story. (Recommended for ages 4 – 10)
Related Post: 7 Inspiring Children’s Books about Haiti
The Wheels on the Bus by Melanie Williamson and the Amador Family
If you thought the traditional version of The Wheels on the Bus was fun, wait til you experience this one set on a chicken bus in Guatemala!
Mamis, Papis, Abuelas, and children are all headed from a village into the city when a flat tire brings their journey to a sudden halt. We love the music on the singalong CD just as much as the colorful illustrations! (Recommended for ages 2 – 7)
The Race of Toad and Deer by Pat Mora and Domi
No list of children’s books about Guatemala would be complete without folktales. This Maya-Itzaj folktale completely captured our 6 year old’s attention, and he’s asked to read it again and again.
Venado the deer is fast (and bossy). When Sapo the frog and his friends disturb Venado’s drinking with their croaking, an argument breaks out. Sapo assures Venado he is just as fast, and a race begins. How could a frog possibly beat a deer in a race? Sapo’s clever plan will call on all of his friends to help. (Recommended for ages 3 – 8)
Related Post: 8 Videos That Help Kids Understand Poverty (includes video series about Guatemala)
Popol Vuh: A Sacred Book of the Maya by Victor Montejo and Luis Garay
For adults and older children who want to understand K’iche Mayan folklore and culture, there’s no better place than to start with the Popol Vuh. In the 16th century, a young K’iche man who had learned to write his language in Latin characters wrote down the text, describing it as a “sacred book we can no longer see.”
I didn’t know if the book would grab our 6 year old’s attention. However, the stories about the failed attempts at creating humans pulled him right in and prompted lots of questions. Similar to Greek or Norse mythology, be aware that’s a considerable amount of revenge and violence. Garay’s detailed illustrations also helped our son envision the amazing events that are described. (Recommended for ages 8+)
Hands of the Maya: Villagers at Work and Play by Rachel Candell
This non-fiction work actually includes photographs and stories from Mayan people in Belize, not Guatemala. However, since there are many similarities in daily life and culture between Mayan peoples in the two countries, it seemed like a good time to read this book.
The pictures and story made us aware of how much day to day work is still done by hand in many Mayan communities. Children see how chopping and hauling firewood, making mountains of tortillas, building a home, laundry, and weaving can all be done by hand. (Recommended for ages 4 – 10)
Related Post: Best Picture Books Set in North America and Central America
Mama and Papa Have a Store by Amelia Lau Carling
This story was unique among children’s books about Guatemala that we read because it included so many cultures. The author is writing about her childhood, living as a Chinese immigrant in Guatemala City duing the 1950s. Her parents’ store serves many different people, and Amelia hears Chinese, Spanish, and Mayan languages throughout the day.
I especially enjoyed hearing a Mayan family choose the colors for their weavings, such as parrot green and volcano purple.(Recommended for ages 5 – 10)
Barrilete: A Kite for Day of the Dead by Elisa Amado and Joya Hairs
Non-Latinos most often associate Day of the Dead with Mexican culture, but this sacred holiday is also celebrated in Guatemala. This non-fiction book takes us to the village of Santiago Saquetepéquez, where Day of the Dead is celebrated by making enormous kites. Flown in the cemetary, these colorful, handcrafted kites are some of the largest in the world.
In this story, it’s the first year that Juan and his brothers must build their kite without their Abuelo’s guidance, since he died last year. When they finally build the kite, Juan is sure that his grandfather is there with him as it soars and dips and turns. (Recommended for ages 6 – 10)
For a kite craft related to this book, keep reading!
Somos como las nubes/We Are Like the Clouds by Jorge Argueta and Alfonso Ruano
What is it like to be one of the thousands of Central American children who have been leaving their homes, often on their own, to seek safety in the United States? This moving collection of poems with watercolor illustrations explores this important question.
Some of the poems revisit children’s memories of their home countries. Others explore what has been lost on the journey, such as the child who sold his precious iPod to buy a bus ticket north. (Recommended for ages 10+)
Related Post: Helping Kids Understand Immigration
Guatemala ABCs by Marcie Aboff and Zachary Trover
This book was excellent for summarizing much of what we learned from reading the other books on this list, plus adding new information about important places and traditions from Guatemala’s Mayan cultures. I especially appreciated that there were pronunciation guides for some of the Mayan words since these are tricky for me! (Recommended for ages 4 – 9)
The Honey Jar by Rigoberta Menchú, Dante Liano, and Domi
Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú is one of my heroes, so I was delighted to learn she has a series of children’s books that record the ancient stories her grandparents told her when she was a child. Stories such as “Grandfather Moon and Grandfather Sun Were Bored” include background from Menchú about what was happening in her childhood when she learned the story.
If you want to introduce children to some of the most famous tales of Mayan folklore, but are concerned they aren’t ready for the violence of the Popol Vuh, The Honey Jar is a great choice. (Recommended for ages 8+)
Guatemala Crafts for Children
Day of the Dead Kite Craft
We enjoyed reading the book Barrilete so much that we decided to make a kite craft. Note that the “kite” won’t actually fly; it’s just for fun!
In Barrilete, Juan’s kite is made with many pieces of colorful paper glued together, so tissue paper seemed like the best option.
Materials Needed:
Paper plate
Tissue paper in assorted colors
Glue
Thin wooden skewers
Scissors
Tape
Use the scissors to carefully punch a hole in the middle of the paper plate; then cut out the inner circle of the plate. Flip the plate over and put a ring of glue around the inner edge (the edge closest to the hole.)
Cut tissue paper into small pieces. Our kite had an abstract look, with the tissue paper being different shapes and sizes. If you want a more quilt like pattern, I suggest piecing the shapes together before you put the ring of glue on.
Lay the tissue paper onto the edges of the glue. Sparingly use glue to attach the inside pieces of tissue paper to each other. Put another ring of glue around the outside edge of the paper plate. Attach thin rectangular pieces of tissue paper that will flutter in the breeze.
Break or cut a thin wooden skewer in half and lay the pieces criss-crossed over the hole filled with tissue paper. Tape these down to give your kite more support and structure. Take 2 – 3 (unbroken) wooden skewers and tape them together at the top and bottom to form a handle for your kite. Tape these with several pieces of tape to the bottom of the kite.
After your kite has had a chance to dry, you can let it flutter in the breeze!
Gutemalan Worry Dolls
I’ve been fascinated with worry dolls ever since my kindergarten teacher brought a set to show our class. Not only are they pretty; they can also be a helpful tool to sooth anxious children. When you place the worry dolls under your pillow at night, tell each doll one of your worries. Then, they take away those worries away before morning!
If you don’t feel up to crafting your own, I love this set of ten dolls made by fair trade artisans in Guatemala, available from Ten Thousand Villages.
For kids who want to make their own worry dolls, follow this tutorial from my friend Frances at Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes.
Discover more about Guatemala with Little Passports
My five year old had a Little Passports Early Explorers subscription for almost two years. This fun subscription box helps children discover the world through souvenirs, activities, postcards, and more. (Read my full review of Early Explorers, for ages 3 – 6 years old.)
Recently we started a subscription to their World Edition for ages 6+, which features a different country each month. After his initial package including a colorful suitcase, large wall map, and a passport, we started receiving a package featuring a different country each month. Guatemala is one of the countries that will soon be featured, and we can’t wait to receive it!
