Leyendas/Legends: 60 Latine People Who Changed the World

by Mónica Mancillas, Isadora Zeferino (illustrator)

Celebrate sixty legendary Latine icons who have changed the world—from artists to engineers to activists and more! This gorgeous illustrated compendium is perfect for readers of Little Leaders and Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls.

Did you know …


A famous Colombian singer wrote her first song at just eight years old and had a record deal by thirteen.


The work of a Mexican chemist led to the discovery of the hole in the ozone layer.


The youngest congresswoman in US history is Puerto Rican.




Discover the stories of sixty inspiring figures—including celebrities and icons like Frida Kahlo, Roberto Clemente, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sonia Sotomayor, Shakira, Walter Mercado, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Jharrel Jerome—in this beautifully illustrated, celebratory collection showcasing the multitude of talent within the Latine community.

 

Each extraordinary person has a unique story—from artists who have shaped pop culture to athletes who have won championships to activists who have changed laws and so many more—and this empowering book shows that anyone can make a difference in the world if they set to their mind to it!

REAL-LIFE ROLE This collection is filled with real-life role models, both current and historical, for aspiring artists, scientists, and activists—particularly Latine children—to relate to and see themselves in. 



GREAT TEACHING Offering a fresh take on traditional history or biography books for kids, Leyendas/Legends profiles famous modern-day figures as well as past and lesser-known heroes. Makes an excellent addition to classroom and library collections for young readers eager for books that represent and celebrate people of all backgrounds.



EMPOWERING Great for reading aloud together during story time or bedtime, this volume is full of satisfying, bite-sized biographical stories that encourage conversation, connection, and dreaming big.



INSPIRING With vibrant visuals and engaging stories, this exciting contemporary nonfiction book for kids makes a great gift for almost any giving moment, from birthdays to holidays to special celebrations.

Perfect


Readers who love biographies of inspirational historical figures


Teachers and librarians looking for multicultural books


Fans of Latine musicians, writers, activists, artists, athletes, scientists, and more


Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month resource book


Gift-giving for birthdays, including quinceañeras, holidays, graduation, and any special occasion

Genres: Childrens, Biography

132 pages, Hardcover

Published August 26, 2025

About the author

Mónica Mancillas is a musician and educator who authors picture books and Middle Grade fiction and non-fiction. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley. Her award-winning books include MARIANA AND HER FAMILIA, THE WORRY BALLOON, HOW TO SPEAK IN SPANGLISH, SING IT LIKE CELIA, TACO TUESDAYS, and LEYENDAS/LEGENDS (Chronicle, 2025).

Reviews

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of this book.

For each individual, there is a page-long biography along with a full-page, beautifully illustrated portrait. There are a few people who have three pages devoted to them, but I understood how their biographies couldn't be condensed and/or the illustrations really took center stage.

At the back of the book, there is a selected biography for each person.

It made me emotional to see how Latines have affected all of our lives in big and small ways. I think every so often we have to be reminded of this fact.

I had some trouble reading this book because of the biography text was such a thin font coupled with a less than black color which was off-putting with the background colors. (It didn't help either with the watermark on each page, but I know that wouldn't be on the final versions.) Having the font be thicker ("regular" instead of "thin") would benefit the reader more and would make it easier to read especially since I imagine the physical copies would be a similar size to the Rebel Girls series.

I did find one error. In Sylvia Mendez's biography, the city's name is Westminster and the county is Orange whereas it's written as "Westminster County, California." I know this since I'm from there. It didn't deter me at all, but it pulled me out of reading for a moment to verify I wasn't misremembering.

[Terry Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not just Roberto Clemente, Frida Khalo, and Gabriel Garcia Marques. Monica Mancillas gives life to legends in their own time, Sonia Sotomayor, Elizabeth Acevedo, AOC, and lesser known yet uniquely important Latine figures that have contributed and continue to contribute to our lives. Sylvia Rivera, a trans activist, Victor Pineda, disability Activist, Jamie Escalante, public school teacher. This is a book where young Latine can find prided and non-Latine readers can understand our contributions. The most important part of the book is Macillas' introduction where she lets the reader know, without mincing words, the harm that is being done right now when people in power call Latines "lazy, job stealing...criminals". The harm that just regular people inflict when they think of another in terms of negative stereotypes. Brava, Monica. And thank you.

Thank yo to Chronicle Books for providing me the opportunity to review this book.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mónica Mancillas grew up in America, even though her family was from Mexico. She didn’t feel like she “looked Mexican” enough and didn’t fit the stereotypical Mexican that she was seeing on TV. After a trip around Mexico with her father, she saw Mexico and Latin America and the people that live there in a different light. Her hope by writing this book is that readers, children and teens alike, will see that we all come from different backgrounds, yet if we have the drive and work hard, we can all become whatever we dream to be.

Mancillas shares brief bios of men and women, young and old, teachers and artists, actors and athletes, activists and writers, astronauts and judges, and so many others. Each two-page spread shares the person, the birth and death date (if applicable), and their Heritage. Then, a brief, one-page bio with bolded facts alongside the fabulous illustrations of Isadora Zeferino highlights the important Latine/Latinas that we should all know about.

Many of the people I was familiar with, like Elizabeth Acevedo, one of my favorite young adult authors, while others I have never heard of before, like Mario J. Molina, a chemist who was given the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his contributions to atmospheric chemistry and the Presidential Medal of Honor for his work on climate change. Latin Americans featured in this book have heritages from Peru, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Mexico, and many other countries.

This book shines a light for kids who feel different, who have a Latin background, or who feel like no one cares about their goals and dreams. Reading about the struggles, determination, and hard work by those featured in this book will inspire kids to believe they, too, are capable of being extraordinary.

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This resource highlights over fifty Latine men and women from diverse eras and ages, showcasing their significant but often-overlooked historical contributions. The engaging, abridged profiles showcase the global impact of these pioneers and serve as excellent jumping-off points for further research. The narrative is well-written and uses bolded, highlighted text to emphasize key information about each individual, including labels that note the person’s career path, birth and death dates, and country of origin. Illustrations are engaging and enhance the text, while a detailed table of contents allows readers to navigate easily. The bibliography provides multiple avenues for self-guided research including resources such as Brittanica, NPR, and other reputable organizations. This versatile resource will be frequently requested by readers as it beautifully balances brevity and substantive content. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing, vivid tribute to Latine legends! From singers and actresses to activists and scientists, Mancillas has included Latine people from past and present, from all walks of life and all careers, to create a truly stunning collection of biographies. The art is bright and appealing, and the biographies are so detailed! You can tell this was such a labor of love, and it belongs on everyone's bookshelf.

*The only downside to reading this as an ARC first is that, as another reviewer pointed out, the font was a bit small and difficult to read. I moreso skimmed the biographies because of this, but I am *so* excited to check it out when it's published! Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with the free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Delia Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monica’s latest book offers insight into the inspiring journeys of sixty Latine legends. All from different walks of life and from different Latin American countries, these heroes impact lives in many ways. Young Latines can find inspiration in each; great for research projects! I appreciated Monica’s introduction and the beautiful illustrations.

[Danielle Woolard · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's super rude to give this book 4 stars just cuz it's not bilingual, even though that's what I was hoping for.. So even though this book is not what I thought it was, it's still really great. I saw some familiar faces and got to know more of their story, and I was introduced to people I've never heard of before. The illustrations are adorable and captures the likeness of each person.

[Linda Donohue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book that should be in every elementary school library. Illustration are beautiful. People from all walks of life included. This was a Goodreads giveaway. I thank the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this work of art!

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous book full of interesting information.

[Mikaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the Illustrations and the way that the stories are shared. This book should be is all libraries and especially school libraries. The illustrations will keep the kids attention and the representation of the latinx people in the book will encourage kids to see success in people who look like them.

[Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

well written, beautifully illustrated, really high quality book