Pepe and the Piñata: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage

by Tracey Kyle, Mirelle Ortega (illustrator)

Join Pepe as he celebrates his Mexican-American heritage by participating in a celebration of Hispanic Christmas traditions. Children will delight in seeing many Hispanic cultures proudly honored in this joyous picture book.

Pepe is excited to celebrate Christmas with his friends and family. In the town square, families are encouraged to decorate and share foods, traditions, and gifts for the holidays. With new food to taste, music to dance to, and a very special piñata to crack open, Pepe couldn't be more excited to celebrate and share his Hispanic heritage. A day filled with joy and pride, this book joins Pepe and the Parade as a jubilant celebration of culture and identity.

Illustrated by Pura Belpré Honoree, Mirelle Ortega, and with Spanish words effortlessly included throughout, this gorgeous story is a great introduction to the Spanish language. A glossary of Spanish words, complete with English translations, and an educational author's note provide useful tools for further learning and discussion.

32 pages, Hardcover

Published October 28, 2025

Reviews

[Jilanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in rhyme and illustrated in vibrant colors, this book is perfect for an engaging holiday read aloud. Pepe prepares to celebrate Christmas in the town square, and, in the course of his preparations, readers learn how different Latinx cultures bring their own traditions to the celebration. I love the specificity of foods and items brought to the party. Pepe's family prepares ponche, buñuelos, pozole, and frijoles. Town members from Cuba, Peru, Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Spain bring other traditional foods like yuca fries, empanadas, alfajores, and tamales. Columbians bring candles to light the night, Bolivians bring tiny figurines for manger scenes, one child wears a Puerto Rican hat, and a child from the Dominican Republic brings a charamico (tree branches shaped into the form of a Christmas tree and painted). Everyone comes to the town square to celebrate. There's singing, dancing, storytelling, crafts, raffles, bingo, lots of snacking, the lighting of the tree, a visit with Santa, and then the penultimate activity—the breaking of the piñata, a seven-pointed star filled with candies, nuts, fruits, and small toys. A fun celebration of community, being thankful for friends and family, and PIÑATAS! Back matter includes Spanish vocabulary explanations, an author's note about piñatas, and sources to learn more. Great book!

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pepe and the Piñata is a delightful celebration of Christmas featuring Hispanic traditions from around the world. The reader will share Pepe’s excitement as he prepares food to share at a Christmas festival in the plaza. A highlight is a colorful piñata with treats and toys inside. Told in lovely rhyme, this picture book beautifully captures the fun of sharing international holiday traditions. The illustrations are vibrant and joyful. A full glossary explains Spanish words included in the text. Pepe and the Piñata would be a wonderful Christmas addition to school and library collections. It would make a great Christmas gift, too.

[Ann Staats · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s time to celebrate! As Pepe helps to prepare for Christmas, he and his friends make food, help decorate, and get ready for the big event. The highlight of the celebration is a colorful piñata that brings the community together and provides much joy. Told in lyrical prose, the many details of this holiday experience bring this delightful story alive. Bright, engaging illustrations add to the mix and make this holiday book one to savor and enjoy. A fun book to read over and over!

[Barbara Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delight! In bouncing, rhyming text, Kyle celebrates the many Christmas foods and traditions of Latin American countries and Hispanic communities in this country. A wonderful holiday book to share with all families. A pronunciation guide and translation of Spanish words and an author's note follows, as well as a list of the author's extensive research. Thank you to the author for providing a pre-publication copy.

[Debra Shumaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastically fun book about various Hispanic cultural celebrations of Christmas. Pepe and his family are preparing food and a piñata for the plaza gathering where friends from different cultures are all joining to celebrate Christmas. Fun rhyming text sprinkled with words in Spanish and rich, colorful illustrations make this a perfect read for the upcoming holidays. Young and old will enjoy reading this book again and again.

[Gabriella Aldeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is pure joy! Read on to celebrate the end-of-the-year traditions with Pepe and his community. Told in rhyme and vibrantly illustrated, this is a fun read aloud that showcases food and traditions from many different Hispanic countries, including the breaking of a piñata. An author's note and word glossary completes a book that's meant to be in every school, home, and library bookshelf.

[Looneysr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderfully engaging story invites us into the holiday traditions of Latin America. It has a particular focus on the foods and treats that you might find around the holidays in different Spanish-speaking countries. It weaves Spanish vocabulary seamlessly into the rhyme of the text and is a fun holiday read aloud for families during the holiday season. Enjoy!!

[Ginger Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

Join young Pepe as his family prepares for a festive Mexican Christmas, filling the house with delicious aromas and vibrant traditions. Told in rhyme, this story is a feast for the senses, from the sweet and savory foods to the cheerful illustrations that pop with color. More than a holiday tale, it's a rich celebration of Hispanic heritage, complete with song, dance, and a show-stopping piñata. Highly recommend!