Duncan Tonatiuh Books in Order

Cousins Charlie and Carlitos exchange letters about everyday life in the United States and Mexico. As they describe school, games and favorite foods, their different surroundings reveal shared experiences and a family connection that crosses the border.

This picture-book biography follows Diego Rivera from a boy who loved drawing to an artist depicting Mexico’s people and history in murals. It also asks what he might paint today, inviting young readers to tell stories through their own art.

When Papa Rabbit fails to return from working in the north, Pancho sets out with a bundle of his favorite foods. A helpful-looking coyote guides him through dangerous obstacles, but the journey grows more threatening as their supplies disappear.

Sylvia Mendez and her brothers are refused admission to their neighborhood school because of their Mexican heritage. Her family challenges the decision, organizing a lawsuit that becomes an important struggle against segregated education in California.

Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada turns his skills as a printer and cartoonist toward the lively skeleton figures associated with Día de Muertos. This biography explores his artistic methods, political observations and the enduring life of his calaveras.

Princess Izta chooses the warrior Popoca over wealthy suitors, but her father demands that he defeat their enemy before they marry. Deception threatens the lovers in this retelling of the Mexican legend behind two volcanoes overlooking the valley.

Inspired by dancers she saw as a child, Amalia Hernández studies ballet and modern dance before returning to Mexico’s regional traditions. This biography follows her creation of Ballet Folklórico de México and the transformation of folk dances for the stage.

Juan leaves Mexico seeking work and becomes an undocumented restaurant employee in the United States. Paid far below the minimum wage, he must decide whether to risk being reported to immigration authorities by standing up for himself and other workers.

José de la Luz Sáenz faces discrimination despite his service as an American soldier during World War I. Drawing on his diary, this biography follows his work as a teacher, wartime linguist and organizer fighting for Mexican American equality.

After repeated attempts to create humanity fail, the other gods grow weary, but Quetzalcóatl refuses to surrender. The Feathered Serpent enters the underworld to recover sacred bones, facing its powerful ruler in a Mesoamerican creation story.

A young Mexica girl explains to her brother how their parents make painted books, from preparing paper to recording history and sacred knowledge. The story introduces Indigenous bookmaking traditions and the communities that preserved learning through illustrated manuscripts.

A family prepares an altar to remember a loved one during Día de Muertos. Counting from one to ten in Spanish and English, this picture book introduces the relatives, offerings and traditions that bring the celebration together.