Celebremos el Cinco de Mayo

May 5 is Cinco de Mayo but before the celebración—

Pop Quiz!

True or False: Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day.

False: If you want to celebrate Mexico's Independence Day, you'll have to wait until September 16. On May 5, 1862, an outnumbered and courageous Mexican army defeated the French army at the Battle of Puebla. Today, May 5, or Cinco de Mayo, is a day to celebrate cultural heritage and pride in Mexico and the United States.

Whether you're celebrating at home or heading out, here are eight books to help you say: ¡Viva México!

Let Me Help!, squawks Perico the parrot when he sees his family preparing for Cinco de Mayo. But can a parrot make tamales? Can a parrot be a mariachi? What can a parrot do to help?

Speaking of mariachis, music is an important part of many Cinco de Mayo celebrations. In Finding the Music, Reyna sets out on a journey to repair her grandfather's broken vihuela and is surprised by what she learns along the way. And Abuelo gets the whole family singing in Sing, Don't Cry.

Where there's music, there's dancing. For a book to get you on your feet, read Danza!. This informational picture books tells the true story of Amalia Hernández, dancer, choreographer and founder of the Ballet Folklórico de México, who helped bring regional folk dances to the world stage. 

After all that excitement, you're sure to be hungry. Spice things up with Salsa or cool down with What can you do with a paleta?.

To learn more about the history and traditions behind Cinco de Mayo, be sure to check out Celebrate Cinco De Mayo or Celebremos el Cinco de Mayo

For more recommendations, check out Cristina’s Cinco de Mayo 101 blog post

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!