About Piñata Books
Books in Spanish and English for kids, teens, and those in between
Founded in 1994, Piñata Books, an imprint of Arte Público Press, is dedicated to the publication of children's and young adult literature focussing on U.S. Hispanic culture. With its bilingual picture books—in Spanish and English—for children and its entertaining novels and short story collections for young adults, Piñata Books has made giant strides in filling the void that exists in American publishing and literature: books that accurately reflect themes, characters and customs unique to U.S. Hispanic culture.
Books published under the Piñata Books imprint have been well received, with many books receiving awards such as the Paterson Prize for Young Adult Literature and the Skipping Stones Award, and others being named to recommended reading lists like the American Library Association’s annual list of recommended reading for reluctant young adult readers, Quick Picks for Young Adults; The New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age; and the Américas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature.
Over the years, Arte Público Press had published several books for children and young adults and it was only a matter of time for the focus to take on greater definition. The seed for the imprint was planted by a deluge of parents, teachers and librarians asking for books that accurately portray U.S. Hispanic culture. The need and the demand encouraged the notion of an imprint, while a grant from the Mellon Foundation allowed the idea to flourish into reality. Committed to publishing 10 books each year, Piñata Books has had particular success with its bilingual Spanish and English picture books for kids. The enchanting stories with their beautiful illustrations hold tremendous appeal for young and old alike.
In addition, the imprint has impacted the industry with entertaining novels and short story collections for middle readers and teens. Arte Público Press is the oldest and largest publisher of contemporary and historical literature written by U.S. Hispanics, which showcases Hispanic literary creativity, arts and culture to facilitate entrance into mainstream publishing and media for Hispanic authors and the people they write about.
