Our World: Colombia by Alexandra Alessandri and Manu Montoya 

This vibrant board book takes young readers on a visual adventure across Colombia’s diverse landscapes, introducing them to the country’s different geographical regions. The many dogs scattered throughout the book make it a fun, interactive read for littles.

El Amor En El Tiempo del Cólera
(Love in the Time of Cholera) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

This iconic novel captivated me as a teenager. I grappled to reconcile the idea that Florentino’s unwavering love for Fermina was real, as he slept with more than six hundred women while saving himself for his true love. Garcia Marquez’s storytelling creates a world so vivid. I have always been fascinated by the strong sense of place Garcia Marquez created in his works.

Un Señor Muy Viejo con Unas Alas Enormes
(A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

This short story is a bizarre and beautiful blend of fantasy and magical realism. Many years ago, I attended a play based on this story. To my surprise, my high school crush was the lead actor, haha. This is an unnecessary detail, but it reinforces my connection to the book. I have already introduced my kids to this old man, and it was great to see their responses range from disgust to fear to pity to wonder.

Cien Años de Soledad
(One Hundred Years of Solitude) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

This literary masterpiece is a must-read for anyone interested in Colombian literature. As a young reader, I was fascinated by the text’s circular references, the word choices, the continuum of Aurelianos with a predetermined fate, and the perfect weaving of reality and fantasy that even led to a beauty pageant contestant to reference fictitious events of the book as actual events in Colombian history.

Netflix will soon release its own reimagining of this book, but I’ll venture to guess there’s nothing quite like experiencing the original in Spanish.

Biblioburro by American author and illustrator Jeanette Winter

This heartwarming picture book tells the true story of Luis Soriano and his mobile library of donkeys, which brought books and education to remote regions of Colombia. Biblioburro is a testament to the power of literacy and one man’s dedication. Although the writer is not Colombian, this book is special to me because it represents the resilient spirit of my amazing people. Pair this book with a YouTube search for Luis Soriano—you won’t be disappointed!

And, of course, I can’t forget my book, I Am La Chiva! 

This is a labor of love, blending my Colombian roots and my adopted home, the United States. La Chiva is a story about Colombia, told in Spanglish, celebrating the landscapes, the food, and the fantastic community that shaped me.