Children’s Books About South America

by Adam Gamble

Setting: BRAZIL

This charming board book features iconic Brazilian landmarks and famous cities including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Brasilia, Sugarloaf Mountain, Parque Ibirapuera, Praia do Futuro, Iguazu Falls, Mini Mundo, the Amazon Rainforest, wildlife, sports, local, foods, Brazilian culture, and more.

Recommended for ages 1-4

by Patty Rodriguez

Take a trip around the world with Vámanos series of board books from Lil' Libros. Each story celebrates the sights, sounds, and people of a different city with colorful and engaging illustrations and simple text in English and Spanish. Each book will have your little ones celebrating the world, fostering empathy, and seeing that there are a million ways to live on this planet!

Recommended for ages 2-4

Vámanos: Bogotá
Setting: Bogotá, Columbia

Introduce your little readers to Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, one of the most famous cities for making and buying emeralds. Children will travel through colorful streets and find hidden gems rooted in history and culture.

Vámanos: Lima
Setting: Lima, PERU

Introduce your little readers to Lima, the capital of Peru, and one of the largest cities in South America.

The Adventures of Bella & Harry is a picture book series that chronicles the escapades of a pup named Bella, her little brother Harry and their family, who travel the world exploring the sights and sounds of new cities.

Recommended for ages 4-7

Adventures of Bella & Harry: Let's Visit Machu Picchu
by Lisa Manzione
Setting: PERU

Join sibling Chihuahuas, Bella and Harry, as they travel to Machu Picchu in Peru.

Adventures of Bella & Harry: Let's Visit Rio de Janeiro
by Lisa Manzione
Setting: BRAZIL

Join sibling Chihuahuas, Bella and Harry, as they travel to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

by Anthony D. Fredericks

Setting: SOUTH AMERICAN RAINFORESTS

This picture book is the perfect marriage of beautiful illustrations with rhythmic alphabet verse that provides lots of interesting facts about the rainforests of South America.

by Fernando Vilela

Setting: Tapajós River, BRAZIL

Cauã and Inaê are a brother and sister who live in a small community along the Tapajós River in Brazil. Here, the homes are on stilts and everyone travels around by boat―even to school! When the rainy season comes, they must leave their village and relocate to higher ground for a while. But after moving this year, Cauã and Inaê realize they’ve left behind something important: their pet tortoise, Titi! Unlike turtles, tortoises can’t swim, and Cauã and Inaê are really worried. So the pair sneaks back at night on a journey along the river to rescue him. Will they be able to save Titi?

This picture book, first published in Brazil, offers kids a unique look into the lives of children who live along Brazil’s beautiful Tapajós River.

Recommended for ages 3-7

by Alexandra Alessandri

Setting: COLOMBIA

Ava Gabriela is visiting her extended family in Colombia for the holidays. She's excited to take part in family traditions such as making bunuelos, but being around all her loud relatives in an unfamiliar place makes Ava shy and quiet. How will Ava find her voice before she misses out on all the New Year's fun?

Recommended for ages 4-7

by Otavio Junior

Setting: Rio de Janiero, BRAZIL

This #OwnVoices picture book from Brazil offers a first-hand view of what children growing up in the favelas of Rio de Janiero see every day. A vibrant and diverse celebration of urban community living, brought to life by unique, colorful illustrations that juxtapose brick buildings with lush jungle plants.

Recommended for ages 4-8

Bilingual edition in English and Spanish

by Monica Brown

Setting: BRAZIL

This bilingual picture book tells the story of a player revolutionized the sport of soccer. He was a poor boy from Brazil who loved fútbol more than anything else became the biggest soccer star the world has ever known. This is the true story of Pelé, King of Soccer, the first man in the history of the sport to score a thousand goals and become a living legend.

Recommended for ages 4-8

by Jeanette Winter

Setting: COLOMBIA

A man, his burros, and his books bring joy to children in remote Colombian villages based on a true story, complete with an author’s note about the real man on whom this story is based..

Luis loves to read, but soon his house in Colombia is so full of books there’s barely room for the family. What to do? Then he comes up with the perfect solution—a traveling library! He buys two donkeys—Alfa and Beto—and travels with them throughout the land, bringing books and reading to the children in faraway villages.

Recommended for ages 5-8

by John B. Paterson

Setting: VENEZUELA

Up, up, up goes Roberto, aboard a cable car, heading to the top of El Avila in Venezuela. Share his excitement as he sees deep ravines and spectacular views, and meets the people and wildlife that live on the mountainside.

Recommended for ages 4-8

by Susan Hood

Setting: PARAGUAY

Ada Ríos grew up in Cateura, a small town in Paraguay built on a landfill. She dreamed of playing the violin, but with little money for anything but the bare essentials, it was never an option...until a music teacher named Favio Chávez arrived. He wanted to give the children of Cateura something special, so he made them instruments out of materials found in the trash. It was a crazy idea, but one that would leave Ada—and her town—forever changed. Now, the Recycled Orchestra plays venues around the world, spreading their message of hope and innovation.

Recommended for ages 4-8

by Cristina Falcon Maldonado

Setting: BRAZIL

Young Martin's grandfather was once a world explorer, and now he has given Martin a key that opens the door to his secret storeroom. That's where Grandpa keeps a very special travel album and a magic necklace that can transport Martin to different faraway places. On Martin's arrival in each country, he is greeted by friendly hosts who show him important places to visit, introduce him to the local culture, and teach him several simple phrases in the country's language.

On Martin's magic journey to Brazil, his first stop is a rainforest, where he sees brightly feathered tropical birds and unusual animals and plant life. Next he visits the city of Rio de Janeiro and its famous Copacabana beach, then on to a carnival festival in the city of Salvador de Bahia. Later, he visits Brazil's national parks and tours the Amazon River basin.

Recommended for ages 6-8

Bilingual Edition of Donde esta Venezuela?

by Nacho Palacios

Setting: VENEZUELA

When Alesia and Jose ask their grandfather, "where is Venezuela?" he takes them on a magical trip to the amazing Venezuelan landscape. Each page includes the text in both Spanish and English.

Recommended for ages 5-7

by Caroline Pitcher

Setting: CHILE

After a storm, lonely, old Mariana discovers a baby enclosed in a crab shell that has washed up on the beach. The child is a merbaby, and her mother, a resplendent sea spirit. Her hair flamed red and her skin shone as if polished by the sun with mother-of-pearl". The mother asks Mariana to keep the child, just until the seas calm.

Recommended for ages 5-8

by Palacios

Setting: PERU

A Peruvian rendition of the Great Flood story, in which a llama warns the people and animals to seek shelter on Huillcacato to avoid the rising sea, Mamacocha.

Recommended for ages 5-8

Bilingual edition in both Spanish and English.

by Monica Brown

Setting; COLOMBIA

On most days, teacher and librarian Luis Soriano Bohórquez packs his two burros, Alfa and Beto, with books and makes his way over mountains and through valleys to visit children in far-flung villages in rural Colombia—all for the sake of literacy and culture.

Based on the work of a remarkable man and his intrepid burros, this bilingual English and Spanish edition celebrates the impact that a special mobile library—called the “biblioburro”—has had on the lives of real children.

Recommended for ages 5-8

by Steven Wolfe Pereira

Setting: COLOMBIA

The Tiny Travelers Treasure Quest Series takes its readers on a fun-filled journey to discover what makes each country special with search-and-find features on every spread.

Journey from the hustle and bustle of Bogotá to the old town of Cartagena. From the wondrous Amazon to the vast desert of Tatacoa, Tiny Travelers will enjoy getting closer to Colombia's sights, history, and culture, making magical discoveries along the way. Each illustrated spread invites children to discover hidden "treasures" ― icons, animals, statues, instruments, and more ― that make up incredible Colombia.

Grade Level K-2

by Chloe Perkins

Setting: BRAZIL

Meet Marco, a kid living in Brazil - a country filled with beautiful rain forests, bustling cities, and world-class sports!

Each book in the Living In... series is filled with fresh, modern illustrations as well as loads of history, geography, and cultural details. Join kids from all over the world on a globe-trotting adventure.

Grade Level: K-2

by Juana Medina

Setting: COLOMBIA

Fans of Judy Moody and Clarice Bean will love Juana, the spunky young Colombian girl who stars in this playful, abundantly illustrated series. Juana loves many things: drawing, living in Bogotá, Colombia, and especially her dog, Lucas, the best amigo ever.

She does not love wearing her itchy school uniform, solving math problems, or learning English. Why is it so important to learn a language that makes so little sense? Hilarious, energetic, and utterly relatable, Juana will win over los corazones (the hearts)of readers everywhere.

Grade Level K-3

by Chris Oler

In this series, Molly and her brother Michael are curious about the world. Inspired by food, family, and friends, they trek to faraway places using a magic suitcase.

Grade Level: 1-3

Molly and the Magic Suitcase: Molly Goes to Peru
Setting: PERU

Molly and Michael delve into the modern marvels and ancient mysteries of South America in their fourth adventure. They visit the amazing ruins of Machu Picchu, see the incredible floating islands of Uros, taste new food, try traditional clothing, learn a new dance and much more. Share their breathtaking experience in Molly Goes to Peru.

Molly and the Magic Suitcase: Molly Goes to Rio de Janeiro
Setting: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

Just in time for the 2016 Summer Olympics, Molly and Michael visit beautiful Rio de Janeiro in their tenth adventure. They meet Lívia who teaches them all about Rio's stunning beaches, distinctive music, unique food, and Portuguese language. They see the Santa Teresa neighborhood, the beautiful views from the Corcovado, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the amazing Botanical Gardens. Join Molly and Michael for this great adventure, unlike any other!

The Magic Tree House book series follows a young brother and sister, Jack and Annie, on their adventures around the world and throughout history. And the Magic Tree House Fact Tracker books provide additional factual information to help kids learn more about the topics they discovered in the Magic Tree House adventure books.

Magic Tree House books are recommended for readers in grades 1-4 and Fact Trackers are recommended for grades 2-5.

Afternoon on the Amazon
by Mary Pope Osborne
Setting: BRAZIL

Vampire bats and killer ants? That's what Jack and Annie are about to run into when the Magic Tree House whisks them away to the Amazon River. It's not long before they get hopelessly lost. Will they be able to find their way back to the tree house? Or are Jack and Annie stuck forever in the rain forest?

Magic Tree House Fact Tracker: Rain Forests
by Mary Pope Osborne & Will Osborne
Setting: SOUTH AMERICA

How much rain falls in a rain forest? What is the world's heaviest insect? What the heck is a sausage tree? Why is it important to preserve the world's rain forests? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Jack and Annie track the facts.

Late Lunch with Llamas
by Mary Pope Osborne
Setting: PERU

When the magic tree house whisks Jack and Annie to a mountainside, they are surprised to find farmers nearby. Then they learn that the farmer's baby llama has been stolen, and Jack and Annie vow to bring the little animal back to its owners. But the journey is treacherous--they must climb to the peak of Machu Picchu and climb back down in order to complete this mission. Jack and Annie have been on many dangerous travels, but can they survive this one?

Magic Tree House Fact Tracker: Llamas and the Andes
by Mary Pope Osborne & Will Osborne
Setting: PERU

Why do people raise llamas? What are llamas' closest relatives? How tall are the Andes mountains? What other animals live there? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Jack and Annie track the facts about llamas and the Andes.

by Henry Horenstein

Setting: VENEZUELA

Join nine-year-old Hubaldo Romero Paez in Venezuela as he introduces his friends, his family, and his favorite sport-baseball. Complemented by a map and an English-Spanish baseball glossary, Hubaldo’s story is an inviting introduction to a foreign land viewed through the lens of a shared passion.

Grade Level: 2-4

by Christine Platt

Setting: TRINIDAD

In this book from the Ana & Andrew series, they travel to visit their family on the island of Trinidad, near the northeast coast of South America. They love watching the parade and dancing to the music. This year, they learn how their ancestors helped create the holiday!

Grade Level: 1-3

The Adventures of Riley book series provides environmental education through a blend of photography and illustration. The fictional story is supplemented with nonfiction information.

In book #3, Amazon River Rescue, Riley is excited to visit the Amazon Rain Forest. He hopes to see man-eating piranhas and snakes, not just the Kapok trees Uncle Max is studying. One afternoon, he and cousin Alice go exploring, eager to find an undiscovered animal. In the process of tracking an animal, they get lost. Do they have the skills to find their way back to camp?

Grade Level: K-3

by Kristin Earhart

Setting: AMAZON

This is book #1 in the action-packed adventure series, Race the Wild. When Russell entered the race, he knew it was going to be a wild ride. Especially the first race course! He'd been studying up on the Amazon's animals and culture forever. But nothing could prepare him or his teammates for what they'd find in the rain forest: raging rapids, poisonous venom, and sneaky competitors who'd do anything to win. Can the red team work together to make it to the finish line in one piece? Each chapter in this action-packed adventure series is bursting with totally true facts about wild and wonderful creatures, dangerous habitats, maps, and more!

Grade Level: 2-4

by Simon Chapman

Setting: BOLIVIA

Simon is packed and heading off to a region of the Amazon Basin in northern Bolivia. Despite its size, it's a fragile biome, of mixed forest and river habitats. Simon plans to document his journey down the River Enatahua, but things go wrong right from the start: a rucksack is missing, along with his canoe.

Grade Level: 2-4

by John Son

Setting: SOUTH AMERICA

Part of Scholastic's The Seven Continents series, this book will help readers get to know all about South America's geography, history, wildlife, and the people that live there today.

This book is filled with curriculum-relevant subjects and includes resource sections that encourage kids to learn more.

Grade Level: 3-5

by Matt Doeden

Setting: AMAZON JUNGLE

You're lost amid dangerous, unseen predators after your plane crashes in the Amazon jungle. By parachuting out of the plane, you landed safely, but yore all alone with little food and water. Do you, Take off in search of rescue? Build a camp and try to signal rescuers? Head toward where you believe the downed plane and your pilot may have landed? Experience the life or death dilemmas of being lost in the jungle.

YOU CHOOSE what you'll do next. The choices you make will either lead you to safety or to doom.

Grade Level: 2-5

There are many books in the Where Is... What Was... series that will help kids learn more about Europe. This series is recommended for grade levels 3-7 and titles include:

Where is Machu Picchu?
by Megan Stine
Setting: PERU

Built in the fifteenth century and tucked away in the mountains of Peru, Machu Picchu was abandoned after the Spaniards conquered the Incan empire in the sixteenth century. It remained hidden until 1911 when Hiram Bingham uncovered the marvelous complex and shared his discovery with the world. Today, hundreds of thousands of people visit the site to climb the 3,000 stone steps, explore the towering monuments, and see the numerous species that call these famous ruins home.

Where are the Galapagos Islands?
by Megan Stine
Setting: ECUADOR

The Galapagos Islands are a chain of volcanic islands located on either side of the equator in the Pacific Ocean. They are part of the country of Ecuador. The isolated location of the islands has allowed a vast number of species to develop that are original to each island, such as the marine iguana, the blue-footed booby, the magnificent frigatebird and of course the giant Galapagos tortoise, which may live to be over one hundred years old. Studied by Charles Darwin during his historic voyage on the HMS Beagle, the island life contributed to his groundbreaking theory of evolution. Today the islands are a popular tourist destination and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Where is the Amazon?
by Sarah Fabiny
Setting: SOUTH AMERICA

Human beings have inhabited the banks of the Amazon River since 13,000 BC and yet they make up just a small percentage of the "population" of this geographic wonderland. The Amazon River basin teems with life—animal and plant alike. It's a rainforest that is home to an estimated 390 billion individual trees, 2.5 million species of insects, and hundreds of amazing creatures and plants that can either cure diseases, or, like the poison dart frog, kill with a single touch. Where Is the Amazon? reveals the amazing scale of a single rainforest that we are still trying to understand today and that, in many ways, supports our existence on this planet.

Where is the Panama Canal?
by Janet B. Pascal
Setting: BORDER BETWEEN NORTH & SOUTH AMERICA

Before 1914, traveling from the East Coast to the West Coast meant going by land across the entire United States. To go by sea involved a long journey around South America and north along the Pacific Coast. But then, in a dangerous and amazing feat of engineering, a 48-mile-long channel was dug through Panama, creating the world’s most famous shortcut: the Panama Canal!

Where is Easter Island?
by Megan Stine
Setting: CHILE

Easter Island, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean thousands of miles from anywhere, has intrigued visitors since Europeans first arrived in the 1700s. How did people first come to live there? How did they build the enormous statues and why? How were they placed around the island without carts or even wheels? Scientists have learned many of the answers, although some things still remain a mystery. Megan Stine reveals it all in a gripping narrative.

by Simon Chapman

Setting: SOUTH AMERICAN RAINFORESTS

"Explorers Wanted" is an exciting new non-fiction series. Each book in the series presents the reader with an exciting expedition to tackle, and is crammed with fascinating information, gruesome details and cool facts.

Bringing to young readers the appealing elements of the bestselling Worst-Case Scenario books and reality TV show hits like Survivor, these books use an interactive format of choices and quizzes to educate in a fun, innovative way.

Grade Level: 4-7

by Lonely Planet Kids

Setting: SOUTH AMERICA

Lonely Planet's "Not For Parents" series is packed with fascinating facts that will help tweens get to know the real inside story. This is not a travel guidebook - instead, you'll hear fascinating tales about wrestling ladies and man-eating fish, lost cities, intrepid explorers, and remarkable survivals. Check out cool stories about the real Robinson Crusoe, a navy without an ocean, rivers that shimmer with colors, and floating islands. You'll find dirty dancing, fowl play, daring prison escapes, and history galore. This book shows you a South America your parents probably don't even know about.

Grade Level: 4-7

This book series is out of print, but you'll find new and used copies on Amazon.

Setting: ECUADOR

In this middle-grade series of graphic novels, readers can take in all the action and excitement of cities around the globe, getting a taste of geography, culture, and history with Carmen Sandiego—the world's greatest thief!

Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? Headed to the South American country of Ecuador for her next caper! It's up to Carmen and her crew to stop VILE from their evil exploits in the waters just off the coast—but what is VILE after this time? Adventure awaits in this action-packed graphic novel starring the world's greatest thief.

Grade Level: 3-7

by Jack L Roberts

Setting: SOUTH AMERICA

This non-fiction book helps young readers explore South America, the fourth largest continent in the world by land area and the fifth largest by population.

This book takes middle grade readers on an exciting adventure to the 12 counties that make up the South American continent, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. It includes dramatic, full-color photographs of the people, the places, and the wildlife of those countries and of the continent.

Designed for recreational reading, this informational text is also a great resource for in-school writing assignments and geography projects.

Grade Level: 4-7

by Eva Ibbotson

Setting: BRAZIL

This middle-grade historical fiction will transport you to a rubber plantation along the Amazon River in Brazil. Accompanied by Miss Minton, a fierce-looking, no-nonsense governess, Maia, a young orphan, sets off for the wilderness of the Amazon, expecting curtains of orchids, brightly colored macaws, and a loving family. But what she finds is an evil-tempered aunt and uncle and their spoiled daughters. It is only when she is swept up in a mystery involving a young Indian boy, a homesick child actor, and a missing inheritance that Maia lands in the middle of the Amazon adventure she's dreamed of.

Grade Level: 4-7

by Tara Sullivan

Setting: BOLIVIA

Set in a desolate and impoverished Bolivian silver mining community, this middle-grade fiction tells the story of twelve-year-old girl Ana. She bravely volunteers to take her eleven-year-old brother's place when their father demands that he begin working in the silver mines despite his illness. Ana gives up her dreams of school and a future outside of the mining village to protect her brother from the dark and dangerous mines, but the men who work there see her as a girl who is just in their way. When a tragic accident happens, Ana is forced to muster the courage to survive and find a way to save her family.

Grade Level: 5-8

by Laura Resau

Setting: ECUADOR

Born in an Andean village in Ecuador, Virginia lives with her family in a small, earthen-walled dwelling. In her Indigenous community, it is not uncommon to work in the fields all day, even as a child, or to be called a longa tonta—stupid Indian—by members of the privileged class of mestizos, or Spanish descendants. When seven-year-old Virginia is taken from her home to be a servant to a mestizo couple, she has no idea what the future holds.

In this poignant novel based on her own story, the inspiring María Virginia Farinango has collaborated with acclaimed author Laura Resau to recount one girl's unforgettable journey to find her place in the world. It will make you laugh and cry, and ultimately, it will fill you with hope.

Grade Level: 7 and up

by Cara Haycak

Setting: ECUADOR

WHEN 14-YEAR-OLD BENITA'S Papa is wiped out by the Depression, he moves the family from Guayaquil, Ecuador, to the primitive island of Paita with a wild scheme to start a coconut plantation. Benita moves from a grand house to a shack on the beach, from going to school to working in the fields. But Papa’s no farmer, and he makes trouble with the islanders. The only good thing about Paita is the handsome Raul. When he asks her to leave her family to live in the wilderness, Benita runs off with him. The jungle is beautiful, dangerous, and full of secrets, and they must struggle for their survival as they try to build a relationship with each other.

Grade Level: 7-9

by Gloria Whelan

Setting: ARGENTINA, 1970s

Silvia's brother, Eduardo, has Disappeared, and she won't stop fighting until she finds him. Norberto, the general's son, is just foolish enough to help. He'll fall in love with her, and then he'll ask his father to set Eduardo free. At least that's the premise on which Silvia bases her scheme. In chapters alternating between Silvia's and Eduardo's perspectives, acclaimed author Gloria Whelan gives voice to the families who struggled to survive in 1970s Argentina - and to the many who still, today, remain Disappeared.

Grade Level: 7 and up

by Isabel Allende

Setting: AMAZON RAINFOREST

Grade Level: 7 and up

Book 1: CITY OF THE BEASTS
Book 2: KINGDOM OF THE GOLDEN DRAGON
Book 3: FOREST OF THE PYGMIES

In this 3 book series, Fifteen-year-old Alexander Cold is about to join his fearless grandmother on the trip of a lifetime. An International Geographic expedition is headed to the dangerous, remote wilds of South America, on a mission to document the legendary Yeti of the Amazon known as the Beast.

But there are many secrets hidden in the unexplored wilderness, as Alex and his new friend Nadia soon discover. Drawing on the strength of their spirit guides, both young people are led on a thrilling and unforgettable journey to the ultimate discovery.

by Yamile Saied Mendez

Setting: ARGENTINA

In this Own Voices YA novel, Camila is an Argentinian teenager with a passion for soccer and the talent and skill to go far in the sport, but her parents don't know anything about it. At home, Camila lives in the shadow of her rising-soccer-star brother and is constantly striving to be a model daughter. She does her best to meet her mother's expectations, and to avoid upsetting her abusive and short-tempered father.

When her team qualifies for the South American soccer tournament, Camila dreams that her talents earn a scholarship to a North American university. But her parents wouldn't knowingly allow a girl to play fútbol, and she can't play in the tournament without their permission. To make things even more complicated, the boy Camila once loved (who has become an international soccer star playing in Italy) is back in town.

Camila will be forced to face her secrets as she tries to make her way in a world that doesn't value her dreams and ambitions.

Grade Level: 8 and up