Lil' Libros is a Los Angeles-based independent bilingual children's book publisher. Its titles are distributed by Readerlink, Amazon, Baker & Taylor, Brodart, Follett Corporations, Walmart, and other independent distributors across the United States. It is a member of the American Booksellers Association, Publishers Association of the West, and Independent Book Publisher's Association. Its items are also distributed in prominent locations like MoMA in NY, LACMA in L.A., and the L.A. Zoo.
Company History Lil' Libros was founded in 2014 two best friends, Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein, to create bilingual children's resources that authentically represented the "duality of being an American Latino." Rodriguez serves as the Chief Creative Officer and Stein as the Chief Executive Officer. In 2021, the company sold more than 1.5 million books, all which introduce cultural immersion and dual-language learning. Some titles include: Loteria: First Words/Primeras Palabras and Counting Con/Contando con Frida. These books, amongst others, have led to being featured on online publications like the Washington Post and Buzzfeed. As of 2026, Lil' Libros has expanded its catalog and published over 100 books. Its rapid success has led the company to gain promotion in other online publications such as Forbes, La Opinion, and L.A. Parent.
The company signed a world wide distribution agreement in 2017 with Gibbs Smith to expand and create books for older age groups. In 2026, a new agreement was signed with Simon & Schuster, a global publisher, to continue making bilingual educational resources accessible to all.
Notable Authors
Aaron Bowersock Ariana Stein Chogrin Cindy Montenegro Citlali Reyes Cris Winters Cynthia Gonzalez D Guzman Ellen Ochoa Ellia Ana Hill Emma Garcia Eric Ramos Fabienne Doucet Grace Ann Diaz Heidi Moreno J de laVega J. Roman Perez Varela Jayri Gomez Jorge Garza Juan Moreno Katherine Trejo Luis San Vicente Marcela Valladolid Maria Rosana Mestre Mariana Galvez Maritere R. Bellas Melanie Romero Michelle Winters Nayeli Reyes Patty Rodriguez Scott Martin-Rowe Tessa B.H. Ruiz Victoria Roth Zaida Hernandez
Notable Illustrators
Aaron Bowersock Ana C. Esparza Ana Godinez Cassie Gonzales Citlali Reyes D Guzman Eliza Moreno Ellia Ana Hill Eric Ramos Hazel Quintanilla Heidi Moreno J de laVega Jayri Gomez Joaquin Carreno Alonso Jorge Harza Jose Ramirez Judith Valdes Breidenstine Karla Monterrosa Laura Diez Luis San Vicente Mariana Galvez Nqobile Adigun Pakoto Patricia Romanov Stefany Plaza Gomez
Award-Winning Titles
2019 Selection, Association for Library Service to Children: El dia de los ninos / libros
The Life of / La vida de Selena (Bilingual English and Spanish)
2020 Selection, Association for Library Service to Children: El dia de los ninos / libros
Counting With / Contando con Frida (Bilingual English and Spanish)
2021 New York Public Library's Best Picture Book
Yefferson, Actually / En realidad, es Yefferson (Bilingual English and Spanish)
2021 Selection, Association for Library Service to Children: El dia de los ninos / libros
VAMONOS: San Salvador (Bilingual English and Spanish)
2022 Chicago Public Library: Best of the Best Picture Books of 2022
Sana, Sana, colita de rana (Bilingual English and Spanish) Amor De Colores (Bilingual English and Spanish)
2022 Americas Award: Commended Title
The Life of / La vida de Dolores (Bilingual English and Spanish)
2022 New York Public Library: Los mejores libros para pequenos 2022
Sabado (Bilingual English and Spanish)
2023 New York Public Library: Best Books for Kids
Wepa (Bilingual English and Spanish)
2023 Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP) Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature
The Life of / La vida de Llort (Bilingual English and Spanish)
2023 - 2024 Tejas Star Reading List
Yefferson, Actually / En realidad, es Yefferson (Bilingual English and Spanish)
2024 International Latino Book Awards: Best Board Book
The Life of / La vida de Llort (Bilingual English and Spanish)
2024 California Department of Education: Commended List
Wepa (Bilingual English and Spanish) The Life of / La vida de Llort (Bilingual English and Spanish)
2024 Selection, We Are Kid Lit Collective: Summer Reading Lists
The Life of / La vida de Llort (Bilingual English and Spanish)
2024 Pura Belpre Youth Illustration Honor Award
Mi papa es un agricola (Bilingual English and Spanish)
2024 Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature: Commended Title
Mi papa es un agricola (Bilingual English and Spanish)
2024 International Latino Book Awards: Best Cover Illustration
VAMONOS: Los Angeles (Bilingual English and Spanish)
2024-2025 Tejas Star Reading List
Wepa (Bilingual English and Spanish)
2024-2025 VA Reads, Picture Books
Wepa (Bilingual English and Spanish)
2025 Spanish CLEL Bell Award
Singing / Cantando: La Cucaracha (Bilingual English and Spanish)
Mom's Choice Awards
Lil' Loteria: A Bilingual Picture Word Bingo Game (Bilingual English and Spanish)
Campaigns In 2022, Lil' Libros partnered with Remezcla and Target to place five mini, public libraries in an East Los Angeles neighborhood known as Boyle Heights. The founders of the company shared their initiative was a direct response to the Boyle Heights' Benjamin Franklin branch library being shut down. The Lil' Bibliotecas were created to give the community more access to bilingual books.
In 2023, Lil' Libros and OUTFRONT Media partnered to create a campaign in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month called "Pages of Hispanic Heritage." The campaign consisted of highlighting its Hispanic authors and the titles they have published.
Bilingual Book Fairs Lil' Libros partners with preschools, early learning centers, Pre-K / TK, elementary, and middle schools to organize bilingual book fairs. The company provides its entire catalog to schools (books, games, accessories, etc.), which are then used to create the book fair. Schools within Los Angeles County and some surrounding areas (Ventura County or Orange County) are eligible to sign up for a book fair. The fair runs on a tier system where schools are able to fundraise for their programs.
References