The Borderlands Children’s Literature Database was built by Dr. Brianna Anderson with support from the University of Texas at El Paso’s Borderlands Digital Humanities Center.
This project aims to provide book recommendations and educational resources for K-12 teachers and parents interested in exploring the rich cultures, histories, and environments of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands and other border regions. Current scholarship on borderlands children’s literature tends to focus on immigration and identity. However, these stories also help readers understand the diverse communities, cultures, histories, and environments that make border regions unique.
The initial database entries and lesson plans were written by students in Dr. Anderson’s Fall 2025 Children’s Literature course. Special thanks to Melissa Martinez, who researched children’s literature about the borderlands and compiled an initial list of relevant titles for the database.