- Encantado: Desert Monologues. University of Arizona Press. 2018. ISBN 9780816538027.
- Adobe Odes. University of Arizona Press. 8 November 2006. ISBN 9780816526109.
- Agua Santa: Holy Water. Beacon Press. 20 July 1997. ISBN 9780807068298.
- Aunt Carmen's Book of Practical Saints. Beacon Press. 30 September 1997. ISBN 9780807072066.
- Chants. Arte Publico Press. 1994. ISBN 9780934770248.
- Communion. Arte Publico Press. May 1991. ISBN 9781558850354.
- Borders. Arte Publico Press. 1986. ISBN 9780934770576.
Adult Books: Nonfiction
- Zing!: Seven Creativity Practices for Educators and Students. Corwin Press. 30 March 2010. ISBN 9781412978392.
- House of Houses. Beacon Press. 16 September 2001. ISBN 9780807072059.
- Nepantla: Essays From The Land In The Middle. University of New Mexico Press. 1 March 1993. ISBN 9780826314543.
Young Adult Books: Poetry
- Dizzy in Your Eyes: Poems about Love. Knopf Books for Young Readers. 12 January 2010. ISBN 9780375843754.
- My Own True Name: New and Selected Poems for Young Adults. Arte Publico Press. 1 January 2000. ISBN 9781558852921.
- La Migra
Children's Books:
- Bookjoy, Wordjoy. illustrated by Raúl Colón. Lee & Low Bookss. 2018. ISBN 9781620142868.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- The Remembering Day/El día de los muertos. illustrated by Robert Casilla. Piňata Books. 1 October 2015. ISBN 9781558858053.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- Water Rolls, Water Rises/El agua rueda, el agua sube. illustrated by Meilo So. Children's Book Press. 1 October 2014. ISBN 9780892393251.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- I Pledge Allegiance. co-authored with Libby Martinez illustrated by Patrice Barton. Random House Children's Omni. 1 January 2014. ISBN 9780307931818.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- The Beautiful Lady: Our Lady of Guadalupe. illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. Knopf Books for Young Readers. 1 January 2012. ISBN 9780375868382.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- Book Fiesta! Celebrate Children's Day, Book Day/Celebremos el Dia de los libros. illustrated by Rafael López. Rayo. 10 March 2009. ISBN 9780061288777.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- Wiggling Pockets/Los bolsillos saltarines. illustrated by Maribel Suárez. Rayo. 1 June 2009. ISBN 9780060850470.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- A Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas. illustrated by Magaly Morales. Clarion Books. 14 September 2009. ISBN 9780618841981.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- Sweet Dreams/Dulces Suenos. illustrated by Maribel Suárez. Rayo. 27 May 2008. ISBN 9780060850418.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- Join Hands!. illustrated by George Ancona. Charlesbridge. 1 January 2008. ISBN 9781580892032.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- Let's Eat!/A Comer!. illustrated by Maribel Suárez. Rayo. 1 March 2008. ISBN 9780060850395.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman With a Great Big Heart. illustrated by Rafael López. Lee & Low Books. 1 October 2007. ISBN 9781584302711.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- ¡Marimba!: Animales From A to Z. illustrated by Doug Cushman. Clarion Books. 13 November 2006. ISBN 9780618194537.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- Gracias/Thanks. illustrated by John Parra. Lee & Low Books. 1 July 2005. ISBN 9781600602580.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- The Song of Saint Francis and the Animals. illustrated by David Frampton. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. 16 August 2005. ISBN 9780802852533.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman With a Great Big Heart. illustrated by Raúl Colón. Knopf Books for Young Readers. 11 October 2005. ISBN 9780375823374.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- A Library for Juana: The World of Sor Juana Inés. illustrated by Beatriz Vidal. Knopf Books for Young Readers. 12 November 2002. ISBN 9780375806438.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- Maria Paints the Hills. illustrated by Maria Hesch. Museum of New Mexico Press. 1 October 2002. ISBN 9780890134108.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- Love to Mama: A Tribute to Mothers (editor). illustrated by Paula S. Barrigan M. Lee & Low Books. 1 April 2001. ISBN 9781584302353.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- Tomas and the Library Lady. illustrated by Raúl Colón. Turtleback Books. 22 February 2000. ISBN 9780613283625.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- The Rainbow Tulip. illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles. Viking Children's Books. 1999. ISBN 9780670872916.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- This Big Sky. illustrated by Steve Jenkins. Scholastic Inc. April 1998. ISBN 9780590371209.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- Delicious Hullabaloo/Pachanga Deliciosa. illustrated by Steve Jenkins. Piňata Books. 1 January 1998. ISBN 9781558852464.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- Confetti. illustrated by Enrique Sanchez. Lee & Low Books. 1 October 1996. ISBN 9781880000250.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- Uno, Dos, Tres: One, Two, Three. illustrated by Cecily Lang. Clarion Books. 1 April 1996. ISBN 9780395672945.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- The Race of Toad and Deer. illustrated by Domi. Orchard Books. 1 September 1995. ISBN 9780531094778.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- The Gift of the Poinsettia/El Regalo de La Flor de Nochebuena. illustrated by Daniel Lechón. Arte Publico Press. 1 January 1995. ISBN 9781558851375.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- Agua, Agua, Agua. illustrated by José Ortega. Good Year Books. 1 September 1994. ISBN 9780673361950.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- Pablo's Tree. illustrated by Cecily Lang. Simon and Schuster. 1994. ISBN 9780027674019.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- A Birthday Basket for Tía. illustrated by Cecily Lang. Macmillan Publishing Company. 1992. ISBN 9780027674002.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
- Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo!
- The Desert Is My Mother/El desierto es mi madre(bilingual)
- Abuelos
- The Bakery Lady/La señora de la panaderia (bilingual)
- Listen to the Desert: Oye al desierto
- My Family/Mi Familia series: Here Kitty, Kitty/¡Ven gatita, ven! (bilingual)
- The Night the Moon Fell