Matt de la Peña
Recognized in the Creative Minds Montessori 2026 Teacher’s Choice list.
Matt de la Peña is one of roughly one hundred authors whose work was selected by the Montessori-certified teachers at Creative Minds Montessori for the 2026 Teacher’s Choice list — 120 books chosen across four reading stages, from first lap-reads to first chapter books. The selected book was chosen for how precisely it meets children at a real developmental moment. This recognition cannot be bought: no author or publisher paid to appear on our lists, and we take no commission on any book sale.
About Matt de la Peña
Matt de la Peña won the 2016 Newbery Medal for the picture book Last Stop on Market Street, illustrated by Christian Robinson — the first Hispanic American author to win the medal. He writes both picture books and young adult novels, and attended the University of the Pacific on a full athletic scholarship for basketball.
De la Peña has said he did not read a novel all the way through until after high school; he finished his first one on a college basketball road trip. He writes for young readers from working-class backgrounds.
Also by this author: Carmela Full of Wishes · Love · Milo Imagines the World
Official website: mattdelapena.com
Selected for the 2026 Teacher’s Choice list
Part of The Best Children’s Books by Age, chosen by the teachers at Creative Minds Montessori in Frisco, TX.