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Pura Belpre Award
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The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator for children and teens whose work best celebrates the Latino cultural experience. Initially given every other year, it is awarded annually beginning in 2009.

 

2013:
Author Award:
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz (YA Fic  Saenz)


 

 

 

 

Illustrator Award:
Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert by Gary Schmidt; ill. by David Diaz

Author Honor Books:
The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano by Sonia Manzano (YA Fic Manzano)

 

 

 

2012:
Author Award:
Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall  
(YA Fic  McCall)


Illustrator Award:
Diego Rivera: His World and Ours by Duncan Tonatiuh (j759.972  Tonatiuh)

Author Honor Books:
Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck by Margarita Engle (YA Fic Engle)
Maximilian and the Mystery of the Guardian Angel: A Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller by Xavier Garza (Juv Fic Foreign Language Spanish  Garza)

 

Illustrator Honor Books:
The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred by Samantha R. Vamos, ill. by Rafael López ( j  Vamos)
Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match/Marisol McDonald No Combina by Monica Brown; ill. by Sara Palacios ( j Foreign Language Spanish  Brown)

2011:
Author Award:
The Dreamer by Pam Ryan Muñoz.

Illustrator Award:
Grandma's Gift by Eric Velasquez ( j Christmas  Velasquez)

Author Honor Books:
Ole Flamenco by George Ancona (j793.31  Ancona)
The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette's Journey to Cuba by Margarita Engle (YA Fic  Engle)
Ninety Miles to Havana by Enrique Flores-Galbis (Juv Fic  Flores-Galbis)

Illustrator Honor Books:
Fiesta Babies by Carmen Tafolla, ill. by Amy Córdova ( j  Tafolla)
Me, Frida by Amy Novesky, ill. by David Diaz (j759.972  Novesky)
Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin by Duncan Tonatiuh ( j  Tonatiuh)

2010:
Author Award:
Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez  

 

Illustrator Award:
Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children's Day/Book Day; Celebremos el dia de los ninos/El dia de los libros by Pat Mora; ill. by Rafael Lopez ( j )

Author Honor Books:
Diego: Bigger Than Life by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, ill. by David Diaz (j759.972 Bernier-Grand)
Federico García Lorca by Georgina Lazaro, ill. by Enrique S. Moreiro (j921 G165l Foreign Language)

Illustrator Honor Books:
Diego: Bigger Than Life by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, ill. by David Diaz (j759.972 Bernier-Grand )
My Abuelita by Tony Johnston; ill. by Yuyo Morales ( j  Johnston)
Gracias Thanks by Pat Mora; ill. by John Parra (Spanish j  Mora)

2009:
Author Award:
The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle  (YA Fic  Engle)

Illustrator Award:
Just in Case by Yuyi Morales ( j )

Author Honor Books:
Just in Case by Yuyi Morales ( j )
Reaching Out by Francisco Jimenez (YA Fic  Jimenez)
The Storyteller's Candle/La Velita de los Cuentos by Lucia Gonzalez; ill. by Lulu Delacre  ( j  Foreign Language)

Illustrator Honor Books:
Papa and Me by Arthur Dorros, ill. by Rudy Gutierrez ( j )
The Storyteller's Candle/La Velita de los Cuentos by Lucia Gonzalez; ill. by Lulu Delacre  ( j  Foreign Language)
What Can You Do With a Rebozo? by Carmen Tafolla, ill. by Amy Cordova
( j )

2008:
Author Award:
The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano by Margarita Engle, ill. by Sean Qualls (j921 M319e)

Illustrator Award:
Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes; ill. by Yuyi Morales
( j )

Author Honor Books:
Frida: ¡Viva la Vida! Long Live Life! by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand (j759.972 Bernier-Grand)
Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale retold by Carmen Agra Deedy, ill. by Michael Austin (j398.2 Deedy)
Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes; ill. by Yuyi Morales ( j )

Illustrator Honor Books:
My name is Gabito: The Life of Gabriel Garcia Marquez/Me Llamo Gabito: La Vida de Gabriel Garcia Marquez by Monica Brown, ill. by Raul Colon (j921 G165b Foreign Language Brown)
My Colors, My World/Mis Colores, Mi Mundo by Maya Christina Gonzalez  (j Foreign Language)

2006:
Award for Narrative:
The Tequila Worm by Viola Canales  (YA Fic  Canales)

 

 

Illustrator Award:
Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart by Pat Mora; ill. by Raul Colón  
( j )

Narrative Honor Books:
César: ¡Sí, Se Puede! Yes, We Can! by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, ill. by David Diaz (j921 L995b)
Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart by Pat Mora; ill. by Raul Colón ( j )
Becoming Naomi León by Pam Muñoz Ryan (Juv Fic  Ryan)

 

Illustrator Honor Books:
Arrorró, Mi Niño: Latino Lullabies and Gentle Games by Lulu Delacre  (j781.62  Delacre)
César: ¡Sí, Se Puede! Yes, We Can! by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, ill. by David Diaz (j921 L995b)
My Name Is Celia/ Me Llamo Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz/ La Vida de Celia Cruz by Monica Brown, ill. by Rafael López  (j782.4092 Foreign Language)

2004:
Award for Narrative:
Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez
(YA Fic  Alvarez)

Illustrator Award:
Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales
(j398.2  Morales)

Narrative Honor Books:
Cuba 15 by Nancy Osa  (YA Fic  Osa)
My Diary from Here to There/Mi Diario de Aquí Hasta Allá by Amada Irma Pérez  (Juv Fic Foreign Language)

Illustrator Honor Books:
First Day in Grapes by L. King Pérez; ill. by Robert Casilla
( j )
The Pot That Juan Built by Nancy Andrews-Goebel; ill. by David Diaz ( j738.092  Andrews-Goebel)
The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull, ill. by Yuyi Morales

2002:
Award for Narrative:
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
(YA Fic  Ryan)

Illustrator Award:
Chato and the Party Animals by Gary Soto, ill. by Susan Guevara
( j )

Narrative Honor Books:
Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenez (YA Fic  Jimenez)
Iguanas in the Snow by Francisco X. Alarcón (j811.54 Foreign Language)

Illustrator Honor Book:
Juan Bobo Goes to Work by Marisa Montes, ill. by Joe Cepeda
(j398.2 Montes)

2000:
Award for Narrative:
Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba by Alma Flor Ada
(j921 Ad11AAu)

Illustrator Award:
Magic Windows by Carmen Lomas Garza  (j736.98 Foreign Language)

Narrative Honor Books:
From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems/ Del Ombligo de la Luna y Otro Poemas de Verano by Francisco X. Alarcón, ill. by Maya Christina Gonzalez. (j811.54 Foreign Language)
Laughing out Loud, I Fly: Poems in English and Spanish by Juan Felipe Herrera, ill. by Karen Barbour. (j811.54 Foreign Language)

Illustrator Honor Books:
Barrio: José's Neighborhood by George Ancona (j307.3362  Ancona)
The Secret Stars by Joseph Slate, ill. by Felipe Dávalos
Mama & Papa Have a Store by Amelia Lau Carling ( j )

1998:
Award for Narrative:
Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida by Victor Martinez
(YA Fic  Martinez)

Illustrator Award:
Snapshots from the Wedding by Gary Soto, ill. by Stephanie Garcia
( j )

Narrative Honor Books:
Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems/Jimomates Risuenos y Otros Poemas de Primavera by Francisco Alarcon, ill. by Maya Christina Gonzalez  (j811.54 Foreign Language)
Spirits of the High Mesa by Floyd Martinez  (Juv Fic  Martinez)

Illustrator Honor Books:
In My Family/En Mi Familia by Carmen Lomas Garza (j306.85 Foreign Language)
The Golden Flower: A Taino Myth from Puerto Rico by Nina Jaffe, ill. by Enrique O. Sanchez (j398.2  Jaffe)
Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English by Alma Flor Ada, ill. by Simon Silva (j861 Foreign Language)

1996:
Award for Narrative:
An Island Like You: Stories of the Barrio by Judith Ortiz Cofer
(YA Fic  Cofer)

Illustrator Award:
Chato's Kitchen by Gary Soto, ill. by Susan Guevara ( j )

Narrative Honor Books:
The Bossy Gallito/El Gallo de Bodas: A Traditional Cuban Folktale by Lucia Gonzalez, ill. by Lulu Delacre  (j398.2 Foreign Language)
Baseball in April and Other Stories by Gary Soto
(Juv Fic  Soto)

Illustrator Honor Books:
Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead by George Ancona  (j393.9)
The Bossy Gallito/El Gallo de Bodas: A Traditional Cuban Folktale by Lucia Gonzalez, ill. by Lulu Delacre  (j398.2 Foreign Language)
Family Pictures/Cuadros de Familia by Rosalma Zubizaretta, ill. by Carmen Lomas Garza (j306.85 Foreign Language)

The award is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking (REFORMA), an ALA Affiliate. The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian from the New York Public Library. As a children's librarian, storyteller, and author, she enriched the lives of Puerto Rican children in the U.S.A. through her pioneering work of preserving and disseminating Puerto Rican folklore.

1/31/13
Duluth Public Library, 520 W. Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802

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