Pura Belpré Award Is Turning 15, Join the Quinceañera Party

The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, an ALA affiliate.

Past Medal Winners

2011: 

Narrative:  The Dreamer, written by Pam Muñoz Ryan, illustrated  by Perter Sís, published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

Illustration: Grandma's Gift , illustrated and written by Eric Velasquez, published by Walker Publishing Company, Inc., a division of Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc.

2010:

Narrative: Julia Alvarez. Return to Sender (Alfred A. Knopf)

Illustration: Rafael López. Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children's Day/Book Day; Celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros. Written by Pat Mora. (Rayo, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)

2009

Narrative: Margarita Engle. The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom (Henry Holt)

Illustration: Yuyi Morales. Just In Case (A Neal Porter Book published by Roaring Brook Press)

2008

Narrative: Margarita Engle. The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano. Illustrated by Sean Qualls  (Holt, 2006) 

Illustration: Yuyi Morales. Los Gatos Black on Halloween. Written by Marisa Montes. (Holt, 2006)

2006

Narrative: Viola Canales.  The Tequila Worm. (Wendy Lamb Books, a division of Random House, 2005).

Illustration: Raul Colón. Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart. Written by Pat Mora. (Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, 2005)

2004

Narrative: Julia Alvarez.  Before We Were Free. (Alfred A. Knopf, 2002)

Illustration: Yuyi Morales. Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book (Chronicle Books, 2003)

2002

Narrative: Pam Munoz Ryan. Esperanza Rising (Scholastic Press, 2000)

Illustration: Susan Guevara, Illustrator. Written by Gary Soto. Chato and the Party Animals (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2000)

2000

Narrative: Alma Flor Ada. Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba. (Atheneum Books, 1998).

Illustration: Carmen Lomas Garza. Magic Windows. (Children's Book Press, 1999).

1998

Narrative: Martinez, Victor. Parrot in the Oven: mi vida. (Joanna Cotler/HarperCollins, 1996).

Illustration: Snapshots from the Wedding, illustrated by Stephanie Garcia. Text: Gary Soto (Putnam, 1997).

1996

Narrative: Cofer, Judith Ortiz. An Island Like You: Stories of the Barrio (Melanie Kroupa / Orchard Books, 1995).

Illustration: Guevara, Susan. Chato's Kitchen written by Gary Soto (Putnam, 1995).

A Quinceañera Music Present from La Bloga

¡Felicidades Pura Belpre Award!

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If you are coming to the Quinceañera Panchaga in New Orleans, come this great taller and let's celebrate together.

Beyond Fiestas, Calaveras and Quinceañeras: Exploring relevant cultural issues and daily experiences of contemporary Latino youth via high-quality literature

Saturday, June 25, 2011
8 - 10 am, MCC (Convention Center) Rm 274

By exploring the cultural and social themes present in recent Latino children's books, this interactive session strives to provide the tools and knowledge that will enable librarians and educators to integrate contemporary Latino themes in their programs and promote reading among multi- cultural societies. A portion of the program includes a guided discussion on the authentic Latino experience in youth literature with notable Latino children's author René Colato Laínez.