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.
2020 Author Award Winner
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe, written
by Carlos Hernandez and published by Disney-Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book
Group
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe brings us
a story about thirteen-year-old magician Sal Vidón as he moves to Florida where
he meets Gabi Reál, an aspiring journalist and student council president.
Together they try to solve the mystery of how Sal “breaks the universe” and why
they are the only ones who can see the hole.
“Carlos Hernandez takes us on a
rollicking adventure with Sal and Gabi that spans multiple universes and
challenges our understanding of dimensions,” said Peterson.
2020 Illustrator Award Winner
Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played
the Piano for President Lincoln, illustrated by Rafael López, written by
Margarita Engle, and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint
of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.
Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played
the Piano for President Lincoln is a story about Venezuelan born Teresa Carreño
who started playing the piano as a very young girl and was writing songs by age
six. Forced to flee Venezuela, she moved to New York, traveled to other cities
to play the piano, and was invited to play for President Abraham Lincoln.
“Creating a sense of time and place
through the use of colors and mixed media, Rafael López brings the story of
Teresa Carreño to life,” said Pura Belpré Award Committee Chair Maria X.
Peterson.
2020 Author Honor Book
Lety Out Loud, written by Angela
Cervantes and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
Lety Out Loud introduces readers to a
variety of immigrant experiences through Lety Muñoz, an English language
learner who spends the summer volunteering at an animal shelter. Although
initially hesitant to speak out, Lety learns to use her voice to stand up for
others.
The Other Half of Happy, written by
Rebecca Balcárcel and published by Chronicle Books.
As Quijana enters seventh grade, she
feels in between, grappling with a new school, new friends, and her half-Guatemalan
heritage. She struggles to find her place within her friendships and family,
stumbling and succeeding on her path to discovering her authentic self.
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian
and Storyteller Pura Belpré, written by Anika Aldamuy Denise, illustrated by
Paola Escobar, and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of
HarperCollins Publishers.
In this inspiring picture book biography,
Denise lyrically shares the life and work of librarian, storyteller, author and
library advocate Pura Belpré. Following her from Puerto Rico to her new life in
Nueva York, Denise’s text captures Belpré’s lifelong passion for storytelling
and public libraries.
Soldier for Equality: José de la Luz
Sáenz and the Great War, written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh and
published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.
The story of Mexican American activist
and World War I soldier José de la Luz Sáenz is told with exquisite detail in
this picture book biography. His struggle against racism and injustice in early
20th century Texas is presented in a concise but thorough manner, complemented
by extensive notes.
2020 Illustrator Honor Books
Across the Bay, illustrated and written
by Carlos Aponte and published by Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin
Random House LLC.
In this book, Carlitos lives happily with
his mother and abuela in Cataño, a ferry ride away from Old San Juan. As
Carlitos wonders about his father’s life away from them, he journeys to the
city. Over the course of his search, Carlitos encounters the vibrant sights and
sounds of the city.
My Papi Has a Motorcycle, illustrated by
Zeke Peña, written by Isabel Quintero, and published by Kokila, an imprint of
Penguin Random House LLC.
Daisy’s father is a carpenter who comes
from work in the evening to take her on an electrifying motorcycle ride where
she gets to see her grandparents’ yellow house, the church, and also other
carpenters at her dad’s work as well as the changes in her busy Latinx
neighborhood.
¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market,
illustrated and written by Raúl Gonzalez and published by Versify, an imprint
of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Little Lobo and his dog, Bernabé, make
their rounds in a bustling border town market in this charming story that is
sprinkled with Spanish and cultural references throughout. There is always more
to see and do at el mercado, so let’s go because you never know who you’ll find
there.
