Pura Belpré Ganadores 2021

 

From: http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpremedal

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) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), divisions 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.

2021 Children's Author Award Winner  

Efren Divided book cover imageEfrén Divided, written by Ernesto Cisneros and published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

Efrén Divided brings us the story of twelve-year-old Efrén, whose world flips when his mother is deported to Mexico, but whose determination to reunite his family never wavers. Ernesto Cisneros’s debut novel adeptly balances hope and heart break in this timely story of undocumented individuals working to build a better life.

2021 Children's Author Honor Books

The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez book cover imageThe Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez, written by Adrianna Cuevas and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group.

Army kid Nestor Lopez knows the drill: new deployment, new town, don't settle in, no real friends. But his new posting has a mystery: animals are disappearing and afraid (they told him themselves), and  Abuela is acting suspicious. To rescue the town, Nestor may have to break his own rules. 

Lupe Wong Won't Dance book cover imageLupe Wong Won’t Dance, written by Donna Barba Higuera and published by Levine Querido.

Lupe Wong never imagined a goofy dance could hamstring her chance to meet her pitching idol and fellow Mexinese/Chinacan, Fu Li Hernandez. But taking up the cause against square dancing in gym class proves to be more challenging, and enlightening, than this opinionated dreamer expected

2021 Youth Illustrator Award Winner

Vamos! Let's Go Eat book cover¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat, illustrated and written by Raúl Gonzalez, and published by Versify, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat follows Little Lobo and his pet sidekick Bernabé on a savory adventure, fetching lunch for Toro y sus amigos ahead of the Lucha Libre 5000. Each food truck stop highlights diverse and delectable cuisine, and is flavored with cultural references and a vibrant community of food vendors.

 

2021 Youth Illustrator Honor Books

Sharuko book cover imageSharuko: El Arqueólogo Peruano/Peruvian Archaeologist Julio C. Tello, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri, written by Monica Brown, and published by Children’s Book Press, an imprint of Lee & Low Books Inc.

 

This bilingual biography traces the life of Julio C. Tello, from a young curious boy nicknamed “Sharuko” in Quechua, to his career as an accomplished archaeologist who elevated Peru’s indigenous history. Elements of Peruvian culture and landscape are captured in Chavarri’s splendid watercolor and gouache illustrations.

2021 Young Adult Author Award Winner

Furia cover imageFuria, written by Yamile Saied Méndez and published by Algonquin Young Readers, an imprint of Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill.

Furia brings us a story about Camila “La Furia” Hassan, a young Argentine girl and fútbol player with monumental talent. Living in a household that considers fútbol a boys’ sport and a society fighting for gender equality, Camila goes against all odds to follow her dreams and her heart. 

 

2021 Young Adult Author Honor Books

Never Look Back cover imageNever Look Back, written by Lilliam Rivera and published by Bloomsbury YA.

 

In Never Look Back, Lilliam Rivera depicts the diverse culture of the Bronx and its people through the nascent romance of Eury and Pheus. This retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice evokes the smooth sounds of bachata, joys of Caribbean heritage, and the trauma caused by grief and loss.

We Are Not from Here cover imageWe Are Not from Here, written by Jenny Torres Sanchez and published by Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

 

We Are Not from Here is a compelling and realistic story of teenage friends, Pulga, Pequeña and Chico, forced to leave their homes in Guatemala and embark upon a dangerous and uncertain journey to the U.S. hoping for safety. An eye-opening and timely read.

 

Manuelito

Written by Elisa Amado

Illustrated by Abraham Urias

-Age Range: 12 - 17 years

-Grade Level: 7 - 9

-Hardcover: 104 pages

-Publisher: Annick Press

-Language: English

-ISBN-10: 1773212664

-ISBN-13: 978-1773212661

Thirteen-year-old Manuelito is a gentle boy who lives with his family in a tiny village in the Guatemalan countryside. But life is far from idyllic: PACs―armed civil patrol―are a constant presence in the streets, and terrifying memories of the country’s war linger in the villagers’ collective conscience. Things deteriorate further when government-backed drug gangs arrive and take control of the village. Fearing their son will be forced to join a gang, Manuelito’s parents make the desperate decision to send him to live with his aunt in America.

With just a bus ticket and a small amount of cash in hand, Manuelito begins his hazardous journey to Mexico, then the U.S., in search of asylum. But in the end, dangers such as the crooked “coyote”―or human smuggler―his parents have entrusted their son’s life to may be nothing compared to the risks Manuelito faces when he finally reaches America.

Manuelito’s titular character is just one of the staggering one hundred thousand children from the Northern Triangle of Central America―Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras―who have made this perilous journey to escape their war-torn countries. Many are now detained in Mexico, separated from their parents and without access to lawyers, facing the unthinkable prospect of being sent back to the homes and danger they risked so much to escape.

Drawing on years of experience working with child refugees like Manuelito, Elisa Amado’s powerful story, illustrated with striking poignancy by Abraham Urias, brings to light the dire circumstances of so many children, so close to home.

Review

“Paints a searing picture.” —Youth Services Book Review, (Stephanie Tournas Youth Services Book Review)

“Compelling and powerful.” —CM Reviews, (Sarah Wethered CM Reviews)

“This hard-hitting graphic novel . . . is an eye-opening, moving, and timely read.” —School Library Journal, (Kelley Gile School Library Journal)

“A blunt, effective record of the refugee crisis that’s wounding the Americas.” —Kirkus Reviews, January 14, 2019

“Gripping and all too authentic . . . The book will raise questions, making it a great discussion starter for a class studying current issues.” —School Library Connection, (Karen Alexander School Library Connection)

“Guatemala-born Amado’s text is spare, direct, and emotional—communicating the anxiety and desperation that the characters feel, especially once their hopes for safety in the U.S. are dashed.” —Quill & Quire,

(Tasha Spillett Quill & Quire)

“A powerful and edgy graphic novel that explores the refugee crisis in a way that makes it accessible to younger readers.” —Globe and Mail, (Jeffrey Canton Globe and Mail)

“Neither author nor artist holds back in presenting the life-and-death scenarios unrelentingly happening now.” —Booklist, (Terry Hong Booklist)

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora

By Pablo Cartaya        

• Print Length: 256 pages
• Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers (May 16, 2017)
• Publication Date: May 16, 2017
• Sold by: Penguin Group (USA) LLC
• Language: English

Save the restaurant. Save the town. Get the girl. Make Abuela proud. Can thirteen-year-old Arturo Zamora do it all or is he in for a BIG, EPIC FAIL? 

For Arturo, summetime in Miami means playing basketball until dark, sipping mango smoothies, and keeping cool under banyan trees. And maybe a few shifts as junior lunchtime dishwasher at Abuela’s restaurant. Maybe. But this summer also includes Carmen, a cute poetry enthusiast who moves into Arturo’s apartment complex and turns his stomach into a deep fryer. He almost doesn’t notice the smarmy land developer who rolls into town and threatens to change it. Arturo refuses to let his family and community go down without a fight, and as he schemes with Carmen, Arturo discovers the power of poetry and protest through untold family stories and the work of José Martí.

Funny and poignant, The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora is the vibrant story of a family, a striking portrait of a town, and one boy's quest to save both, perfect for fans of Rita Williams-Garcia.

* Starred Review

In this inspiring middle-grade debut, Cartaya presents a delightful portrayal of boyhood, skillfully navigating Arturo through the awkwardness, funniness, and messiness that often accompany young love. And in the author’s depiction of the Zamoras—a mostly Cuban-American family full of distinct, lovable characters—the book also testifies to the importance of community. Irresistibly exquisite. - Kirkus Reviews

Advance Praise for The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora:

"Pablo Cartaya's sensational debut is a love letter to boyhood, poetry, and family. Quite simply, this is the book I've been waiting for."

—Matt de la Peña, New York Times bestselling and Newbery Medal–winning author of The Last Stop on Market Street

"This story of hope will make you laugh, cry, sigh, and cheer for brave Arturo and his whole cool familia. Along the way, you'll end up hungry for Cuban food, ravenous for poetry, and determined to stand up to bullies who try to destroy communities. ¡Bravo!"

—Margarita Engle, Newbery Honor–winning author of The Surrender Tree

“In this story of family and community and the first blush of love, Pablo Cartaya weaves together a tenderness of poetry, food, and home.  Our young hero Arturo reminds us of what counts in this life, and his story is a heart-song.”

—Kathi Appelt, Newbery Honor winner, National Book Award finalist, and New York Times bestselling author

“Arturo Zamora proves that words have the power to win some of the biggest fights. The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora is an epic success!” 

—Christina Diaz Gonzalez, award-winning author of The Red Umbrella

Pablo Cartaya has always been a hopeless romantic. In middle school he secretly loved reading Shakespeare’s sonnets (don’t tell anyone), and he once spent his allowance on roses for a girl he liked. He also wrote her eight poems. Bad ones. He’s been writing ever since. Pablo has worked in Cuban restaurants and the entertainment industry, and he graduated with an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. All of these experiences have helped him write stories that reflect his family, culture, and love of words. Pablo lives in Miami with his wife and two kids, surrounded by tías, tíos, cousins, and people who he calls cousins (but aren’t really his cousins). Learn more about Pablo at pablocartaya.com.

20th Anniversary Pura Belpré Celebración

When: Sunday, June 26, 1:00 - 3:30 PM

Where: 2016 ALA Annual Conference

 Rosen Centre Hotel, Jr. Ballroom F, Orlando, FL

Come celebrate twenty years of award winning Latino children's literature at the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando, FL!

The Pura Belpré award recognizes Latino authors and illustrators for excellent children's literature that affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience. Its establishment in 1996, a joint effort of ALSC and Reforma, was a key milestone in the recognition of the importance of diverse children's literature. The celebration of the award's 20th year is going to be quite special, with an art auction of original pieces by Belpré-recognized illustrators, sales of the new commemorative book "The Pura Belpré Award: Twenty Years of Outstanding Latino Children’s Literature," a keynote speech by Carmen Agra Deedy, and (of course) speeches by the 2016 award winners.

“Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music”, illustrated by Rafael López is the 2016 Belpré Illustrator Award winner. The book was written by Margarita Engle and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

“Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir”, written by Margarita Engle is the 2016 Belpré Author Award winner. The book is published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.

Three Belpré Illustrator Honor Books were named:

“My Tata’s Remedies/Los remedios de mi tata”, illustrated by Antonio Castro L., written by Roni Capin Rivera-Ashford, and published by Cinco Puntos Press.

“Mango, Abuela, And Me”, illustrated by Ángela Domínguez, written by Meg Medina, and published by Candlewick Press.

“Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras”, illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh, and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Abrams.

Two Belpré Author Honor Books were named:

“The Smoking Mirror”, written by David Bowles, and published by IFWG Publishing, Inc.

“Mango, Abuela, and Me”, written by Meg Medina, illustrated by Ángela Domínguez, and published by Candlewick Press.

In addition to the outstanding Pura Belpré honorees, the rest of the announcements made at the 2016 Youth Media Awards marked a historic and unique moment in Latino children’s literature, when Latino authors and illustrators received an unprecedented amount of medals and honors across different awards.

Matt de la Peña became the first Latino to win the Newbery Medal, which is considered to be the top award given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children, for his picture book, “Last Stop on Market Street”, illustrated by Christian Robinson. In the most distinguished informational book category, Duncan Tonatiuh became the first Latino to win the Sibert Informational Book Medal for “Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras”.

Other Latino/Latina authors recognized at the 2016 ALA Youth Media Awards were: Pam Muñoz Ryan for “Echo” (Newbery Honor & Odyssey Honor), Ricardo Liniers Siri for “Written and Drawn by Henrietta” (Batchelder Honor), Anna-Marie McLemore for “The Weight of Feathers” (Morris Award finalist), Margarita Engle for “Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir” (YALSA Award for Excellence in Non-Fiction for Young Adults finalist), and Dan-el Padilla Peralta for “Undocumented: A Dominican Boy’s Odyssey from a Homeless Shelter to the Ivy League” (Alex Award). REFORMA is proud of all the Latino authors and illustrators recognized at this year’s Youth Media Awards, whose victories affirmed by their past and present recognition from the Belpré Award continue to demonstrate their important contribution to children’s literature.

Come celebrate this truly momentous year with music, snacks, art and friends!