Planting Stories: The Life Of Librarian And Storyteller Pura Belpre
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Celeste, an insightful, curious sixth-grader living in Valparaiso, Chile, leads an idyllic life. She is the daughter of two doctors, lives in a loving multigenerational household with her Nana Delfina, a nanny, and her Abuela Frida, goes to school with good friends, and is inspired by the things she sees outside her window on Butterfly Hill. Her world is turned upside down when Valparaiso begins to feel the tremors of rule by a ruthless dictator; these tremors are referred to as “earthquakes of the soul” by Celeste’s mother. Celeste’s parents go into hiding, her friends and neighbors begin to disappear without warning, and finally she flees to Juliette Cove in Maine to stay with her Tia Graciela. There she remains for over two years awaiting the news that the dictator has been overthrown. Finally she can return to her beloved homeland. Based on the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet in the 1970s, this novel is full of imagery and poetic language. Watercolor, ink, and digital illustrations are sprinkled sparingly throughout this compelling novel that combines the author’s personal experience with history. cc |
| Title: I Lived On Butterfly Hill Author: Marjorie Agosin Illustrator: Lee White Publisher: Antheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, New York Copyright: 2014 Original language: English ISBN: 978-1-4169-5344-9 Hardcover pages: 454 Age range: 10-14 Genre: Historical fiction Book setting: Valparaiso, Chile; Maine, United States Author’s ethnicity: Chilean Author’s residence: Massachusetts, United States Illustrator’s residence: United States Awards: 2015 Pura Belpre (Author) Award Subjects: Chile, Refugees, Separation, South America, Valparaiso |
When Papa Rabbit doesn’t return home as expected after many seasons of working in the great carrot and lettuce fields of El Norte, Pancho sets out on a dangerous journey to find him. He packs up Papa’s favorite meal: mole, rice and beans, warm tortillas and a jug of aguamiel. A cunning coyote offers to guide Pancho on his journey in exchange for some of the sustenance he brought along. The pair travel until all the food is gone and the coyote decides he’s still hungry…for rabbit. In this allegorical tale, Tonatiuh sheds light on the hardships faced by thousands of families who seek out opportunities at better lives for their children and cross the Mexican border into the U.S. illegally. cc |
| Title: Pancho Rabbit And The Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale Author: Duncan Tonatiuh Illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Abrams, New York Copyright: 2013 ISBN: 978-1-4197-0583-0 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 6-9 Genre: Picture book Author’s ethnicity: Mexican-American Awards: 2014 Pura Belpré Award (Author and Illustrator Honor), Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award Subjects: Allegories, Animals, Central America, Coyotes, Mexico, Migrant labor, Migration, North America, Rabbits, Voyages and travels |
“Mary Had A Little Lamb,” the classic rhyme, has been transformed in this bilingual version which takes place in rural Peru. Each straightforward English verse is accompanied with the Spanish translation directly below, making this a perfect read-aloud. Readers are transported to Peru as they read the rhythmically flowing text and view warm gouache and ink illustrations. A wordless picture spread allows students to become authors, making up their own stories. Distinctive Peruvian features such as Andean dress, culture, and landscape are depicted. cc |
| Title: Maria Had A Little Llama (Maria Tenia Una Llamita) Author: Angela Dominguez Illustrator: Angela Dominguez Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, LLC Copyright: 2013 Original language: English ISBN: 978-0805093339 Hardcover pages: 28 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture book Book setting: Peru Author’s ethnicity: Mexican Author’s residence: United States Awards: 2014 Pura Belpre Award (Illustrator Honor) Subjects: Animals, Bilingual, Llamas, Peru, Peruvian culture, South America, Spanish language, Stories in rhyme |