Category Archives: Pura Belpre

Planting Stories: The Life Of Librarian And Storyteller Pura Belpre

Pura Belpre came to America from Puerto Rico in 1921.  She carried her cuentos folkloricos with her and became the first Puerto Rican to work at the New York Public Library. She hosted storytelling and puppetry sessions and shared her native folklore with children.  She also published many of her stories.  The Pura Belpre Award, which is given by the American Library Association, and which recognizes outstanding children’s books depicting the Latino cultural experience in the United States, is named in her honor.  An author’s note, a selected bibliography, a list of articles and films, and stories by Pura Belpre mentioned in the book are included as back matter.  The delightful digitally produced illustrations complement the fascinating story of this extraordinary woman who championed bilingual literature. mjw
Title: Planting Stories: The Life Of Librarian And Storyteller Pura Belpre
Author: Anika Aldamuy Denise
Illustrator
: Paola Escobar
Publisher
: Harper Collins Children’s Books
Copyright
: 2019
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0-06-274868-3
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 4-8
Genre
: Picture Book Biography
Book setting
: New York City
Author’s ethnicity
: Puerto Rican-Italian
Author’s residence
: Rhode Island, U.S.
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Colombian
Illustrator’s residence
: Bogota, Colombia
Awards: 2020 ALA Pura Belpre Author Honor Book
Subjects
: Biographies, Folktales, Hispanic and Latino books, Libraries, Multicultural, Puppets, Stories

Danza ! Amalia Hernandez And El Ballet Folklorico De Mexico

Amalia Hernandez was born in Mexico City in 1917. She saw her first dance performance as a young girl and decided she was going to be a dancer. She studied ballet and modern dance and soon began to choreograph. She formed her own troupe of dancers that focused on traditional Mexican dances and also blended ballet, drama, and colorful costumes. Her company, El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, was successful nationally and internationally and still performs today. Digitized, hand-drawn illustrations rendered in Tonatiuh’s Mixtec-inspired signature style celebrate Hernandez’s life and the history of dance in Mexico. An author’s note, glossary, and bibliography are included.mjw
Title: Danza! Amalia Hernandez And El Ballet Folklorico De Mexico
Author: Duncan Tonatiuh
Illustrator
: Duncan Tonatiuh
Publisher
: Abrams Books for Young Readers, New York
Copyright
: 2017
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-4197-2532-6
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 6-10
Genre
: picture Book Biography
Book setting
: Mexico
Author’s ethnicity
: Mexican
Author’s residence
: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Mexican
Illustrator’s residence
: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Awards
: Author/illustrator has won the Pura Belpre Medal
Subjects
: Arts, Dancers, Folk dancing, Mexico, Music, Performing arts

The Princess And The Warrior: A Tale Of Two Volcanoes

The Princess and the warriorPrincess Itza has many wealthy and powerful suitors, but she refuses them all. She loves a warrior named Popoca because he loves her for who she is and promises to stay by her side no matter what. Itza’s father, the emperor, does not want his daughter to marry a mere warrior. He tells Popoca that if he can defeat their enemy, Jaguar Claw, he can marry Itza. When Popoca is close to victory, his opponent sends a messenger saying Itza has fallen into a deep sleep. Popoca returns home and even he cannot wake her. He stays by her side and two volcanoes are formed – Itzaccihuatl, who continues to sleep and Popocatepetl, who spews ashes and smoke from time to time trying to wake his sleeping princess. This retelling of an ancient Aztec legend is illustrated by Tonatiuh’s recognizable artwork with sharp lines and figures always shown in profile. A glossary with pronunciations and an author’s note about the artwork and source materials are included. mjw
Title: The Princess And The Warrior: A Tale Of Two Volcanoes
Author: Duncan Tonatiuh
Illustrator
: Duncan Tonatiuh
Publisher
: Abrams
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-4197-2130-4
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 6-9
Genre
: Picture Book, Folk Tale
Book setting
: Mexico
Author’s ethnicity
: Mexican
Author’s residence
: Mexico
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Mexican
Illustrator’s residence
: Mexico
Awards
: Author/illustrator has won the Pura Belpre Award.  2016 New York Times Best Illustrated Books.
Subjects
: Fairy tales, Folk tales, Geography and cultures, Hispanic and Latino, Mexico, Myths, Multicultural studies

Funny Bones Posada And His Day Of The Dead Calaveras

 

Funny BonesNineteenth century Mexican artist and social commentator Jose Guadalupe Posada is well known for his satirical political cartoons and his calavera drawings. Calaveras are festive and fun bony skeletons riding bicycles, wearing fancy hats, playing guitars, and dancing. They have become associated with el Dia de Muertos – the Day of the Dead. The well-written text details Posada’s life in this thought-provoking picture book. Posada’s artistic techniques of lithography, engraving, and etching are clearly explained and reproductions of his calaveras will involve readers in answering questions about his intentions. Tonatiuh’s signature hand-drawn and digitally collaged illustrations with profile figures are inspired by ancient Mexican art. Back matter includes a lengthy author’s note, a glossary with pronunciations, a bibliography, art credits, an index, and a list of places where Posada’s work can be seen in the United States. mjw
Title: Funny Bones Posada And His Day Of The Dead Calaveras
Author: Duncan Tonatiuh
Illustrator
: Duncan Tonatiuh
Publisher
: Abrams Books for Young Readers, New York
Copyright
: 2015
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-4197-1647-8
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 6-10
Genre
: Picture Book Biography
Book setting
: Mexico
Author’s ethnicity
: Mexican
Author’s residence
: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Mexican
Illustrator’s residence
: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Awards
: 2016 Pura Belpre Honor – Illustration, 2016 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal, 2016 Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
Subjects
: Biography, Culture, Engravers, History, Holidays and celebrations, Human skeletons in art, Mexico

I Lived On Butterfly Hill

I Lived On Butterfly Hill Book Cover 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

Pancho Rabbit And The Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote Book Cover 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

Maria Had A Little Llama (Maria Tenia Una Llamita)

Maria Had A Little Lamb Book Cover “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

Martín de Porres: The Rose In The Desert


Martín de Porres, son of a Spanish nobleman and an African slave, was born in the barrios of Lima, Peru, in 1579. As a child, he lived in poverty and neglect. He was apprenticed to a doctor and developed powers of healing. News of his miracles spread and eventually he was allowed to join a monastery. An author’s note explains that he was beatified in 1837 and canonized in 1962 as the first black saint of the Americas. He is the patron saint of universal brotherhood, interracial relations, social justice, those of mixed race, public education, and animal shelters. mjw
Title: Martín de Porres: The Rose In The Desert
Author: Gary D. Schmidt
Illustrator
: David Diaz
Publisher
: Clarion Books
Copyright
: 2012
Original language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0-547-61218-8
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 6-9
Genre
: Picture book biography
Book setting
: Lima, Peru
Author’s residence
: United States
Illustrator’s residence
: United States
Awards
: 2013 Pura Belpre Award for Illustration, Americas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature Honorable Mention
Subjects
: Biography, Christian saints, Peru, South America