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.
+Click a book cover for more information+
The Bossy Gallito =
Gonzalez, Lucia M.
In this cumulative Cuban folktale, a bossy rooster dirties his beak when he eats a kernel of corn and must find a way to clean it before his parrot uncle's wedding. Includes a glossary of Spanish words and information about the different birds in the story.
Check AvailabilityThe Golden Flower
Jaffe, Nina.
This myth explains the origin of the sea, the forest, and the island now called Puerto Rico.
Check AvailabilityBaseball In April And Other Stories
Soto, Gary.
A collection of eleven short stories focusing on the everyday adventures of Hispanic young people growing up in Fresno, California.
Check AvailabilityChato's Kitchen
Soto, Gary.
To get the "ratoncitos," little mice, who have moved into the barrio to come to his house, Chato the cat prepares all kinds of good food: fajitas, frijoles, salsa, enchiladas, and more.
Check AvailabilityEsperanza Rising
Ryan, Pam Munoz.
Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave their life of wealth and privilege in Mexico to go work in the labor camps of Southern California, where they must adapt to the harsh circumstances facing Mexican farm workers on the eve of the Great Depression.
Check AvailabilityMama And Papa Have A Store
Carling, Amelia Lau.
A little girl describes what a day is like in her parents' Chinese store in Guatemala City.
Check AvailabilityJust A Minute
Morales, Yuyi.
In this version of a traditional tale, Senor Calavera arrives at Grandma Beetle's door, ready to take her to the next life, but after helping her count, in English and Spanish, as she makes her birthday preparations, he changes his mind.
Check AvailabilityFamily Pictures
Garza, Carmen Lomas.
The author describes, in bilingual text and illustrations, her experiences growing up in a Hispanic community in Texas.
Check AvailabilityMartina, The Beautiful Cockroach
Deedy, Carmen Agra.
In this humorous retelling of a Cuban folktale, a cockroach interviews her suitors in order to decide whom to marry.
Check AvailabilityThe Poet Slave Of Cuba
Engle, Margarita.
Juan Francisco Manzano was born in 1797 into the household of wealthy slaveowners in Cuba. He spent his early years at the side of his owner's wife, entertaining her friends. His poetry was his outlet, reflecting the beauty and cruelty of his world. Written in verse.
Check AvailabilityFrida
Bernier-Grand, Carmen T.
Biographical poems about the life and work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo"--Provided by publisher, verso t.p.
Check AvailabilityGracias : Thanks
Mora, Pat.
A young multiracial boy celebrates family, friendship, and fun by telling about some of the everyday things for which he is thankful.
Check AvailabilityThe Dreamer
Ryan, Pam Muñoz.
A fictionalized biography of the Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who grew up a painfully shy child, ridiculed by his overbearing father, but who became one of the most widely-read poets in the world.
Check AvailabilityDear Primo
Tonatiuh, Duncan.
Two cousins, one in Mexico and one in New York City, write to each other and learn that even though their daily lives differ, at heart the boys are very similar.
Check Availability90 Miles To Havana
Flores-Galbis, Enrique.
When unrest hits the streets of Havana, Cuba, Julian's parents must make the heartbreaking decision to send him and his two brothers away to Miami via the Pedro Pan operation. But when the boys get to Miami, they are thrust into a world where bullies seem to run rampant and it's not always clear how best to protect themselves.
Check AvailabilityThe Cazuela That The Farm Maiden Stirred
Vamos, Samantha R.
A cumulative tale of a farm maiden who, aided by a group of animals, prepares "Arroz con Leche," or rice pudding. Includes recipe and glossary of the Spanish words that are woven throughout the text.
Check AvailabilityMe, Frida
Novesky, Amy.
Artist Frida Kahlo finds her own voice and style when her famous husband, Diego Rivera, is commissioned to paint a mural in San Francisco, California, in the 1930s and she finds herself exploring the city on her own.
Check AvailabilityMarisol McDonald Doesn't Match =
Brown, Monica
Marisol McDonald no combina. Es pelirroja y morena; su ropa es de varios colores; juega a los piratas futbolistas; y le gusta ser única.
Check AvailabilityDiego Rivera
Tonatiuh, Duncan.
An introduction to the life, career, and influence of the Mexican painter Diego Rivera.
Check AvailabilityAristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe
Sáenz, Benjamin Alire.
Fifteen-year-old Ari Mendoza is an angry loner with a brother in prison, but when he meets Dante and they become friends, Ari starts to ask questions about himself, his parents, and his family that he has never asked before.
Check AvailabilityTito Puente, Mambo King =
Brown, Monica
Fifteen-year-old Ari Mendoza is an angry loner with a brother in prison, but when he meets Dante and they become friends, Ari starts to ask questions about himself, his parents, and his family that he has never asked before.
Check AvailabilityPancho Rabbit And The Coyote
Tonatiuh, Duncan.
When Papa Rabbit does not return home as expected from many seasons of working in the great carrot and lettuce fields of El Norte, his son Pancho sets out on a dangerous trek to find him, guided by a coyote. Includes author's note.
Check AvailabilityNiño Wrestles The World
Morales, Yuyi.
Lucha Libre champion Niño has no trouble fending off monstrous opponents, but when his little sisters awaken from their naps, he is in for a no-holds-barred wrestling match that will truly test his skills.
Check AvailabilityMaria Had A Little Llama =
Dominguez, Angela N.
In this bilingual version of the classic rhyme, Maria takes her llama to school one day.
Check AvailabilityYaqui Delgado Wants To Kick Your Ass
Medina, Meg.
One morning before school, some girl tells Piddy Sanchez that Yaqui Delgado hates her and wants to kick her ass. Piddy doesn't even know who Yaqui is, never mind what she's done to piss her off. Word is that Yaqui thinks Piddy is stuck-up, shakes her stuff when she walks, and isn't Latin enough with her white skin, good grades, and no accent. And Yaqui isn't kidding around, so Piddy better watch her back. At first Piddy is more concerned with trying to find out more about the father she's never met and how to balance honors courses with her weekend job at the neighborhood hair salon. But as the harassment escalates, avoiding Yaqui and her gang starts to take over Piddy's life. Is there any way for Piddy to survive without closing herself off or running away?" -- from publisher's web site.
Check AvailabilityThe Living
de la Peña, Matt.
After an earthquake destroys California and a tsunami wrecks the luxury cruise ship where he is a summer employee, high schooler Shy confronts another deadly surprise.
Check AvailabilityI Lived On Butterfly Hill
Agosín, Marjorie.
When her beloved country, Chile, is taken over by a militaristic, sadistic government, Celeste is sent to America for her safety and her parents must go into hiding before they "disappear.".
Check AvailabilityLittle Roja Riding Hood
Elya, Susan Middleton
A rhyming twist on the classic fairy tale in which a little girl saves her grandmother from a wolf. Includes glossary of Spanish words.
Check AvailabilitySeparate Is Never Equal
Tonatiuh, Duncan.
Years before the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling Brown v. Board of Education, Sylvia Mendez, an eight-year-old girl of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage, played an instrumental role in Mendez v. Westminster, the landmark desegregation case of 1946 in California"--
Check AvailabilityViva Frida
Morales, Yuyi
Explores the passionate, imaginative life of the incomparable Frida Kahlo." Written in very simple language, the book includes 2 pages of facts (in English and Spanish) about Frida Kahlo at end of book.
Check AvailabilityBook Fiesta!
Mora, Pat.
Children read aloud in various settings to celebrate of El día de los niños, or Children's Day, in this bilingual story. Includes facts about Mexico's annual celebration of children and the book fiestas that are often included.
Check AvailabilityMango, Abuela, And Me
Medina, Meg
When Mia's Abuela comes to live with Mia and her family, she helps her learn English while Mia learns Spanish, both with the help of a parrot named Mango.
Check AvailabilityJuana & Lucas
Medina, Juana
A spunky young girl from Colombia loves playing with her canine best friend and resists boring school activities, especially learning English, until her family tells her that a special trip is planned to an English-speaking place.
Check AvailabilityThe Princess And The Warrior
Tonatiuh, Duncan
Award-winning author Duncan Tonatiuh reimagines one of Mexico's cherished legends. Princess Izta had many wealthy suitors but dismissed them all. When a mere warrior, Popoca, promised to be true to her and stay always by her side, Izta fell in love. The emperor promised Popoca if he could defeat their enemy Jaguar Claw, then Popoca and Izta could wed. When Popoca was near to defeating Jaguar Claw, his opponent sent a messenger to Izta saying Popoca was dead. Izta fell into a deep sleep and, upon his return, even Popoca could not wake her. As promised Popoca stayed by her side."--
Check AvailabilityGreen Is A Chile Pepper
Thong, Roseanne
A little girl discovers all the bright colors in her Hispanic American neighborhood.
Check AvailabilityThe Only Road
Diaz, Alexandra
Twelve-year-old Jaime makes the treacherous journey from his home in Guatemala to his older brother in New Mexico after his cousin is murdered by a drug cartel"--
Check AvailabilityLucky Broken Girl
Behar, Ruth
In 1960s New York, fifth-grader Ruthie, a Cuban-Jewish immigrant, must rely on books, art, her family, and friends in her multicultural neighborhood when an accident puts her in a body cast.
Check AvailabilityThe Epic Fail Of Arturo Zamora
Cartaya, Pablo
Arturo's Miami summer is marked by the arrival of poetry enthusiast Carmen, who helps him use the power of protest to fight the plans of a land developer who wants to demolish his Abuela's restaurant.
Check AvailabilityThe First Rule Of Punk
Pérez, Celia C.
Twelve-year-old María Luisa O'Neill-Morales (who really prefers to be called Malú) reluctantly moves with her Mexican-American mother to Chicago and starts seventh grade with a bang--violating the dress code with her punk rock aesthetic and spurning the middle school's most popular girl in favor of starting a band with a group of like-minded weirdos.
Check AvailabilityLa Princesa And The Pea
Elya, Susan Middleton
A rhyming twist on a classic fairy tale in which a queen places a pea under a young lady's mattress to see if she is truly a princess. Incorporates Spanish words and Includes a glossary"--
Check AvailabilityAll Around Us
Gonzalez, Xelena
Finding circles everywhere, a grandfather and his granddaughter meditate on the cycles of life and nature.
Check AvailabilityThe Poet X
Acevedo, Elizabeth
When Xiomara Batista, who pours all her frustrations and passion into poetry, is invited to join the school slam poetry club, she struggles with her mother's expectations and her need to be heard.
Check AvailabilityDreamers
Morales, Yuyi
An illustrated picture book autobiography in which award-winning author Yuyi Morales tells her own immigration story"--
Check AvailabilitySal And Gabi Break The Universe
Hernandez, Carlos Alberto Pablo
In order to heal after his mother's death, thirteen-year-old Sal learns to reach into time and space to retrieve things--and people--from other universes.
Check AvailabilityDancing Hands
Engle, Margarita
In soaring words and stunning illustrations, Margarita Engle and Rafael López tell the story of Teresa Carreño, a child prodigy who played piano for Abraham Lincoln. As a little girl, Teresa Carreño loved to let her hands dance across the beautiful keys of the piano. If she felt sad, music cheered her up, and when she was happy, the piano helped her share that joy. Soon she was writing her own songs and performing in grand cathedrals. Then a revolution in Venezuela forced her family to flee to the United States. Teresa felt lonely in this unfamiliar place, where few of the people she met spoke Spanish. Worst of all, there was fighting in her new home, too—the Civil War. Still, Teresa kept playing, and soon she grew famous as the talented Piano Girl who could play anything from a folk song to a sonata. So famous, in fact, that President Abraham Lincoln wanted her to play at the White House! Yet with the country torn apart by war, could Teresa’s music bring comfort to those who needed it most?
Check Availability
