UMD Library - Pura Belpré Award owned the the UMD Library with Abstract

Pura Belpré Award

UMD Library with Abstract

The Pura Belpré Award is administered by the American Library Association and is used with permission.

The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented 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 the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking (REFORMA), an ALA affiliate.

It has been given every other year since 1996. Beginning with the 2009 award, it will be given annually.

Year	Pura Belpré Award
2012	Narrative Award: McCall, Guadalupe Garcia. (2011). Under the mesquite. New York : Lee & Low Books. PRIM-FIC M1221un Throughout her high school years, as her mother battles cancer, Lupita takes on more responsibility for her house and seven younger siblings, while finding refuge in acting and writing poetry.
2012	Illustration Award: Tonatiu, Duncan. (2011). Diego Rivera : his world and ours. New York : Abrams Books for Young Readers. 759.972 T663d An introduction to the life, career, and influence of the Mexican painter Diego Rivera.
2011	Narrative Award: Ryan, Pam Muñoz. (2010). The dreamer. (Drawings by Peter Sís). New York : Scholastic Press. INTR-FIC R9893dr 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.
2011	Illustration Award: Velasquez, Eric. (2010). Grandma's gift. New York : Walker. PRIM-FIC V4348gr The author describes Christmas at his grandmother's apartment in Spanish Harlem the year she introduced him to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Diego Velazquez's portrait of Juan de Pareja, which has had a profound and lasting effect on him.
2010	Narrative Award: Alvarez, Julia. (2009). Return to sender. New York : Alfred A. Knopf. INTR-FIC A473re After his family hires migrant Mexican workers to help save their Vermont farm from foreclosure, eleven-year-old Tyler befriends the oldest daughter, but when he discovers they may not be in the country legally, he realizes that real friendship knows no borders.
2010	Illustration Award: Mora, Pat. Book fiesta! : celebrate Children's Day/Book Day = celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros. (Illustrated by Rafael López). New York, NY : Rayo. PRIM-FIC M827bo 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.
2009	Narrative Award: Engle, Margarita. (2008). The surrender tree : poems of Cuba's struggle for freedom. New York : Henry Holt and Co. 811.54 E58s Cuba has fought three wars for independence, and still she is not free. This history in verse creates a lyrical portrait of Cuba. The names of the flowers, 1850-51 -- The Ten Years War, 1868-78 -- The Little War, 1878-80 -- The War of Independence, 1895-98 -- The surrender tree, 1898-99.
2009	Illustration Award: Morales, Yuyi. (2008). Just in case : a trickster tale and Spanish alphabet book. New York : Roaring Brook Press. PRIM-FIC M828jc As Señor Calavera prepares for Grandma Beetle's birthday he finds an alphabetical assortment of unusual presents, but with the help of Zelmiro the Ghost, he finds the best gift of all.
2008	Narrative Award: Engle, Margarita. (2006). The poet slave of Cuba : a biography of Juan Francisco Manzano. (Art by Sean Qualls). New York : Henry Holt. 811.54 E58p 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.
2008	Illustration Award: Montes, Marisa. (2006). Los gatos black on Halloween. (Illustrated by Yuyi Morales). New York : Henry Holt and Company. PRIM-FIC M779ga Easy to read, rhyming text about Halloween night incorporates Spanish words, from las brujas riding their broomsticks to los monstruos whose monstrous ball is interrupted by a true horror.
2006	Narrative Award: Canales, Viola. (2007). The tequila worm. New York : Wendy Lamb Books. INTR-FIC C212te Sofia grows up in the close-knit community of the barrio in McAllen, Texas, then finds that her experiences as a scholarship student at an Episcopal boarding school in Austin only strengthen her ties to family and her "comadres."
2006	Illustration Award: Mora, Pat. (2005). Doña Flor : a tall tale about a giant woman with a great big heart. (Illustrated by Raul Colón). New York : Knopf. PRIM-FIC M827do Doña Flor, a giant lady with a big heart, sets off to protect her neighbors from what they think is a dangerous animal, but soon discovers the tiny secret behind the huge noise.
2004	Narrative Award: Alvarez, Julia. (2002). Before we were free. New York : A. Knopf. INTR-FIC A473be In the early 1960s in the Dominican Republic, twelve-year-old Anita learns that her family is involved in the underground movement to end the bloody rule of the dictator, General Trujillo.
2004	Illustration Award: Morales, Yuyi. (2003). Just a minute : a trickster tale and counting book. San Francisco : Chronicle Books. PRIM-FIC M828ju 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.
2002	Narrative Award: Ryan, Pam Muñoz. (2000). Esperanza rising. New York : Scholastic Press. INTR-FIC R9893es 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.
2002	Illustration Award: Soto, Gary. (2000). Chato and the party animals. (Illustrated by Susan Guevara). New York : Putnam. PRIM-FIC S7184ch Chato decides to throw a "pachanga" for his friend Novio Boy, who has never had a birthday party, but when it is time to party, Novio Boy cannot be found.
2000	Narrative Award: Ada, Alma Flor. (1998). Under the royal palms : a childhood in Cuba. New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers. 921 A191a The author recalls her life and impressions growing up in Cuba.
2000	Illustration Award: Garza, Carmen Lomas. (1999). Magic windows. San Francisco, Calif. : Children’s Book Press. 306.85 L839m In Spanish and English, Carmen Lomas Garza portrays her family’s Mexican customs through cut-paper work.
1998	Narrative Award: Martinez, Victor. (1996). Parrot in the oven : mi vida : a novel. New York : HarperCollins Publishers. INTR-FIC M3858pa Manny relates his coming of age experiences as a member of a poor Mexican American family in which the alcoholic father only adds to everyone’s struggle.
1998	Illustration Award: Soto, Gary. (1997). Snapshots from the wedding. (Illustrated by Stephanie Garcia). New York : G.P. Putnam’s. PRIM-FIC S7184sn Maya, the flower girl, describes a Mexican American wedding through snapshots of the day’s events, beginning with the procession to the altar and ending with her sleeping after the dance.
1996	Narrative Award: Ortiz Cofer, Judith. (1996). An island like you : stories of the barrio. New York : Puffin Books. INTR-FIC C674is & 861 O77i Twelve stories about young people caught between their Puerto Rican heritage and their American surroundings. Day in the barrio -- Bad influence -- Arturo’s flight -- Beauty lessons -- Catch the moon -- An hour with Abuelo -- The one who watches -- Matoa’s mirror -- Don Jose of La Mancha -- Abuela invents the zero -- A job for Valentin -- Home to El Building -- White balloons.
1996	Illustration Award: Soto, Gary. (1995). Chato's kitchen. (Illustrated by Susan Guevara). New York : Putnam’s. PRIM-FIC S7184ki 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.

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