Pura Belpre Award
The Pura Belpre Award is presented
biennially to Latino/Latina writers and illustrators whose work best portrays,
affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work
of literature for children and youth.
2006 Medal Winners
For Narrative
YA
Fic Canales Tequila
Worm (2005) Sofia grows up in a close-knit barrio in
McAllen, Texas, and then finds her bonds there strengthened when she earns a
scholarship to a boarding school in Austin.
For Illustration
dnh Mora Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a
Great Big Heart (2005) Illustrated by Raul Colón A giant lady sets off to protect her
neighbors from what they think is a dangerous animal.
2006 Honor Books
For Narrative
J Fic Ryan Becoming
Naomi Leon (2004)
dnh Mora Dona
Flor: A tall tale about a giant woman with a great big heart
dnh Bernier-Grand Cesar: Si, se puede! Yes, we can!
For Illustration
dnh Bernier-Grand Cesar: Si, se puede! Yes, we can!
dnh Lopez My Name is Celia / Me Llamo Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz
dnh Delacre Arrorro
Mi Niño: Latino Lullabies and Gentle Games
2004 Medal Winners
For Narrative
YA Alvarez Before We Were Free (2002) 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.
For Illustration
E Morales Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book (2003)
Senor Calavera arrives at Grandma Beetle’s doo,r 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.
2004 Honor Books
For Narrative
YA Fic Osa Cuba 15 (2003) Violet Paz, a Chicago high school student,
reluctantly prepares for her upcoming “quince,” a Spanish nickname for the
celebration of an Hispanic girl’s fifteenth birthday.
J 468.6421Perez My
Diary from Here to There (2002)A young girl describes her feelings
when her father decides to leave their home in Mexico for work in the United
States.
For Illustration
E Perez First Day in Grapes (2002) When Chico starts the third grade
after his migrant family worker moves to begin harvesting California grapes, he
finds that self confidence and math skills help him cope with the first day of
school.
J 738.092 Andrews-Goebel The
Pot that Juan Built (2002) A cumulative rhyme summarizes the life’s
work of renowned Mexican potter, Juan Quezada.
JB Chavez Harvesting Hope: The Story
of Cesar Chavez (2003) The biography of Cesar Chavez, from the age of
ten when he and his family lived on their Arizona ranch to age
thirty-eight when he led a peaceful protest against California migrant
workers miserable working conditions.
2002 Medal Winners
For Narrative
J Fic Ryan Esperanza Rising (2000)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.
For Illustration
E Soto Chato and the Party Animals (2000) Chato decides to throw a
"pachanga" for his friend Novio Boy, who has never had a birthday
party.
2002 Honor Books
For Narrative
J Fic Jimenez Breaking Through (2001) Having come from Mexico to
California ten years ago, fourteen-year-old Francisco is still working in the
fields but fighting to improve his life and complete his education.
J 811 Alarcon Iguanas in the Snow and Other Winter Poems / Iguanas en
la nieve
y otros poemas de invierno (2001)
For Illustration
J 398.209729 Montes Juan Babo Goes to Work: A
Puerto Rican Folktale (2000) Although he tries to do exactly as his
mother tells him, foolish Juan Bobo keeps getting things all wrong.
2000 Medal Winners
For Narrative
JB Ada Under the Royal
Palms: a Childhood in Cuba (1998)
The author recalls her life and impressions growing up in Cuba.
For Illustration
J 306.85 Lomas Magic Windows (1999) In
Spanish and English, Carmen LomasGarza portrays her family's Mexican customs
through cut-paper work.
2000 Honor Books
For Narrative
J 488 Alarcon From the Bellybutton of the
Moon and Other Summer Poems/Del Ombligo de la Luna y Otro Poemas de Verano
(1998) A bilingual collection of poems in which the renowned Mexican American
poet revisits and celebrates his childhood memories of summers, Mexico, and
nature.
J 811.54 Herrera Laughing Out Loud, I Fly: Poems in English and Spanish (1998) A
collection of poems in Spanish and English about childhood, place, and
itentity.
For Illustration
J 979.461 Ancona Barrio: Jose’s Neighborhood (1998) Presents life in a barrio in San
Francisco, describing the school, recreation, holidays, and family life of an
eight-year-old boy who lives there.
Available through ILL The Secret Stars (1998) In New
Mexico on a rainy, icy Night of the Three Kings, Sila and Pepe worry that the
kings will not be able to use the stars to navigate, so their grandmother takes
them on a magical journey to see the secret stars all around them.
E Carling Mama & Papa Have a
Store (1998) A little girl describes what a day is like in her parents' Chinese store in Guatemala City.
1998 Medal Winners
For Narrative
YA Fic Martinez Parrot in the Oven: mi vida (1998) Manny relates his
experiences as a member of a poor Mexican American family in which the
alcoholic father only adds to everyone's struggle.
For Illustration
E Soto Snapshots from the
Wedding (1997) 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.
1998 Honor Books
For Narrative
J 811.54 Alarcon Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring
Poems/ Jitomates Risuenos y otros poemas de primavera (1997) A bilingual
collection of humorous and serious poems about family, nature, and celebrations
by a renowned Mexican American poet.
YAPB Martinez Spirits of the High Mesa
(1997) In this moving coming-of-age novel set in rural New Mexico, the
young protagonist, Flavio, is torn between the seductiveness of progress and
new technology and his loyalty to village traditions.
For Illustration
J 306.85 Lomas In My Family/ En mi familia
(1996) The author describes, in bilingual text and illustrations, her
experiences growing up in a Hispanic community in Texas.
J 398.20972 The Golden Flower: a Taino Myth from Puerto Rico (1996)
This myth explains the origin of the sea, the forest, and the island now called
Puerto Rico.
J 861 Ada Gathering the Sun: an Alphabet in Spanish and English
(1997) A book of poems about working in the fields and nature's bounty, one for
each letter of the Spanish alphabet.
1996 Medal Winners
For Narrative
J Fic Cofer An Island Like You: Stories of the Barrio (1995) Twelve
stories about young people caught between their Puerto Rican heritage and their
American surroundings.
For Illustration
E Soto Chato’s Kitchen
(1995) 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.
1996 Honor Books
For Narrative
J 468.24 Gonzalez The Bossy Gallito / El Gallo de Bodas: a Traditional Cuban Folktale (1994) 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.
YA Soto Baseball in April, and
Other Stories (1990) A collection of eleven short stories focusing on the
everyday adventures of Hispanic young people growing up in Fresno, California
For Illustration
J 394.268 Anacona Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead (1993)
During the three-day celebration of the Days of the Dead, a young Mexican boy
and his family make elaborate preparations to honor the spirits of the dead.
J 468.24 Delacre The Bossy Gallito / El Gallo de
Bodas: A Traditional (1994) Cuban
Folktale
J 468.24 Lomas Family Pictures / Cuadros de
Familia (1990) The author describes, in bilingual text and illustrations,
her experiences growing up in a Hispanic community in Texas.
Grace A. Dow Memorial Library ~ A Service
of the City of Midland
AwardsPuraBelpre