American Library Association
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.
2019 Author Award Winner
The Poet X, written by Elizabeth Acevedo and published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
The Poet X is a tale about Xiomara, an “unhide-able”
Dominican who “…was a little too much body for such a young girl,”
according to Mami. As she deals with her extremely religious mother and
other challenges, Xiomara writes poetry, which becomes “the most freeing
experience of [her] life.” The book was published by HarperTeen, an
imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
“Acevedo’s strong character and her captivating story, told through
intense and lyrical verses, champion poetry as a way to understand the
world and one’s self,” said Dr. Caponegro.
2019 Illustrator Award Winner
Dreamers, illustrated by Yuyi Morales, written by Yuyi Morales, and published by Neal Porter Books, Holiday House Publishing, Inc.
Dreamers is a tale about an immigrant mother and her son who
were “[u]nable to understand and afraid to speak…” until they found the
library. The books in the library taught them many things and gave them
the confidence they needed to succeed and dream in their new country.
The book was written by Yuyi Morales and published by Neal Porter Books,
Holiday House Publishing, Inc.
“Morales’s stunning mixed media illustrations celebrate the power of
children’s books and libraries and the ability of immigrants to create
new lives and stories,” said Pura Belpré Award Committee Chair Dr.
Ramona Caponegro.
