The Pura Belpré Award, according to the ALSC website, 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. I have selected 10 titles throughout the awards history to share with the you and the young reader in your life.
Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote
Tonatiuh, D. (2014). Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote. New York, NY: I Abrams Books for Young Readers.
In this 2014 narrative and illustration honor book winner, the happy and close knit Rabbit family is heartbroken to learn that Papá must travel north to work due to a drought in their area. When Papá does not return when he is supposed to, Pancho, the family's oldest son, sets out north to find him. Pancho comes across Coyote who guides him on his journey but at the price of the precious food he packed for his father in his backpack. Just as Pancho is about to be betrayed and eaten by Coyote, Pancho's dad hears his cries and saves him in the nick of time. They then travel back south to be reunited with the rest of the family and vow to stay together even if they all have to travel north next year.
I found this book to be very heartwarming and earnest. It gives the reader a look at what some migrant workers and their families face when they travel and are apart. These insights into the life of migrants can help the reader sympathize and understand their lives. This book also mixes in some Spanish, with a glossary provided. The author also notes some background information on migrant workers as well as some websites to find out more about migrants and undocumented workers. Older elementary students will gain a lot from this book.
To see the other books of Tonatiuh, visit duncantonatiuh.com.
The Bossy Gallito
Gonzálezo, L. M. (1994). The Bossy Gallito: El Gallo de Bodas, A Traditional Cuban Folktale. New York, NY: Scholastic.
In this 1996 narrative and illustration honor book winner, we find Gallito (Rooster in English) ready to attend his uncle's wedding. Even though he is finely dressed in a tuxedo, he can't resist eating some corn kernels he finds in mud on the way to the wedding. This leaves his face very messy. He demands the grass to clean his beak but the grass refuses. Gallito then goes on to demand others to do his bidding in order to get the grass to oblige. All refuse due to his bossy attitude until he ask the sun politely and the sun agrees to help. Ultimately the grass helps the Gallito and he is off to celebrate his uncle's wedding.
This book is the retelling of a classic Cuban folktale. The illustrations and text do an incredible job of honoring the Cuban influences on every page. The text is written in English and Spanish on each page and the colored pencil illustrations transport the reader to Havana. The images and characters in the book are true to the Cuban culture and the author provides additional translations and insights about Cuba in the back of the book. In addition to the fascinating cultural aspects of the book, it also provides the valuable lesson of being kind and polite to other. This book will be enjoyed by older elementary students.
To learn more about the author and see her other works, visit scholastic.com.
César: ¡Sí, se Puede!
Bernier-Grand, C. T. (2013). César: ¡Sí, se Puede! Las Vegas, NV: Two Lions/Amazon Children's Publishing.
This 2006 narrative and illustration honor book winner is a collection of poems which narrate César Chavez's life. The books explores his early life and the events that lead him to be the leader and founder of the National Farm Workers Association, protecting migrant farm workers throughout America.
I enjoyed the use of poetry to explore Chavez's life and I felt it helped highlight the beauty of his spirit. This book is geared to older elementary students and will give them perspective on what a hero truly is.
To learn more about the author and her works, visit carmenberniergrand.com.
Fiesta Babies
Tafolla, C. (2010). Fiesta Babies. New York, NY: Tricycle Press.
This 2011 Illustration Honor book winner tells the delightful tale of the youngest Fiesta party goers. The babies partake in the music, dancing, singing and fun of this celebration and share the joy of Fiesta with their family and friends.
The book centers around the festival of Fiesta which is held annually in San Antonio, where the author lives. Even without that context, young children will love the vibrant colors and fun imagery on the pages, and the amusing rhyming scheme will be enjoyable for young readers. The author also incorporates some Spanish vocabulary in the book with a glossary in the back. Beginning readers will greatly enjoy this book.
To see the other works of Tafolla, visit penguinrandomhouse.com/carmen-tafolla.
Gracias Thanks
Mora, P. (2009). Gracias Thanks. New York, NY: Lee & Low Books.
Thanks and appreciation are the subject of this 2010 Illustration Honor book winner. In this book, a young boy shares all of the everyday things that he is so grateful for.
This is a wonderful book for students of all ages. The boy in the book eloquently describes the gratefulness he feels for the common acts and items most of us take for granted in a multicultural setting. The lesson of appreciation is one that can be valued by all.
Visit patmora.com to see more of Mora's books.
Green is a Chile Pepper
Thong, R. (2014). Green is a Chile Pepper. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC.
In this 2015 Illustration Honor book winner, all the colors of the rainbow are described with a Latino flavor. This picture books using uses Latino foods and culture to demonstrate the different colors in the world.
The images in this book are absolutely breathtaking. There are so many small details on ever page and the colors are rich and vibrant. While the author references Latino items, this book will appeal to all students and the glossary in the back will assist in broadening the readers Spanish vocabulary. Younger elementary students will enjoy this book.
To see the other works of Thong, visit greenfield-thong.com.
Juan Bobo Goes to Work
Montes, M. (2000). Juan Bobo Goes to Work. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
This 2002 Illustration Honor book is centered around a poor peasant boy in Puerto Rico. He is called Juan Bobo ("bobo" being Spanish slang for simple) due to his forgetful and silly nature. His mother asks him to go find work and bring his payments home. This undertaking is a challenge for him as he seems to lose or accidentally destroy all his forms of payment. His silliness pays off when he unknowingly makes a sick girl laugh and her father is so grateful he repays Juan Bobo's family with a ham once a week.
This is a very silly and funny book that can be quite relatable to young children. It teaches the valuable lesson of being mindful of your actions as well as to think things through. Puerto Rican culture is featured throughout the book. The illustrations are colorful and engaging to the reader. Young elementary students will enjoy this book.
To learn about the author and see her other works, visit scholastic.com/marisa-montes.
Just in Case
Morales, Y. (2008). Just in Case. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.
Señor Calvera is off to Grandma Beetle's birthday party in this 2009 Narrative Honor book and Illustration Medal winner book. On his way to the party, he runs into Zelmiro the Ghost who advises Calvera he should not show up without a gift. This lead Calvera to get Grandma Beetle a gift for each letter of the Spanish alphabet. It isn't until he reaches the end of the alphabet he realizes the real gift Grandma Beetle desires.
This book is a fun introduction for children to the Spanish alphabet. The colorful and unique illustrations will capture the reader and make you want to examine every image on the page. I found the ending to be heartwarming and touching. It is a beautiful reminder to cherish your loved ones. Young elementary students will enjoy this book.
To see Morales' other works, visit yuyimorales.com.
Drum Dream Girl
Engle, M. (2015). Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
This 2016 Illustration Medal winner is about a young girl who dreams about playing the drums, which is only for boys on her island. She dreams day and night about this, secretly practicing behind her father's back. Her father finally sees her talent and desire and allows her play, which opens up her world to whole new set of opportunities.
This book was inspired by real life drummer Millo Castro Zaldarriaga from Cuba and illustrates her demand for equality and the pursuit of her dreams. The text beautifully describes the drum beats in her mind and the illustrations transport the reader to the Drum Dream Girl's world of music. This will be enjoyed by elementary students of all ages.
To see the other works of Engle, visit margaritaengle.com.
Juana & Lucas
Medina, J. (2016). Juana & Lucas. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.
Juana is a fun loving elementary student living in Columbia in this 2017 Narrative medal winner. She enjoys many things in her life, especially her beloved dog Lucas. She is thrown a curve-ball however when one of her teachers insist the class learn "the English". She is completely overwhelmed by the notion of learning English and doesn't see the point in it, until her grandfather changes her mind by promising her a trip to America to meet her idol Astroman at Spaceland if she learns the new language. Juana embraces English and begins to love it. Even though her encounter with Astroman doesn't go as planned, she realizes that English is useful and she never wants to stop learning.
This chapter book incorporates amusing illustrations to accompany the text on every page and is a fun read for those students beginning to explore chapter books. Even though the book is set in Columbia, her life is completely relatable to the average student in America. Some Spanish is sprinkled in the text, but she defines the words later in the text. This book will be loved by older elementary students.
To learn more about the author and see her other works, visit juanamedina.com
Tonatiuh, D. (2014). Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote. New York, NY: I Abrams Books for Young Readers.
In this 2014 narrative and illustration honor book winner, the happy and close knit Rabbit family is heartbroken to learn that Papá must travel north to work due to a drought in their area. When Papá does not return when he is supposed to, Pancho, the family's oldest son, sets out north to find him. Pancho comes across Coyote who guides him on his journey but at the price of the precious food he packed for his father in his backpack. Just as Pancho is about to be betrayed and eaten by Coyote, Pancho's dad hears his cries and saves him in the nick of time. They then travel back south to be reunited with the rest of the family and vow to stay together even if they all have to travel north next year.
I found this book to be very heartwarming and earnest. It gives the reader a look at what some migrant workers and their families face when they travel and are apart. These insights into the life of migrants can help the reader sympathize and understand their lives. This book also mixes in some Spanish, with a glossary provided. The author also notes some background information on migrant workers as well as some websites to find out more about migrants and undocumented workers. Older elementary students will gain a lot from this book.
To see the other books of Tonatiuh, visit duncantonatiuh.com.
Gonzálezo, L. M. (1994). The Bossy Gallito: El Gallo de Bodas, A Traditional Cuban Folktale. New York, NY: Scholastic.
In this 1996 narrative and illustration honor book winner, we find Gallito (Rooster in English) ready to attend his uncle's wedding. Even though he is finely dressed in a tuxedo, he can't resist eating some corn kernels he finds in mud on the way to the wedding. This leaves his face very messy. He demands the grass to clean his beak but the grass refuses. Gallito then goes on to demand others to do his bidding in order to get the grass to oblige. All refuse due to his bossy attitude until he ask the sun politely and the sun agrees to help. Ultimately the grass helps the Gallito and he is off to celebrate his uncle's wedding.
This book is the retelling of a classic Cuban folktale. The illustrations and text do an incredible job of honoring the Cuban influences on every page. The text is written in English and Spanish on each page and the colored pencil illustrations transport the reader to Havana. The images and characters in the book are true to the Cuban culture and the author provides additional translations and insights about Cuba in the back of the book. In addition to the fascinating cultural aspects of the book, it also provides the valuable lesson of being kind and polite to other. This book will be enjoyed by older elementary students.
To learn more about the author and see her other works, visit scholastic.com.
Bernier-Grand, C. T. (2013). César: ¡Sí, se Puede! Las Vegas, NV: Two Lions/Amazon Children's Publishing.
This 2006 narrative and illustration honor book winner is a collection of poems which narrate César Chavez's life. The books explores his early life and the events that lead him to be the leader and founder of the National Farm Workers Association, protecting migrant farm workers throughout America.
I enjoyed the use of poetry to explore Chavez's life and I felt it helped highlight the beauty of his spirit. This book is geared to older elementary students and will give them perspective on what a hero truly is.
To learn more about the author and her works, visit carmenberniergrand.com.
Tafolla, C. (2010). Fiesta Babies. New York, NY: Tricycle Press.
This 2011 Illustration Honor book winner tells the delightful tale of the youngest Fiesta party goers. The babies partake in the music, dancing, singing and fun of this celebration and share the joy of Fiesta with their family and friends.
The book centers around the festival of Fiesta which is held annually in San Antonio, where the author lives. Even without that context, young children will love the vibrant colors and fun imagery on the pages, and the amusing rhyming scheme will be enjoyable for young readers. The author also incorporates some Spanish vocabulary in the book with a glossary in the back. Beginning readers will greatly enjoy this book.
To see the other works of Tafolla, visit penguinrandomhouse.com/carmen-tafolla.
Mora, P. (2009). Gracias Thanks. New York, NY: Lee & Low Books.
Thanks and appreciation are the subject of this 2010 Illustration Honor book winner. In this book, a young boy shares all of the everyday things that he is so grateful for.
This is a wonderful book for students of all ages. The boy in the book eloquently describes the gratefulness he feels for the common acts and items most of us take for granted in a multicultural setting. The lesson of appreciation is one that can be valued by all.
Visit patmora.com to see more of Mora's books.
Thong, R. (2014). Green is a Chile Pepper. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC.
In this 2015 Illustration Honor book winner, all the colors of the rainbow are described with a Latino flavor. This picture books using uses Latino foods and culture to demonstrate the different colors in the world.
The images in this book are absolutely breathtaking. There are so many small details on ever page and the colors are rich and vibrant. While the author references Latino items, this book will appeal to all students and the glossary in the back will assist in broadening the readers Spanish vocabulary. Younger elementary students will enjoy this book.
To see the other works of Thong, visit greenfield-thong.com.
Montes, M. (2000). Juan Bobo Goes to Work. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
This 2002 Illustration Honor book is centered around a poor peasant boy in Puerto Rico. He is called Juan Bobo ("bobo" being Spanish slang for simple) due to his forgetful and silly nature. His mother asks him to go find work and bring his payments home. This undertaking is a challenge for him as he seems to lose or accidentally destroy all his forms of payment. His silliness pays off when he unknowingly makes a sick girl laugh and her father is so grateful he repays Juan Bobo's family with a ham once a week.
This is a very silly and funny book that can be quite relatable to young children. It teaches the valuable lesson of being mindful of your actions as well as to think things through. Puerto Rican culture is featured throughout the book. The illustrations are colorful and engaging to the reader. Young elementary students will enjoy this book.
To learn about the author and see her other works, visit scholastic.com/marisa-montes.
Morales, Y. (2008). Just in Case. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.
Señor Calvera is off to Grandma Beetle's birthday party in this 2009 Narrative Honor book and Illustration Medal winner book. On his way to the party, he runs into Zelmiro the Ghost who advises Calvera he should not show up without a gift. This lead Calvera to get Grandma Beetle a gift for each letter of the Spanish alphabet. It isn't until he reaches the end of the alphabet he realizes the real gift Grandma Beetle desires.
This book is a fun introduction for children to the Spanish alphabet. The colorful and unique illustrations will capture the reader and make you want to examine every image on the page. I found the ending to be heartwarming and touching. It is a beautiful reminder to cherish your loved ones. Young elementary students will enjoy this book.
To see Morales' other works, visit yuyimorales.com.
Engle, M. (2015). Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
This 2016 Illustration Medal winner is about a young girl who dreams about playing the drums, which is only for boys on her island. She dreams day and night about this, secretly practicing behind her father's back. Her father finally sees her talent and desire and allows her play, which opens up her world to whole new set of opportunities.
This book was inspired by real life drummer Millo Castro Zaldarriaga from Cuba and illustrates her demand for equality and the pursuit of her dreams. The text beautifully describes the drum beats in her mind and the illustrations transport the reader to the Drum Dream Girl's world of music. This will be enjoyed by elementary students of all ages.
To see the other works of Engle, visit margaritaengle.com.
Medina, J. (2016). Juana & Lucas. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.
Juana is a fun loving elementary student living in Columbia in this 2017 Narrative medal winner. She enjoys many things in her life, especially her beloved dog Lucas. She is thrown a curve-ball however when one of her teachers insist the class learn "the English". She is completely overwhelmed by the notion of learning English and doesn't see the point in it, until her grandfather changes her mind by promising her a trip to America to meet her idol Astroman at Spaceland if she learns the new language. Juana embraces English and begins to love it. Even though her encounter with Astroman doesn't go as planned, she realizes that English is useful and she never wants to stop learning.
This chapter book incorporates amusing illustrations to accompany the text on every page and is a fun read for those students beginning to explore chapter books. Even though the book is set in Columbia, her life is completely relatable to the average student in America. Some Spanish is sprinkled in the text, but she defines the words later in the text. This book will be loved by older elementary students.
To learn more about the author and see her other works, visit juanamedina.com
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