Pura Belpré: Her Life and Legacy
Pura Belpré was the first Puerto Rican librarian to be hired by the New York Public Library system. A gifted storyteller and puppeteer, she celebrated the stories that had been handed down across generations of her family, and her story "Pérez and Martina," which she published in 1932, has become a classic of children's literature.
Pura Belpré also believed in welcoming everyone to the library, offering numerous programs and titles in Spanish to her neighbors at a time when such "community outreach" — especially to the Spanish-speaking community — was unheard of.
Learn more about Pura Belpré, her legacy of librarianship, and the children's book award in her honor from the following resources!
The Pura Belpré Book Award
Celebrating Latino Cultural Experiences
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.
More diverse perspectives
For additional awards that celebrate diverse perspectives, see the award list in our multicultural literature section.
2026 Pura Belpré Winners
Author Award Winner
- The Pecan Sheller by Lupe Ruiz-Flores
Author Award Honor Books
- A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation written by Pablo Cartaya
- The Island of Forgotten Gods written by Victor Piñeiro
- A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez written by María Dolores Águila
Illustrator Award Winner
- Popo the Xolo by Abraham Matias
Illustrator Award Honor Books
- A-Ztec: A Bilingual Alphabet Book illustrated and written by Emmanuel Valtierra
- The Invisible Parade illustrated by John Picacio, written by Leigh Bardugo and John Picacio
Young Adult Author Award Winner
- On the Wings of la Noche by Vanessa L. Torres
Honor Books
- Rosa by Any Other Name written by Hailey Alcaraz
- Silenced Voices: Reclaiming Memories from the Guatemalan Genocide written and illustrated by Pablo Leon
- The Story of My Anger written by Jasminne Mendez
Booklist: The Life and Legacy of Pura Belpré
Meet Pura Belpré in these books by and about her! These books include stories by her, picture book biographies of her, historical accounts of her contributions to librarianship, and collections in which she is featured among groups of notable Latinos/Latinas who helped shape the United States.
Interviews with Lucía González, Lulu Delacre, and Meg Medina
Learn more about Pura Belpré from the author and illustrator of The Storyteller's Candle — Lucía González and Lulu Delacre!
The full interviews with Lucía, Lulu, and Meg are available in our Meet the Authors section.
