Pura Belpre Award Winners

 

Morales, Y. (2018). Dreamers. Neal Porter Books.

This beautifully illustrated picture book is about a mother and her baby making the journey to America as immigrants.  When they get there they discover that things are very different from their homeland and struggle to fit in.  Then they discover the public library and the joy of reading.  Their days at the library help them to learn to read and write English.  The illustrations in this book are stunning, brightly colored and make the story easy to understand.  Also included in the back of the book is a note about the author's own journey to America as well as a list of books that have inspired her.  This picture book could be used to teach about immigration and help develop empathy for people who have had to learn a new language.       

2019 Pura Belpre Award Winner

Other books by Yuyi Morales include: Bright Star and Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book.

Tonatiuh, D. (2014). Separate is Never Equal. Harry N. Abrams.

This true story is about the Mendez family and their fight for their children to attend their neighborhood school.  This story takes place in 1944 when segregation was common in the United States.  Sylvia and her family move to a farm in Westminster, California and try to enroll their children in school only to be turned away and told that they have to go to the Mexican school.  This starts the long battle for equal rights in children's education. The illustrations are well done and depict the hardships of the Mendez family.  Also included in the back of the book is an author’s note with more information on the Mendez case as well as original pictures of the Mendez family and the schools in the story.  There is also a glossary in the back for the formal language in the story.  This book is perfect for teaching about the rights of citizens and gives students a picture of an important historical movement.  

2015 Pura Belpre Award Honor

Other books by Duncan Tonatiuh include: Dear Primo, Diego Rivera: His World and Ours, and Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote.

Diaz, J. (2018). Islandborn. Dial Books.

This story is about a little girl named Lola who goes to a school where everyone is from someplace else. One day the teacher tells the students to draw a picture of the place that they lived before to share with the class. Lola is nervous about this assignment because she does not remember the island that she came from. Her teacher encourages her to ask family and friends who do remember to help her. So she goes around and asks others about the island that she comes from and makes her picture. She discovers that her island home had wonderful things and bad things, that is why she is in the United States. The bright and vivid illustrations help the reader to understand the beauty and life of Lola’s island home. This book could be used to teach about diversity and other cultures.

2019 Pura Belpre Award Honor

Other books by Junot Diaz include: Drown: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Woo and This is How You Lose Her.

Quintero, I. (2019). My Papi Has a Motorcycle. Kokila.

This story is about a little girl that waits each day for her father to get home from work as a carpenter so that he can take her out for a motorcycle ride. As they ride along she points out the many different landmarks in her neighborhood; murals, stores, her grandparents home. As they are riding she pretends that she is in the great road race on Grand Boulevard which happened a long time ago. She talks of the changes she sees in her community as well as the history of the migrant workers who worked the citrus fields as they speed home to her mom and brother. The illustrations in this book are similar to a graphic novel with speech bubbles and hand drawn illustrations. This book could be used to teach about different cultures as well as changes and growth in communities. In the back of the book the author has included a note about the background of the story.

2020 Pura Belpre Award Honor

Other books by Isabel Quintero include: Gabi, a Girl in Pieces and Ugly Cat & Pablo Chapter Book Series.

Perez, L. (2002) First Day in Grapes. Lee & Low Books.

This book is about a boy named Chico whose father is a migrant worker. They have just moved to grapes and it is his first day of third grade.  When he first gets on the bus he is confronted by two fourth grade bullies and an unkind bus driver.  As his day goes on we learn that he has a difficult time writing but is great at math.  He likes his new teacher and even makes a new friend.  Then at lunch he is confronted by the bullies again and summons the courage to stand up to them.  This story could be used to teach about conflict and how to stand up for yourself.  This book also teaches diversity and empathy for students who move often.  

2004 Pura Belpre Award Honor

Other books by L. King Perez include: Remember as You Pass Me By and Ghoststalking.