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KIDS

BOOKLISTS

Pura Belpré Book Awards

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.

Find these books and more online at http://catalog.coolcat.org

2024

Winner

Mexikid : A Graphic Memoir
Mexikid : A Graphic Memoir by  Pedro Martin Illustrated by  Pedro Martin Pedro Martin's grown up in the U.S. hearing stories about his legendary abuelito, but during a family road trip to Mexico, he connects with his grandfather and learns more about his own Mexican identity in this moving and hilarious graphic memoir.

2023

Winner

Where Wonder Grows
Where Wonder Grows by  Xelena González Illustrated by  Adriana M. Garcia A grandmother explores her special garden with her granddaughters. Wonder grows everywhere, but Grandmother especially loves to show it in her story garden. She invites her granddaughters to join her in a sweet meditation on the treasures she's brought to that magical place--the rocks, the shells, the crystals, the meteorites: how they came to be, how they were formed, how they each have a story to tell.

2022

Winner

¡Vamos! Let's Cross the Bridge
¡Vamos! Let's Cross the Bridge by  1976- Raúl the Third In Spanish and English = En Espanol y Ingles. ________ Little Lobo and Bernabé are bringing supplies to the big celebration in the country across the bridge -- but everyone else seems to be going, too! During the long delay, they see all kinds of people on the bridge for different reasons and speaking different languages, but when someone has a grumpy moment, they all come together to make the wait as good as can be.

2021

Winner

¡Vamos! : Let's Go Eat
¡Vamos! : Let's Go Eat by  1976- Raúl the Third Spanish words and phrases are used throughout English text. ________ Little Lobo, a Mexican American, and Bernabé, his dog, gather tacos, frutas picadas, cuernos, and more and deliver them to los luchadores preparing for Lucha Libre 5000.--Provided by publisher.

2020

Winner

Dancing Hands : How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln
Dancing Hands : How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle Looks at the life and accomplishments of Teresa Carreño, one of the world's most famous pianists who, by age nine, performed for President Abraham Lincoln at the White House.

2019

Winner

Dreamers
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales Illustrated by Yuyi Morales An illustrated picture book autobiography in which award-winning author Yuyi Morales tells her own immigration story.

2017

Winner

Lowriders to the Center of the Earth
Lowriders to the Center of the Earth by Cathy Camper Illustrated by Raul the Third Lupe Impala, Elirio Malaria, and El Chavo Octopus are the proud owners of their very own garage. But when their beloved cat Genie goes missing, they journey to the realm of Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec god of the Underworld, who is keeping Genie prisoner!

2016

Winner

The Drum Dream Girl
The Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle Illustrated by Rafael Lopez Follows a girl in the 1920s as she strives to become a drummer, despite being continually reminded that only boys play the drums, and that there has never been a female drummer in Cuba. Includes note about Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, who inspired the story, and Anacaona, the all-girl dance band she formed with her sisters.

2015

Winner

Viva Frida
Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales Illustrated by Yuyi Morales "Viva Frida" uses rich, vibrant color photographs and minimal evocative text to beautifully portray the unique imagination and creativity of an iconic Latina artist.

2014

Winner

Nino Wrestles the World
Nino Wrestles the World by Yuyi Morales Illustrated by Yuyi Morales Lucha Libre champion Niño has no trouble fending off monstrous opponents, but when his little sisters awaken from their naps, he is in for a no-holds-barred wrestling match that will truly test his skills.

2013

Winner

Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert
Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert by Gary D. Schmidt Illustrated by David Diaz As the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and a former slave, Martin de Porres was born into extreme poverty. Even so, his mother begged the church fathers to allow him into the priesthood. Instead, Martin was accepted as a servant boy. But soon, the young man was performing miracles. Rumors began to fly around the city of a strange mulatto boy with healing hands, who gave first to the people of the barrios . Martin continued to serve in the church, until he was finally received by the Dominican Order, no longer called the worthless son of a slave, but rather a saint and the rose in the desert.

2012

Winner

Diego Rivera : His World and Ours
Diego Rivera : His World and Ours by Duncan Tonatiuh Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh An introduction to the life, career, and influence of the Mexican painter Diego Rivera.

2011

Winner

Grandma's Gift
Grandma's Gift by Eric Velasquez Illustrated by Eric Velasquez The author describes Christmas at his grandmother's apartment in Spanish Harlem the year she introduced him to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Diego Velazquez's portrait of Juan de Pareja, which has had a profound and lasting effect on him.

2010

Winner

Book Fiesta! : Celebrate Children's Day / Book Day
Book Fiesta! : Celebrate Children's Day / Book Day by Pat Mora Illustrated by Rafael Lopez Children read aloud in various settings to celebrate of El día de los niños, or Children's Day, in this bilingual story. Includes facts about Mexico's annual celebration of children and the book fiestas that are often included.

2009

Winner

Just In Case
Just In Case by Yuyi Morales Illustrated by Yuyi Morales As Señor Calavera prepares for Grandma Beetle's birthday he finds an alphabetical assortment of unusual presents, but with the help of Zelmiro the Ghost, he finds the best gift of all.

2008

Winner

Los Gatos Black on Halloween
Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes Illustrated by Yuyi Morales Easy to read, rhyming text about Halloween night incorporates Spanish words, from las brujas riding their broomsticks to los monstruos whose monstrous ball is interrupted by a true horror.

2006

Winner

Dona Flor : A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart
Dona Flor : A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart by Pat Mora Illustrated by Raul Colon Doña Flor, a giant lady with a big heart, sets off to protect her neighbors from what they think is a dangerous animal, but soon discovers the tiny secret behind the huge noise.

2004

Winner

Just a Minute : A Trickster Tale and Counting Book
Just a Minute : A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales Illustrated by Yuyi Morales In this version of a traditional tale, Senor Calavera arrives at Grandma Beetle's door, 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.

2002

Winner

Chato and the Party Animals
Chato and the Party Animals by Gary Soto Illustrated by Susan Guevara Chato decides to throw a "pachanga" for his friend Novio Boy, who has never had a birthday party, but when it is time to party, Novio Boy cannot be found.

Honor Books

2000

Winner

Magic Windows
Magic Windows by Carmen Lomas Garza Illustrated by Carmen Lomas Garza In Spanish and English, Carmen Lomas Garza portrays her family's Mexican customs through cut-paper work.

1998

Winner

Snapshots from the Wedding
Snapshots from the Wedding by Gary Soto Illustrated by Stephanie Garcia 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.

1996

Winner

Chato's Kitchen
Chato's Kitchen by Gary Soto Illustrated by Susan Guevara 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.