Pura Belpré Award facts for kids

The Pura Belpré Award is a special prize given to a Latino or Latina author and illustrator. It celebrates books for children and young adults that beautifully show the Latino cultural experience. This award started in 1996. At first, it was given out every two years, but since 2009, it has been given every year.

The award is named after Pura Belpré, who was the very first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. She was a children's librarian, a storyteller, and an author. Pura Belpré helped many Latino children by sharing and keeping alive Puerto Rican folk stories.

The award is presented by two groups: the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), which is part of the American Library Association (ALA), and the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking (REFORMA).

How Books Are Chosen for the Award

From 1996 to 2020, two medals were given out each year at the ALA's big meeting. One medal went to a Latinx author and one to a Latinx illustrator. These awards were for amazing original books for children (ages 0-14). The books had to show, confirm, and celebrate the Latinx cultural experience.

Starting in 2021, the author award was split into two parts. One award is now for children's authors, and another is for young adult authors. When we say "Latinx" for this award, it means people whose family history comes from any of the Spanish-speaking cultures in North or South America.

To be considered for the award, a book must meet these rules:

• It must be published in the United States.
• The author or illustrator must live in or be a citizen of the United States.
• The book can be written in Spanish, English, or both languages.

Books are judged on their own merit. It doesn't matter if the author or illustrator has won the award before. Sometimes, other books are chosen as "Honor books" if they are also excellent. But if no suitable books are found, the awards might not be given that year. It's also possible for one person to win both the author and illustrator awards for the same book.

Award Winners and Honorees

Yuyi Morales has won six Belpré Medals and four honors as both an author and illustrator.

Margarita Engle has won three Medals and three honors, all as an author.

Duncan Tonatiuh has won one medal and eight honors as both an author and illustrator.

Rafael López won three medals and three honors as an illustrator.

Many talented authors and illustrators have received the Pura Belpré Award. Some have even won multiple medals or honors!

People Who Have Won Many Awards

Some people have won the Pura Belpré Medal or Honor multiple times. George Ancona, Yuyi Morales, and Duncan Tonatiuh have won awards for both their writing and their illustrations. Duncan Tonatiuh is special because he's the only person to win multiple awards in one year for different books!

Belpré Medals

One person has won six Belpré Medals:

• Yuyi Morales, as an illustrator in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, and 2019.

Three people have won three Belpré Medals:

• Margarita Engle, as an author in 2008, 2009, and 2016.
• Rafael López, as an illustrator in 2010, 2016, and 2020.
• Raúl Gonzalez, as an illustrator in 2017, 2021, and 2022.

Other people who have won two Belpré Medals include Julia Alvarez (as author), Susan Guevara (as illustrator), and Pam Muñoz Ryan (as author).

Belpré Honors

One person has won eight Belpré Honors:

• Duncan Tonatiuh, as an illustrator in 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, and twice in 2017. He also won as an author in 2014 and 2020.

Two people have won four Belpré Honors:

• David Diaz, as an illustrator in 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2011.
• Yuyi Morales, as an illustrator in 2004, 2010, and 2022. She also won as an author in 2009.

Many people have won three Belpré Honors:

• Francisco X. Alarcón, as an author in 1998, 2000, and 2002.
• George Ancona, as an illustrator in 1996 and 2000, and as an author in 2011.
• Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, as an author in 2006, 2008, and 2010.
• Lulu Delacre, as an illustrator in 1996, 2006, and 2009.
• Margarita Engle, as an author in 2011, 2012, and 2014.
• Rafael López, as an illustrator in 2006, 2012, and 2014.
• John Parra, as an illustrator in 2010, 2015, and 2018.
• David Bowles, as an author in 2016, 2019, and 2024.

People who have won two Belpré Honors include Amy Córdova, Angela Dominguez, and Carmen Lomas Garza (as illustrators). Also, Juan Felipe Herrera and Francisco Jiménez (as authors).

Winning Both a Medal and an Honor

Several authors and illustrators have received both a Belpré Medal and a Belpré Honor for their work. These include Raúl Colón, David Diaz, Margarita Engle, Carmen Lomas Garza, Susan Guevara, Rafael López, Meg Medina, Yuyi Morales, Pam Muñoz Ryan, and Duncan Tonatiuh.

Books That Won Multiple Awards

Some books have been recognized with more than one award in the same year:

• Diego: Bigger than Life received two honors for its author and illustrator in 2010.
• The Storyteller's Candle received two honors for its author and illustrator in 2009.
• Just In Case won a medal for its illustrator and an honor for its author in 2009.
• Los Gatos Black on Halloween won a medal for its illustrator and an honor for its author in 2008.
• Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart won a medal for its illustrator and an honor for its author in 2006.
• César: ¡Sí, Se Puede! Yes, We Can! received two honors for its author and illustrator in 2006.
• El Gallo de Bodas: A Traditional Cuban Folktale received two honors for its author and illustrator in 1996.

See also

In Spanish: Premio Pura Belpré para niños