Belpré Medal

The Pura Belpré Award is a recognition presented to a Latino or Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays the Latino cultural experience in a work of literature for children or youth. It was established in 1996.^[1] It was given every other year since 1996 until 2009 when it was changed to be given annually.^[2]

The award is named in honor of Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian from the New York Public Library. As a children's librarian, storyteller, and author, she enriched the lives of Latino children through her pioneering work of preserving and disseminating Puerto Rican folklore.^[2]

The award is given by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking (REFORMA).^[2]

Criteria

• Two medals shall be awarded at the annual conference of the American Library Association, one to a Latino author and one to a Latino illustrator, for creating outstanding original children's (age 0-14) books that portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience.
• For purposed of this award, Latino is defined as people whose heritage emanates from any of the Spanish-speaking cultures of the Western Hemisphere.
• The award-winning books must be published in the United States or Puerto Rico.
• The committee is not to consider the entire body of work by an author or whether the author has previously won the award.
• Recipients of the Pura Belpré Medal must be residents or citizens of the United States or Puerto Rico.
• Fiction and nonfiction books for children published in Spanish, English, or bilingual format are eligible.
• Honor books may be named.
• If suitable candidates are not found, the awards will not be presented in that year.
• One person may be selected to receive the awards in both categories.^[3]

Recipients

Recipients of Multiple Medals and Honors

• Julia Alvarez has received 2 medals as an author.
• Francisco X. Alarcón has received 2 honors as an author.
• George Ancona has received 1 honor as an author and 2 honors as an illustrator.
• Carmen T. Bernier-Grand has received 3 honors as an author.
• Raúl Colón has received 1 medal and 1 honor as an illustrator.
• Lulu Delacre has received 3 honors as an illustrator.
• David Diaz has received 4 honors as illustrator.
• Margarita Engle has received 2 medals and 1 honor as an author.
• Carmen Lomas Garza has received 1 medal and 2 honors as an illustrator.
• Lucia M. Gonzalez has received 2 honors as an author.
• Amy Cordova has received 2 honors as an illustrator
• Susan Guevara has received 2 medals as an illustrator.
• Francisco Jiménez' has received 2 honors as an author.
• Rafael López (illustrator and artist) has received 2 medals and 3 honors as an illustrator.
• Yuyi Morales has received 3 medals and 2 honors as an illustrator and 1 honor as an author.
• Pam Muñoz Ryan has received 2 medals and 1 honor as an author.

• Diego: Bigger than Life was the subject of 2 honors for narration and illustration in 2010.
• The Storyteller's Candle was the subject of 2 honors for narration and illustration in 2009.
• Just In Case was the subject of a medal for illustration and an honor for narration in 2009.
• Los Gatos Black on Halloween was the subject of a medal for illustration and an honor for narration in 2008
• Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart was the subject of a medal for illustration and an honor for narration in 2006.
• César: ¡Sí, Se Puede! Yes, We Can! was the subject of 2 honors for narration and illustration in 2006.
• 'El Gallo de Bodas: A Traditional Cuban Folktale was the subject of 2 honors for narration and illustration in 1996.

References