Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Belpré Medal

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Country
  
United States

Official website
  
ala.org/alsc/belpre

First awarded
  
1996

Awarded for
  
excellent portrayal of Latino experience in children's literature

Presented by
  
Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association

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. It was given every other year since 1996 until 2009 when it was changed to be given annually.

Contents

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.

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).

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.

    • 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

    Belpré Medal Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA