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Established in 1996 by the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking (REFORMA) and the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), the Pura Belpré Award recognizes Latino authors and illustrators "whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth/' The award's namesake, the first Puerto Rican librarian in the New York Public Library system, was dedicated to bringing rich stories imbued with Latino cultural elements to the children and youth that she served in barrios and ethnically diverse neighborhoods throughout the city from the 1920s and 1930s and later in the 1960s and 1970s. In 2011, the Pura Belpré Award celebrated its quinceañera, marking fifteen years of works that carry on the mission first started by that energetic and visionary librarian so long ago.
Collectively, books receiving the award represent multiple Latino cultures and introduce readers to protagonists exploring what it means to be Latino throughout the United States and Latin America* These titles range from picture books and poetry collections to informational books and novels with appeal to not only children but also tweens and teens. Belpré awardwinning works are excellent resources for YA librarians seeking avenues to cultivate an appreciation and understanding of the many voices that represent the Latino cultural experience, These books allow Latino youth to explore elements of their own cultural heritage and to find other tweens and teens like themselves who are often living between two worlds; one representing the predominant American culture with a strong emphasis on independence, and one encompassing their home culture that stresses the importance of family and community. For Latino youth, Belpré titles can assist with their ethnic identity development, promoting cultural pride and reinforcing a positive self-image.
Tweens and teens that are non-Latino can also greatly benefit from reading Belpré Award books. These titles offer nonLatino youths an opportunity to learn about the rich cultures of their classmates and help them develop an appreciation for the contributions of Latinos to U.S. history and culture, thereby promoting Latino cultural literacy. For non- Latino youths, Belpré works provide a window into a world that may not be too different from their own. These youths learn...