Pura Belpré Award facts for kids

The Pura Belpré Award is a recognition presented to a Latino or Latina author 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.

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

From 1996 to 2020, two medals were awarded at ALA's annual conference, one to a Latinx author and one to a Latinx illustrator, for creating outstanding original children's (age 0-14) books that portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latinx cultural experience. Beginning in 2021, the author category was divided into two: one for a children's author and one for a young adult author. For the purpose of the award, "Latinx" is defined as people whose heritage emanates from any of the Spanish-speaking cultures of the Western Hemisphere.

To be eligible for the award, book must meet the following criteria:

• Published in the United States
• Author/illustrator is a resident or citizen of the United States
• Published in Spanish, English, or both

Books are judged individually, not based on the author/illustrator's body of work nor whether the author/illustrator has previously received the award. Honor books may be named, but 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

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

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

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

Rafael López won three medals and three honors in the role of illustrator.

Recipients of multiple medals and honors

George Ancona, Yuyi Morales, and Duncan Tonatiuh have received medals or honors for their roles as both author and illustrator. Duncan Tonatiuh is the only person to receive multiple awards in one year for two different works.

Belpré Medals

One person has won six Belpré Medals.

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

Three people have won three Belpré Medals.

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

Multiple people have won two Belpré Medals: 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 illustrator 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, and twice in 2017; as author 2014 and 2020.

Two people won four Belpré Honors

• David Diaz, as illustrator 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011.
• Yuyi Morales, as illustrator 2004, 2010; 2022; as author 2009.

Multiple people have won three Belpré Honors.

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

Multiple people have won two Belpré Honors. As illustrator: Amy Córdova, Angela Dominguez, and Carmen Lomas Garza. As author: Juan Felipe Herrera, and Francisco Jiménez as author.

Medal and Honor

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

Works with multiple awards

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