Pura's Cuentos: How Pura Belpre Reshaped Libraries with Her Stories

Description

Pura's abuela always has a cuento to share. She crows !Qui-qui-ri-qui! for Senor Gallo, booms Borom, Borom for Senor Zapo, and tells of a beautiful cockroach who loves a mouse. Pura clings to these stories like coquies cling to green leaves. When Pura grows up and moves from Puerto Rico to Harlem, she gets a job at the library, where she is surrounded by stories-but they're only in English. Where is Senor Gallo? Where is Perez the mouse? Where is Puerto Rico on these shelves? She decides to tell children the tales of her homeland in English and in Spanish. Lyrically written, with lively illustrations, Pura's Cuentos captures the exuberant spirit and passion of Pura Belpre: celebrated storyteller, author, folklorist, and the first Latina librarian in New York City. A pioneer of bilingual storytimes, she welcomed countless new families to the library, formed cultural bridges in her community, and broke the rules by telling stories that weren't printed in books-at least, not yet.

Annette Bay Pimentel has published several picture book biographies, including All the Way to the Top; Girl Running, which was a Junior Library Guild pick and received a starred review; and Mountain Chef, winner of the Carter G. Woodson Award. She lives in Moscow, Idaho. Magaly Morales is the illustrator of What Can You Do with a Paleta?, a Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award winner, as well as the picture books Chavela and the Magic Bubble and A Pinata in a Pine Tree. She was born in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.

"Captures Belpre's dazzling storytelling. . .Deftly incorporated details throughout the art, including a coqui and characters such as Perez and Martina, evoke Belpre's childhood influences and culture." -- "The Horn Book Magazine" "The full-spread and digitally made illustrations will connect with readers while expressing the written narrative and installing a sense of joy. . .A brief book whose dreamlike illustrations will enhance young readers' imagination." -- "School Library Journal" **STARRED REVIEW** "Glowing, elegantly constructed celebration of a literary luminary."-- "Publishers Weekly" **STARRED REVIEW** "Morales' vivid artwork in warm, saturated colors wittily captures the movement, rhythm, and energy of Belpre's legacy, which is echoed in the lyrical text. Emphasizing the importance of books as mirrors, as well as inclusion, diversity, proactiveness, talent, and social impact, this is a treasure of a picture-book biography." -- "Booklist" **STARRED REVIEW** "The accompanying illustrations are vibrant, with rich, saturated colors. Dynamic double-page illustrations often consist of vignettes that blend into one another, adding depth to the narration. . .A vibrant portrayal of an important figure." -- "Kirkus Reviews"