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 The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is a division of the American Library Association. ALSC has over 4,000 members, including children, experts in children's literature, publishers, faculty members, and other adults. The Associa ...

(ALSC), a division of the

American Library Association The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world. History 19th century ...

(ALA), and the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking (

REFORMA Reforma, the Spanish word meaning reform, has the following meanings: Companies and organizations * ''Reforma'' (newspaper), a daily published in Mexico City :* Grupo Reforma, parent company of the newspaper :* Agencia Reforma, news wire agenc ...

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

Duncan Tonatiuh at the 2018 Americas Awards

Recipients of multiple medals and honors

George Ancona, Yuyi Morales, and

Duncan Tonatiuh Duncan Tonatiuh (born 1984) is a Mexican-American author and illustrator of several award-winning children's books. The illustrations in his books are influenced by Pre-Columbian art. The themes in his stories relate to the Latino experience, wit ...

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 Julia Alvarez (born March 27, 1950) is an American New Formalist poet, novelist, and essayist. She rose to prominence with the novels '' How the García Girls Lost Their Accents'' (1991), ''In the Time of the Butterflies'' (1994), and ''Yo! ...

as author, Susan Guevara as illustrator, and

Pam Muñoz Ryan Pam Muñoz Ryan (born December 25, 1951) is an American writer for children and young adults, particularly in the multicultural genre. Biography Muñoz Ryan was born in Bakersfield, California. She is half Mexican with Basque, Italian, and Okla ...

as author.

Belpré Honors

One person has won eight Belpré Honors. *

, as illustrator 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, and twice in 2017; as author 2014 and 2020. Two people won four Belpré Honors *

David Diaz David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the Kings of Israel and Judah, third king of the Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy), United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. The Tel Dan stel ...

, 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 Juan Felipe Herrera (born on December 27, 1948) is an American poet, performer, writer, cartoonist, teacher, and activist. Herrera was the 21st United States Poet Laureate from 2015 to 2017. He is a major figure in the literary field of Chicano ...

, and Francisco Jiménez as author.

Medal and Honor

Several authors have received both a Belpré Medal and a Belpré Honor: Raúl Colón,

, Margarita Engle, Carmen Lomas Garza, Susan Guevara, Rafael López,

Meg Medina Meg Medina is an American children’s book author of Cuban descent whose books celebrate Latino culture and the lives of young people. She served as th2023 – 2024 National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature Medina is the recipient of t ...

, Yuyi Morales,

, and

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.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Belpre Medal Hispanic and Latino American culture American children's literary awards Awards established in 1996 American Library Association awards Literary awards honoring minority groups Hispanic and Latino American librarians American librarianship and human rights Hispanic and Latino American literature English-language literary awards 1996 establishments in the United States American Library Association