Skip to Main Content

Children's Literature Guide

Guide for children's literature awards winners

About the Award

The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored 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, an ALA affiliate. For more information visit:  https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpre.

The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. As a children's librarian, storyteller, and author, she enriched the lives of Puerto Rican children in the U.S.A. through her pioneering work of preserving and disseminating Puerto Rican folklore.

Given annually since the 2009 award year, the award was previously awarded every other year beginning with the inception of the award in 1996. A listing of Pura Belpré honor books housed in the Curriculum Materials/Media Center is below. These are organized according to the Library of Congress system of classification.

Award Winners

Award Date Title/ Author and Illustrator
(For Narrative)
Call Number
2024

Children's Narrative Medal winner

Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martín

 

Not in collection

Children's Narrative Honor Books

Alebrijes by Donna Barba Higuera

For 400 years, Earth has been a barren wasteland. The few humans that survive scrape together an existence in the cruel city of Pocatel -- or go it alone in the wilderness beyond, filled with wandering spirits and wyrms. They don't last long. 13 year-old pickpocket Leandro and his sister Gabi do what they can to forge a life in Pocatel. The city does not take kindly to Cascabel like them -- the descendants of those who worked the San Joaquin Valley for generations. When Gabi is caught stealing precious fruit from the Pocatelan elite, Leando takes the fall. But his exile proves more than he ever could have imagined -- far from a simple banishment, his consciousness is placed inside an ancient drone and left to fend on its own. But beyond the walls of Pocatel lie other alberijes Leandro who seek for a better world -- as well as mutant monsters, wasteland pirates, a hidden oasis, and the truth.

 

PZ7.1.H5468 Al 2023

Aniana Del Mar Jumps In by Jasminne Mendez Not in collection
Benita Y Las Criaturas Nocturnas by Mariana Llanos Not in collection
Papa's Magical Water-Jug Clock by Jesús Trejo Not in collection
Something Like Home by Andrea Beatriz Arango Not in collection

Young Adult Narrative Medal winner

Saints of the Household by Ari Tison

 

Not in collection

Young Adult Narrative Honor Books

The Prince and the Coyote by David Bowles

 

Not in collection

Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey by Edel Rodriguez Not in collection
2023

Children's Narrative Medal winner

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega

Marlene loves three things: art, her cool tía Ruby and hanging out with her best friend, Camila. But according to her mother, Paola, the only things she needs to focus on are school and growing up. That means straightening her hair every weekend so she can have "presentable," "good" hair. But Marlene hates being in the salon and doesn't understand why her curls are not considered pretty by those around her. With a few hiccups, a dash of embarrassment, and the much-needed help of Camila and Tía Ruby - she slowly starts a journey to learn to appreciate and proudly wear her curly hair

 

PZ7.1.O768 Fr 2022

Children's Narrative Honor Books

The Coquíes Still Sing by Karina Nicole González

 

Not in collection

The Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border by Stephen Briseño Not in collection
Tumble by Celia C. Pérez Not in collection

Young Adult Narrative Medal winner

Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado

 

Not in collection

Young Adult Narrative Honor Books

Breathe and Count Back from Ten by Natalia Sylvester

Verónica, a Peruvian-American teen with hip dysplasia, auditions to become a mermaid at a Central Florida theme park in the summer before her senior year, all while figuring out her first real boyfriend and how to feel safe in her own body.

 

PZ7.1.S994 Br 2022

High Spirits by Camille Gomera-Tavarez Not in collection
The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes Not in collection

2022

Children's Narrative Medal winner

The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

A girl named Petra Pena, who wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller, like her abuelita. But Petra's world is ending. Earth has been destroyed by a comet, and only a few hundred scientists and their children - among them Petra and her family - have been chosen to journey to a new planet. They are the ones who must carry on the human race. Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes to this new planet - and the discovery that she is the only person who remembers Earth. A sinister Collective has taken over the ship during its journey, bent on erasing the sins of humanity's past. They have systematically purged the memories of all aboard - or purged them altogether. Petra alone now carries the stories of our past, and with them, any hope for our future. Can she make them live again?

 

PZ7.1.H5468 Las 2021

Children's Narrative Honor Books

Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna by Alda P. Dobbs

 

Not in collection

Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua by Gloria Amescua

A fictionalized account of a Nahua oman who grew up in Mexico during the early 1900s, became a model for artists, worked with scholars to preserve Nahuatl language and stories, and was known as the "soul of Mexico."

PZ7.1.A4985 Ch 2021
De aquí como el coquí by Nomar Perez Not in collection

Young Adult Narrative Medal winner

How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

 

Not in collection

Young Adult Narrative Honor Books

Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun by Jonny Garza Villa

 

Not in collection

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp

Not in collection
Where I Belong by Marcia Argueta Mickelson Not in collection
2021

Children's Narrative Medal winner

Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros

While his father works two jobs, seventh-grader Efrén Nava must take care of his twin siblings, kindergartners Max and Mia, after their mother is deported to Mexico. Includes glossary of Spanish words.

 

PZ7.1.C568 Efr 2020

Children's Narrative Honor Books

The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez by Adrianna Cuevas 

A Cuban-American boy must use his ability to communicate with animals to save the inhabitants of his town when they are threatened by a witch that transforms into animals.

 

PZ7.1.C823 To 2020

Lupe Wong Won’t Dance by Donna Barba Higuera 

Lupe Wong is going to be the first female pitcher in the Major Leagues. She's also championed causes her whole young life. Some worthy ... like expanding the options for race on school tests beyond just a few bubbles. And some not so much...like complaining to the BBC about the length between Doctor Who seasons. Lupe needs an A in all her classes in order to meet her favorite pitcher, Fu Li Hernandez, who's Chinacan/Mexinese just like her. So when the horror that is square dancing rears its head in gym? Obviously she's not gonna let that slide.

PZ7.1.H5468 Lu 2020

Young Adult Narrative Medal winner

Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez

Seventeen-year-old Camila Hassan, a rising soccer star in Rosario, Argentina, dreams of playing professionally, in defiance of her fathers' wishes and at the risk of her budding romance with Diego.

 

Z7.1.M4713 Fur 2020

Young Adult Narrative Honor Books

Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera

A modern retelling of the myth, Orpheus and Eurydice, in which Eury leaves Puerto Rico for the Bronx, haunted by losing all to Hurricane Maria and by evil spirit Ato, and meets a bachata-singing charmer, Pheus. She fully expects the tragedy that befell her and her family in Puerto Rico to catch up with her in New York. Pheus is a golden-voiced, bachata-singing charmer, ready to spend the summer on the beach with his friends. When he meets Eury, all he wants is to put a smile on her face and fight off her demons. But some dangers are too powerful for even the strongest love. As the world threatens to tear them apart, Eury and Pheus must fight for each other and their lives.

 

PZ7.1.R5765 Nev 2020

We Are Not from Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez Not in collection
2020

Medal winner

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez 

In order to heal after his mother's death, Sal learned how to meditate. But no one expected him to be able to take it further and 'relax' things into existence. Turns out he can reach into time and space to retrieve things from other universes.

 

PZ7.1.H4943 Sal 2019

 

Honor Books

Lety Out Loud by Angela Cervantes 

 

Not in collection

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise and illustrated by Paola Escobar 

Nonfiction picture book about the life and legacy of Pura Belpré, the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City. 

Z720.B426 D47 2019
The Other Half of Happy by Rebecca Balcárcel  Not in collection
Soldier for Equality: José de la Luz Sáenz and the Great War by Duncan Tonatiuh  Not in collection
2019

Medal winner

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo 

Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking. But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours her frustration onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers - especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class. With Mami's determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the church, Xiomara understands that her thoughts are best kept to herself. When she is invited to join her school's slam poetry club, she knows that she could never get around Mami's rules to attend, much less speak her words out loud. But still, she can't stop thinking about performing her poems. Because in spite of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent.

 

PZ7.5.A35 Po 2018

 

 

 

 

Honor Books

They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid’s Poems by David Bowles 

Twelve-year-old Güero, a red-headed, freckled Mexican American border kid, discovers the joy of writing poetry, thanks to his seventh grade English teacher.

 

PZ7.5.B69 Th 2018

2018

Medal winner

Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar 

In 1960s New York, fifth-grader Ruthie, a Cuban-Jewish immigrant, must rely on books, art, her family, and friends in her multicultural neighborhood when an accident puts her in a body cast.

 

PZ7.1.B447 LUC 2017

Honor Books

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya 

 

Not in collection

The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez 

 

Not in collection
2017

Medal winner

Juana & Lucas by Juana Medina 

A spunky young girl from Colombia loves playing with her canine best friend and resists boring school activities, especially learning English, until her family tells her that a special trip is planned to an English-speaking place.

 

PZ7.1.M466 JU 2016

 

 

Honor Book

The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz 

 

Not in collection

2016

Medal Winner

Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir by Margarita Engle

In this poetic memoir Engle, the first Latina woman to receive a Newbery Honor, tells of growing up as a child of two cultures during the Cold War. Her heart was in Cuba, her mother's tropical island country, a place so lush with vibrant life that it seems like a fairy tale kingdom. But most of the time she lived in Los Angeles, lonely in the noisy city and dreaming of the summers when she can take a plane through the enchanted air to her beloved island. When the hostility between Cuba and the United States erupted at the Bay of Pigs Invasion, Engle's worlds collided in the worst way possible. Would she ever get to visit her beautiful island again?

 

PS3555.N4254 Z46 2015

Honor Books

The Smoking Mirror by David A. Bowles

Carol and Johnny Garza are 12-year-old twins whose lives in a small Texas town are forever changed by their mother's unexplained disappearance. Shipped off to relatives in Mexico by their grieving father, the twins soon learn that their mother is a "nagual," a shapeshifter, and that they have inherited her powers. In order to rescue her, they will have to descend into the Aztec underworld and face the dangers that await them.

 

PZ7.B67895 SMO 2015

Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina

Mia's abuela has left her sunny house with parrots and palm trees to live with Mia and her parents in the city. The night she arrives, Mia tries to share her favorite book with Abuela before they go to sleep and discovers that Abuela can't read the words inside. So while they cook, Mia helps Abuela learn English ("Dough. Masa"), and Mia learns some Spanish too, but it's still hard for Abuela to learn the words she needs to tell Mia all her stories. Then Mia sees a parrot in the pet-shop window and has the perfecto idea for how to help them all communicate a little better. An endearing tale from an award-winning duo that speaks loud and clear about learning new things and the love that bonds family members.

PZ7 .M512765 MAN 2015

2015

Medal Winner

I Lived on Butterfly Hill by Marjorie Agosín

Eleven-year-old Celeste Marconi is a dreamer, a writer, a collector of words. But then a new whispered word trickles into her life: "Subversives." Her beloved country of Chile has been taken over by a military dictatorship, and subversives--people considered a threat to the new government--are in increasing danger. Celeste's doctor-parents must go into hiding to remain safe, and Celeste, heartsick, must say good-bye to them. But the situation continues to worsen. More and more people are "disappearing," and soon Celeste herself is sent thousands of miles away, all the way to the coast of Maine--where she doesn't have a single friend or know a word of English. How can she possibly call another country--a country where people eat breakfast out of a box, where people eat breakfast out of a box, where the cold grays of winter mirror the fears that envelope her--home? WIll she ever see Chile again? And is she does--what, and who, will she find there?

 

PZ7 .A2686 IAH 2014

Honor Books

Portraits of Hispanic American Heroes by Juan Felipe Herrera

An inspiring tribute to Hispanic Americans who have made a positive impact on the world. This visually stunning book showcases twenty Hispanic and Latino American men and women who have made outstanding contributions to the arts, politics, science, humanitarianism, and athletics. Gorgeous portraits complement sparkling biographies of Cesar Chavez, Sonia Sotomayor, Ellen Ochoa, Roberto Clemente, and many more. Complete with timelines and famous quotes, this tome is a magnificent homage to those who have shaped our nation. In this volume: Adelina Otero-Warren, Bernardo de Galvez, Cesar Chavez, David Farragut, Dennis Chavez, Desi Arnaz, Dolores Huerta, Ellen Ochoa, Helen Rodriguez Trias, Hero Street USA, Ignacio Lozano, Jaime Escalante, Joan Baez, Judy Baca, Julia de Burgos, Luis Alvarez, Rita Moreno, Roberte Clemente, Sonia Sotomayor, and Tomas Rivera.

 

E184 .S75 H486 2014

2014

Medal Winner

Yaqui Delgado wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina

One morning before school, some girl tells Piddy Sanchez that Yaqui Delgado hates her and wants to kick her ass. Piddy doesn't even know who Yaqui is, never mind what she's done to piss her off. Word is that Yaqui thinks Piddy is stuck-up, shakes her stuff when she walks, and isn't Latin enough with her white skin, good grades, and no accent. And Yaqui isn't kidding around, so Piddy better watch her back. At first Piddy is more concerned with trying to find out more about the father she's never met and how to balance honors courses with her weekend job at the neighborhood hair salon. But as the harassment escalates, avoiding Yaqui and her gang starts to take over Piddy's life. Is there any way for Piddy to survive without closing herself off or running away?

 

PZ7 .M512765 YAQ 2013

Honor Books

The Lightning Dreamer: Cuba's Greatest Abolitionist by Margarita Engle

In free verse, evokes the voice of Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda, a book-loving writer, feminist, and abolitionist who courageously fought injustice in nineteenth-century Cuba. Includes historical notes, excerpts from her writings, biographical information, and source notes.

 

PZ7.5 .E54 LIG 2013

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant's Tale by Duncan Tonatiuh

When Papa Rabbit does not return home as expected from many seasons of working in the great carrot and lettuce fields of El Norte, his son Pancho sets out on a dangerous trek to find him, guided by a coyote. Includes glossary and author's note about illegal immigration and undocumented workers.

The Living by Matt de la Peña

After an earthquake destroys California and a tsunami wrecks the luxury cruise ship where he is a summer employee, high schooler Shy confronts another deadly surprise.

PZ7 .T66414 PAN 2013

 

 

 

PZ7 .P3725 LI 2013

2013

Medal Winner

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Fifteen-year-old Ari Mendoza is an angry loner with a brother in prison, but when he meets Dante and they become friends, Ari starts to ask questions about himself, his parents, and his family that he has never asked before.

 

PZ7 .S1273 AR 2012

Honor Books

The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano by Sonia Manzano

It is 1969 in Spanish Harlem, and fourteen-year-old Evelyn Serrano is trying hard to break free from her conservative Puerto Rican surroundings, but when her activist grandmother comes to stay and the neighborhood protests start, things get a lot more complicated--and dangerous.

 

PZ7 .M3213 REV 2012

2012

Medal Winner

Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe García McCall

Throughout her high school years, as her mother battles cancer, Lupita takes on more responsibility for her house and seven younger siblings, while finding refuge in acting and writing poetry. Includes glossary of Spanish terms.

 

PZ7 .M4783 UND 2011

Honor Books

Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck by Margarita Engle

Quebrado has been a slave on captain Bernadino de Talavera's pirate ship for years, but when a hurricane sinks the ship and kills most of the crew, Quebrado escapes to safety and finds acceptance and refuge in a nearby village.

 

PS3555 .N4254 H87 2011

Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel: A Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller by Xavier Garza

A young fan of lucha libre Mexican wrestling makes a connection to his battling hero, the Angel de la Guarda (the Guardian Angel).

PZ73 .G3682 2011

2011

Medal Winner

The Dreamer by Pam Muñoz Ryan

A fictionalized biography of the Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who grew up a painfully shy child, ridiculed by his overbearing father, but who became one of the most widely-read poets in the world. Includes author's note about the poet.

 

PZ7 .R9553 DR 2010

Honor Books

90 Miles to Havana by Enrique Flores-Galbis

When unrest hits the streets of Havana, Cuba, Julian's parents must make the heartbreaking decision to send him and his two brothers away to Miami via the Pedro Pan operation. But when the boys get to Miami, they are thrust into a world where bullies seem to run rampant and it's not always clear how best to protect themselves.

 

PZ7 .F66433 NI 2010

The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette's Journey to Cuba by Margarita Engle

Draws on little-known Cuban history to tell a stirring story in poetry. Based on the diaries and letters of Swedish suffragist Fredrika Bremer, who spent three months in Cuba in 1851, the story focuses on oppressed women, the privileged as well as the enslaved, in three alternating free-verse narratives.

PS3555 .N4254 F57 2010

¡Olé! flamenco by George Ancona

Photo-essay about Flamenco, a southern Spanish art form that incorporates song, dance, and music, tracing its cultural history and focusing on a contemporary young girl and her brother as they learn the traditional style of movement and instrument playing. Includes a glossary/pronunciation guide and author's sources.

GV1796 .F55 A53 2010

2010

Medal Winner

Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez

After his family hires migrant Mexican workers to help save their Vermont farm from foreclosure, eleven-year-old Tyler befriends the oldest daughter, but when he discovers they may not be in the country legally, he realizes that real friendship knows no borders.

 

PZ7 .A48 RE 2009

Honor Books

Diego: Bigger than Life by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand; illustrated by David Diaz

The life and work of the artist Diego Rivera is told through chronological poems that capture salient points in his life.

Federico Garíca Lorca by Georgina Lázaro León

Poetic text recounts the childhood of the noted Spanish poet, including his love for the nature and folklore of his native Andalusia, his introduction to music and literature at home, and his health problems.

 

ND259 .R5 B47 2009

 

 

PQ6613 .A763 Z7365 2009

2009

Medal Winner

The Surrender Tree: Poem's of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle

The names of the flowers, 1850-51 -- The Ten Years War, 1868-78 -- The Little War, 1878-80 -- The War of Independence, 1895-98 -- The surrender tree, 1898-99.

 

PZ3555 .N4254 S87 2008

Honor Books

The Storyteller's Candle (La Velita de los Cuentos) by Lucia M. Gonzlez

During the early days of the Great Depression, New York City's first Puerto Rican librarian, Pura Belpré, introduces the public library to immigrants living in El Barrio and hosts the neighborhood's first Three Kings' Day fiesta.

 

PZ73 .G5886 2008

Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book by Yuyi Morales

As Señor Calavera prepares for Grandma Beetle's birthday he finds an alphabetical assortment of unusual presents, but with the help of Zelmiro the Ghost, he finds the best gift of all.

PZ7 .M7881927 JU 2008

Reaching Out by Francisco Jiménez.

Leaving his home in a migrant community, Francisco sets off for college, carrying memories of years of poverty and prejudice.

PS3560 .I55 R43 2008

2008

Medal Winner

The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano by Margarita Engle; illustrated by Sean Qualls

Juan Francisco Manzano was born in 1797 into the household of wealthy slaveowners in Cuba. He spent his early years at the side of his owner's wife, entertaining her friends. His poetry was his outlet, reflecting the beauty and cruelty of his world. Written in verse.

 

PS3555 .N4254 P64 2006

Honor Books

Frida: ¡Viva la Vida! Long Live Life! by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand.

Biographical poems about the life and work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo

 

ND259 .K33 B47 2007

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale retold by Carmen Agra Deedy; illustrated by Michael Austin

In this humorous retelling of a Cuban folktale, a cockroach interviews her suitors in order to decide whom to marry.

PZ8.1 .D3782 MAR 2007

Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes; illustrated by Yuyi Morales.

Easy to read, rhyming text about Halloween night incorporates Spanish words, from las brujas riding their broomsticks to los monstruos whose monstrous ball is interrupted by a true horror.

PZ8.3 .M775 GAT 2006

2006

Medal Winner

The Tequila Worm by Viola Canales

Sofia grows up in the close-knit community of the barrio in McAllen, Texas, then finds that her experiences as a scholarship student at an Episcopal boarding school in Austin only strengthen her ties to family and her "comadres."

 

PZ7 .C161643 TE 2005

Honor Books

César: ¡Sí, Se Puede! Yes, We Can! by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand; illustrated by David Diaz

Stylized illustrations by a Caldecott Medalist accompany lyrical prose and poems in this celebration of the life of Cesar Chavez. This thoughtful and beautiful biography illuminates not only the events that made up the great labor leader's life, but also the ideals and inspiration that are his legacy.

 

PS3602 .E7624 C47 2004

Doña Flor: A Tall Tale about a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart by Pat Mora; illustrated by Raul Colon

Dona Flor, a giant lady with a big heart, sets off to protect her neighbors from what they think is a dangerous animal, but soon discovers the tiny secret behind the huge noise.

PZ7 .M78819 DON 2005

Becoming Naomi León by Pam Muñoz Ryan

When Naomi's absent mother resurfaces to claim her, Naomi runs away to Mexico with her great-grandmother and younger brother in search of her father.

PZ7.R9553 BE 2004

2004

Medal Winner

Before We were Free by Julia Alvarez

In the early 1960s in the Dominican Republic, twelve-year-old Anita learns that her family is involved in the underground movement to end the bloody rule of the dictator, General Trujillo.

 

PZ7.A48 BE 2002

Honor Books

Cuba 15: A Novel by Nancy Osa

Violet Paz, a Chicago high school student, reluctantly prepares for her upcoming "quince," a Spanish nickname for the celebration of an Hispanic girl's fifteenth birthday.

 

PZ7.O785 CU 2003

My Diary from Here to There / Mi Diario de Aqui Hasta Allá by Amada Irma Pérez; illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez 

A young girl describes her feelings when her father decides to leave their home in Mexico to look for work in the United States.

PZ73.P4654 MI 2002

2002

Medal Winner

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave their life of wealth and privilege in Mexico to go work in the labor camps of Southern California, where they must adapt to the harsh circumstances facing Mexican farm workers on the eve of the Great Depression.

 

PZ7.R9553 ES 2000

Honor Books

Breaking Through by Francisco Jiménez.

Having come from Mexico to California ten years ago, fourteen-year-old Francisco is still working in the fields but fighting to improve his life and complete his education.

 

PZ7 .J57525 BR 2001

Iguanas in the Snow and other Winter Poems / Iguanas en la Nieve: Y Otros Poemas de Invierno by Francisco X. Alarcón; illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez

In the final installment in the series, Francisco X. Alarcón shows children a city where people are bridges to each other and children sing poetry in two languages. A family frolic in the snow reminds the poet of the iguanas playing by his grandmother's house in Mexico. Readers are dazzled by the promise of the seedling redwoods — like all children — destined to be the ancestors of tomorrow.

PS3551 .L22 I39 2001

2000

Medal Winner

Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba by  Alma Flor Ada

In this companion volume to Alma Flor Ada's Where the Flame Trees Bloom, the author offers young readers another inspiring collection of stories and reminiscences drawn from her childhood on the island of Cuba. Through those stories we see how the many events and relationships she enjoyed helped shape who she is today.

 

PS3551 .D22 Z475 1998

Honor Books

From the Bellybutton of the Moon and other Summer Poems / Del Ombligo de la Luna: Y Otros Poemas de Verano by Francisco X. Alarcón; illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez 

A bilingual collection of poems in which the renowned Mexican American poet revisits and celebrates his childhood memories of summers, Mexico, and nature.

 

PS3551 .L22 F76 1998

Laughing out Loud, I Fly: Poems in English and Spanish by Juan Felipe Herrera; illustrated by Karen Barbour.

A collection of poems in Spanish and English about childhood, place, and identity.

PS3558 .E74 L38 1998

Award Date Title/ Author and Illustrator
(For Illustrator)
Call Number
2021 ¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat, by Raúl Gonzalez (Versify, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) Honor Book for youth illustration Sharuko: El Arqueólogo Peruano/Peruvian Archaeologist Julio C. Tello, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri, written by Monica Brown (Children’s Book Press, an imprint of Lee & Low Books Inc.)  
2020

Medal winner

Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln, illustrated by Rafael López, written by Margarita Engle (Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster)

Honor Books for illustration

Across the Bay, illustrated and written by Carlos Aponte (Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House)

My Papi Has a Motorcycle, illustrated by Zeke Peña, written by Isabel Quintero (Kokila/Penguin Random House)

¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market, illustrated and written by Raúl Gonzalez (Versify/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

 
2019 Medal winner Dreamers, illustrated by Yuyi Morales, written by Yuyi Morales (Neal Porter Books/Holiday House) Honor Books for illustration Islandborn, illustrated by Leo Espinosa, written by Junot Díaz (Dial/Penguin) When Angels Sing: The Story of Rock Legend Carlos Santana, illustrated by Jose Ramirez, written by Michael Mahin (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster)  
2018

Medal winner

La Princesa and the Pea, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal, written by Susan Middleton Elya (G. P. Putnam’s Sons/Penguin Random House)

Honor Books for illustration

All Around Us, illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia, written by Xelena González (Cinco Puntos)

Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos, illustrated by John Parra, written by Monica Brown (NorthSouth Books/NordSüd Verlag)

 
2017

Medal winner:

Lowriders to the Center of the Earth, illustrated by Raúl Gonzalez, written by Cathy Camper (Chronicle)

Honor Books for illustration

Esquivel!: Space-Age Sound Artist, illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, written by Susan Wood (Charlesbridge)

The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes, by Duncan Tonatiuh (Abrams) 

 
2016

Medal winner:

Drum Dream Girl, illustrated by Rafael López, written by Margarita Engle (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Honor Books for illustration:

My Tata’s Remedies = Los remedios de mi tata, iIllustrated by Antonio Castro L., written by Roni Capin Rivera-Ashford (Cinco Puntos)

Mango, Abuela, and Me, illustrated by Angela Dominguez, written by Meg Medina (Candlewick)

Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras, illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh (Abrams)

 
2015

Medal winner:

Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales (Roaring Brook/Neal Porter)

Honor Books for illustration:

Little Roja Riding Hood illustrated by Susan Guevara, written by Susan Middleton Elya (G. P. Putnam’s Sons/Penguin)

Green Is a Chile Pepper illustrated by John Parra, written by Roseanne Greenfield Thong (Chronicle)

Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh

 

2014

Medal Winner:

Niño wrestles the world / Morales, Yuyi.

Lucha Libre champion Niño has no trouble fending off monstrous opponents, but when his little sisters awaken from their naps, he is in for a no-holds-barred wrestling match that will truly test his skills.

PZ7 .M7881927 NIN 2013

Medal Winner:

Maria had a little llama / Dominguez, Angela N.

In this bilingual version of the classic rhyme, set in Peru, Maria takes her llama to school one day.

PZ74.3 .D7 2013

Tito Puente, Mambo King = Tito Puente, Rey del Mambo / Brown, Monica, 1969-

A vibrant bilingual picture-book biography that portrays the musical and cultural phenomenon of Tito Puente, Mambo King.

ML3930 .P83 B76 2013

Pancho Rabbit and the coyote : a migrant's tale / Tonatiuh, Duncan.

When Papa Rabbit does not return home as expected from many seasons of working in the great carrot and lettuce fields of El Norte, his son Pancho sets out on a dangerous trek to find him, guided by a coyote. Includes glossary and author's note about illegal immigration and undocumented workers.

PZ7 .T66414 PAN 2013

2013

Medal Winner:

Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert, illustrated by David Diaz written by Gary D. Schmidt

The story of Saint Martín de Porres--an endearing tale of perseverance, faith, and triumph over racial and economic prejudice.

BX4700 .M397 S46 2012

2012

Medal Winner:

Diego Rivera : his world and ours / Tonatiuh, Duncan.

An introduction to the life, career, and influence of the Mexican painter Diego Rivera.

ND259 .R5 T57 2011

Honor Books:

The cazuela that the farm maiden stirred / Vamos, Samantha R.

A cumulative tale of a farm maiden who, aided by a group of animals, prepares "Arroz con Leche," or rice pudding. Includes recipe and glossary of the Spanish words that are woven throughout the text.

PZ7 .V2565 CAZ 2011

Marisol McDonald doesn't match = Marisol McDonald no combina / Brown, Monica, 1969-

Marisol McDonald, a biracial, nonconformist, soccer-playing pirate-princess with brown skin and red hair, celebrates her uniqueness.

PZ73 .B68564 2011

2011

Medal Winner:

Grandma's Gift / illustrated and written by Eric Velasquez.

PZ7 .V4878 GPN 2010

Honor Books:

Dear Primo : a letter to my cousin / illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh.

Two cousins, one in Mexico and one in New York City, write to each other and learn that even though their daily lives differ, at heart the boys are very similar.

PZ7 .T66414 LE 2010

Fiesta babies / illustrated by Amy Córdova, written by Carmen Tafolla.

Babies enjoy the colorful fiesta with singing, dancing, hugs, and kisses.

PZ8.3 .T114915 FI 2010

Me, Frida / illustrated by David Diaz, written by Amy Novesky.

Artist Frida Kahlo finds her own voice and style when her famous husband, Diego Rivera, is commissioned to paint a mural in San Francisco, California, in the 1930s and she finds herself exploring the city on her own.

PZ7 .N869 ME 2010

2010

Medal Winner:

Book fiesta! Celebrate Children's Day/book day = Celebremos el día de los niños, el día de los libros / by Pat Mora ; Illustrated by Rafael Lopez.

Children read aloud in various settings to celebrate of El día de los niños, or Children's Day, in this bilingual story. Includes facts about Mexico's annual celebration of children and the book fiestas that are often included.

PZ73 .M635 2008

Honor Books:

Gracias / por Pat Mora ; ilustraciones por John Parra ; traducción por Adriana Domínguez = Thanks / by Pat Mora ; illustrations by John Parra ; translation by Adriana Domínguez.

A young multiracial boy celebrates family, friendship, and fun by telling about some of the everyday things for which he is thankful.

PZ73 .M6363 2009

My abuelita / written by Tony Johnston ; illustrated by Yuyi Morales ; photographed by Tim O'Meara.

With great gusto, a child's grandmother performs deep knee bends, consumes a breakfast of "huevos estrellados," and practices vocal exercises before going to work as a storyteller.

PZ7 .J6478 MW 2009

Diego : bigger than life / Carmen T. Bernier-Grand ; illustrated by David Diaz.

"The life and work of the artist Diego Rivera is told through chronological poems that capture salient points in his life"--Provided by publisher.

ND259 .R5 B47 2009

2009

Medal Winner:

Just in case : a trickster tale and Spanish alphabet book / Yuyi Morales.

As Señor Calavera prepares for Grandma Beetle's birthday he finds an alphabetical assortment of unusual presents, but with the help of Zelmiro the Ghost, he finds the best gift of all.

PZ7 .M7881927 JU 2008

Honor Books:

Papá and me / Arthur Dorros ; pictures by Rudy Gutierrez.

A bilingual boy and his father, who only speaks Spanish, spend a day together.

PZ7 .D7294 PAP 2008

Reaching out / Francisco Jiménez.

Leaving his home in a migrant community, Francisco sets off for college, carrying memories of years of poverty and prejudice.

PS3560 .I55 R43 2008

What can you do with a rebozo? / by Carmen Tafolla ; illustrations by Amy Córdova.

A spunky young girl explains the many uses of her mother's red rebozo, a traditional Mexican woven shawl.

PZ8.3 .T114915 WH 2008

2008

Medal Winner:

Los Gatos Black on Halloween / by Marisa Montes ; illustrated by Yuyi Morales

Easy to read, rhyming text about Halloween night incorporates Spanish words, from las brujas riding their broomsticks to los monstruos whose monstrous ball is interrupted by a true horror.

PZ8.3 .M775 GAT 2006

Honor Books:

My Name is Gabito: The Life of Gabriel Garcia Marquez/ Me llam Gabito: la vida de Gabriel Garcia Marquez / by Monica Brown ; illustrated by Raul Colon

Biography of a very talented writer from his childhood in Colombia to his life today.

PQ8180.17 .A73 Z613 2007

My Colors, My World / Mis colores, mi mundo / by Maya Christina Gonzalez

Not in collection

2006

Award Winner:

Dona Flor : a tall tale about a giant woman with a great big heart / by Pat Mora ; illustrated by Raul Colon.

Dona Flor, a giant lady with a big heart, sets off to protect her neighbors from what they think is a dangerous animal, but soon discovers the tiny secret behind the huge noise.

PZ7 .M78819 DON 2005

Honor Books:

Arrorro, Mi Nino: Latino Lullabies and Gentle Games

An illustrated collection of nursery rhymes, finger play games, and lullabies from the major Latino groups living in the United States today.

PZ74.3 .A77 2004

Cesar : si, se puede! yes, we can! / Carmen T. Bernier-Grand ; illustrated by David Diaz.

Stylized illustrations by a Caldecott Medalist accompany lyrical prose and poems in this celebration of the life of Cesar Chavez. This thoughtful and beautiful biography illuminates not only the events that made up the great labor leader's life, but also the ideals and inspiration that are his legacy.

PS3602 .E7624 C47 2004

My name is Celia : the life of Celia Cruz = Me llamo Celia : la vida de Celia Cruz / written by Monica Brown ; illustrated by Rafael López.

A bilingual portrait of the "Queen of Salsa" describes her childhood in Cuba, her musical career, and her move to the United States, and explains how her music brought her native Cuba to the world.

ML3930 .C96 B76 2004

2004

Medal Winner:

Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book / Yuyi Morales

In this version of a traditional tale, Senor Calavera arrives at Grandma Beetle's door, ready to take her to the next life, but after helping her count, in English and Spanish, as she makes her birthday preparations, he changes his mind.

PZ8.1.M7955 JU 2003

Honor Books:

First Day in Grapes / by L. King Perez ; illustrated by Robert Casilla

When Chico starts the third grade after his migrant worker family moves to begin harvesting California grapes, he finds that self confidence and math skills help him cope with the first day of school.

PZ7.P4256 FI 2002

The Pot That Juan Built /by Nancy Andrew-Goebel ; illustrated by David Diaz

A cumulative rhyme summarizes the life's work of renowned Mexican potter, Juan Quezada. Additional information describes the process he uses to create his pots after the style of the Casas Grandes people.

NK4210.Q49 A87 2002

Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez/ by Kathleen Krull ; illustrated by Yuyi Morales

A biography of Cesar Chavez, from age ten when he and his family lived happily on their Arizona ranch, to age thirty-eight when he led a peaceful protest against California migrant workers' miserable working conditions.

HD6509.C48 K78 2003

2002

Medal Winner:

Chato and the Party Animals /by Gary Soto ; illustrated by Susan Guevara

Chato decides to throw a "pachanga" for his friend Novio Boy, who has never had a birthday party, but when it is time to party, Novio Boy cannot be found.

PZ7 .S7242 CF 2000

Honor Books:

Barrio : José's neighborhood / George Ancona.

Presents life in a barrio in San Francisco, describing the school, recreation, holidays, and family life of an eight-year-old boy who lives there. Welcome to Joseacute's neighborhood. In his barrio, people speak an easy mix of Spanish and English and sometimes even Chinese. The masked revelry of Halloween leads into the festive remembrances of the Day of the Dead. And murals on the walls and buildings sing out the stories of the people who live here. As familiar as any neighborhood yet as strange as a foreign country, Jose's barrio isn't in Mexico or Argentina--it's in San Francisco. Award-winning author and photographer George Ancona follows Joseacute; through a season in the barrio, and in the process gives readers a glimpse of a community as rich and varied as America itself.

F869 .S39 M53 1998

The Secret Stars / by Joseph Slate ; illustrated by Felipe Davalos.

In New Mexico on a rainy, icy Night of the Three Kings, Sila and Pepe worry that the kings will not be able to use the stars to navigate, so their grandmother takes them on a magical journey to see the secret stars all around them.

PZ7 .S6289 SF 1998

Mama & Papa Have a Store / by Amelia Lau Carling

A little girl describes what a day is like in her parents' Chinese store in Guatemala City.

PZ7.C216354 MAM 1998