This award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually 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 was given as a biennial award from 1996 through 2008. The award is now given annually. Beginning with the 2021 award, the Young Adult Author category was added with YALSA's partnership.
Two medals shall be awarded annually at the Annual Conference of the American Library Association, one to a Latino author of an outstanding children’s book and one to a Latino illustrator for creating an outstanding children’s picture book. Each of these must be an original work that portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience.
The award-winning books must be published in the United States or Puerto Rico during the preceding year.
Recipients of the Pura Belpré medal must be residents or citizens of the United States or Puerto Rico.
The committee in its deliberations is to consider only the books eligible for the award, as specified in the terms.
Fiction and nonfiction books for children published in Spanish, English, or bilingual formats are eligible.
Honor books may be named.
If suitable candidates are not found, the awards will not be presented in that year.
JDUBIN. (2021, March 24). Pura Belpré Award. Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpre