Tuesday, January 19, 2010
And the winners of the 2010 Pura Belpré Award are . . .
From the ALA/ALSC website:
(Since I helped write the press releases, I think it’s okay if I just cut and paste.)
The 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 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 REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, an ALA affiliate.
From the ALA/ALSC website:
2010 Author Award Winner
Return to Sender
, written by Julia Alvarez, published by Alfred A. Knopf. Julia Alvarez explores the thin line that separates American citizens and undocumented persons in her brilliantly told novel, “Return to Sender.” After Tyler’s father is unable to maintain the family farm, he hires undocumented workers, resulting in an interdependent relationship that mirrors current social and political conditions in the United States. Alvarez humanizes a situation by giving a voice to millions of immigrants experiencing similar hardships. This outstanding novel about the solidarity between two children of different cultures will resonatein the hearts of readers of any age.
2010 Illustrator Award Winner
Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day; Celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros, illustrated by Rafael López, written by Pat Mora, published by Rayo, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Rafael López utilizes vibrant colors and applies magical realism to show that the love of reading is universal. Through a series of fanciful images, the author depicts Latino children inviting children of other cultures into their book fiesta, leading the reader on a visual journey that shows that reading sparks the imagination across all cultures and has the power to unite us. This informational children’s book will also serve as a valuable resource to those planning El día de los niños/El día de los libros events in their communities.
2010 Author Honor Books
Diego: Bigger Than Life
, written by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, illustrated by David Diaz, published by Marshall Cavendish Children.
Federico García Lorca,
written by Georgina Lázaro, illustrated by Enrique S. Moreiro, published by Lectorum Publications Inc., a subsidiary of Scholastic Inc.
From the ALA/ALSC website:
2010 Illustrator Honor Books
Diego: Bigger Than Life, illustrated David Diaz, written by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, published by Marshall Cavendish Children.
We made history by choosing Georgina Lázaro’s book, Federico García Lorca. It’s the first time an award was given to a Puerto Rican writer; it’s the first time an all-Spanish book was chosen, and it’s the first time the award was given to a book about a homosexual character (real or fictional).