Pura Belpré grew up in Puerto Rico surrounded by stories. When she moved to New York and was offered the chance to work at the New York Public Library, she was thrilled to be able to help share her stories with children—especially multicultural and multilingual children like her. She persisted in bringing Spanish and bilingual storytelling and books to libraries across the city and across the country, and she wrote books and stories of her own to bring even more of her culture to people everywhere. Pura gave Spanish speakers in New York and around the country the opportunity to read and find community in ways they never had before, and she changed the way libraries reach readers even to this day.
In this chapter book biography by bestselling and award-winning author Meg Medina, readers learn about the amazing life of Pura Belpré--and how she persisted.
Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Pura Belpré's footsteps and make a difference! A perfect choice for kids who love learning and teachers who want to bring inspiring women into their curriculum.
About the Author
Marilisa Jiménez García is an associate professor of children's literature at Simmons University. She is the author of Side by Side: US Empire, Puerto Rico, and the Roots of Youth Literature and Culture. She researches the role of youth literature in education and racial justice struggles in the US. Jiménez García's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Refinery 21, Children's Literature, and Latino Studies.
Alexandra Boiger (alexandraboiger.com) has illustrated nearly twenty picture books, including the She Persisted series by by Chelsea Clinton; the popular Tallulah series by Marilyn Singer; and the Max and Marla books, which she also wrote. Originally from Munich, Germany, she now lives outside of San Francisco, California, with her husband, Andrea; daughter, Vanessa; and two cats, Luiso and Winter.
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 96 pages
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Reading age : 6 - 9 years
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Grade level : 1 - 4
- Item Weight : 7.2 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.52 x 7.8 inches