The award is named after Pura Belpr, 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.
ho gives the award?
The Pura Belpr 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. t 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 nformation Services
to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking ( REFORMA), an
ALA affiliate.
The award is now given annually. t was given as a
biennial award from 1996 through 2008.
ULA ALVAREZ
2010 Pura Bulpr Narrative Medal inner for Return to Sender
Best known for her adult books How the Garcia Girls Lost Their
Accent and In the Time of Butterflies.
In the Time of Butterflies was made into a movie produced by and
starring Salma Hayek, Marc Anthony and Edward ames Olmos
ulia Alvarez was born in New York City on March 27,1950
to Dominican parents. hen she was three months old
her parents went back to the Dominican Republic. They
returned to the U.S. when she was ten.
ulia entwines some of her life experiences into her books.
ulia writes adult and children's fiction. She lives in
Vermont with her husband and is a writer-in-residence at
Middlebury College.
ulia and her husband Bill started an ecological farm-
literacy center called Alta Gracia in the Dominican
Republic. To find out how to order their coffee, Caf Alta
Gracia, and maybe visit their farm, check out their website
www.cafealtagracia.com.
Return to Sender (New York: Knopf Book for
Young Readers, 2009), a young aduIt noveI,
ages 10 and up.
The Best Gift of AII: The Legend of La Vieja
BeIn/EI mejor regaIo deI mundo: Ia Ieyenda de
La Vieja BeIn (Miami: AIfaguara InfantiI, 2008),
a biIinguaI chiIdren's picture book.
Once Upon A Quinceaera: Coming of Age in
the USA (New York: Viking PubIishers, 2007),
nonfiction.
Audio edition: New York: Penguin Audio, 2007.
Saving the WorId (ChapeI HiII: AIgonquin
Books, 2006), a noveI.
A Gift of Gracias: the Legend of AItagracia
(New York: Knopf Book for Young Readers,
2004), a chiIdren's picture book
Finding MiracIes (New York: Knopf Book for
Young Readers, 2004), a young aduIt noveI,
ages 16 and up.
The Woman I Kept To MyseIf (ChapeI HiIIs:
AIgonquin Books, 2004), a book of poems.
Before We Were Free (New York: Knopf Book
for Young Readers, 2002), a young aduIt noveI,
ages 12 and up.
New York: DeII LaureI Leaf/Random House,
2004.
A Cafecito Story (White River Junction:
CheIsea Green PubIishers, 2001), a modern
"eco-parabIe" and Iove story.
How Ta LoIa Came to Visit Stay (New York:
Knopf Book for Young Readers, 2001), a noveI
for middIe readers, 8-12.
The Secret Footprints (New York: Knopf Book
for Young Readers, 2000), a chiIdren's picture
book.
In the Name of SaIom (ChapeI HiII: AIgonquin
Books, 2000), a noveI.
Seven Trees (North Andover: Kat Ran Press,
1998), a book of poems.
Something to DecIare (ChapeI HiII: AIgonquin
Books, 1998), a book of essays.
YO! (ChapeI HiII: AIgonquin Books: 1997), a
noveI.
ulia Alvarez' Books
2011 inners
and honors
Narrative llustration
2008-2010 inners
and honors
Narrative llustration
(Pura) Belpr
Award
Terms and
Criteria
2. The award-winning books must be published in the
United States or Puerto Rico.
3. Recipients of the Pura Belpr Medal must be residents
or citizens of the United States or Puerto Rico.
4. The committee in its deliberations is to consider only
the books eligible for the award, as specified in the terms.
5. Fiction and nonfiction books for children published in
Spanish, English, or bilingual format are eligible.
6. Honor books may be named.
7. f suitable candidates are not found, the awards will not
be presented in that year.
1. Two medals
shall be awarded
annually at the
Annual Conference
of the American
Library
Association,
one to a
Latino author
and one to a
Latino iIIustrator,
for creating
outstanding
original children's
books that portray,
affirm, and
celebrate the
Latino cultural
experience.