Pura's Cuentos: How Pura Belpr Reshaped Libraries with Her Stories

(Hardback)

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Description

Pura's abuela always has a cuento to share. She crows Qui-qui-ri-qu! for Seor Gallo, booms Borom, Borom for Seor Zapo, and tells of a beautiful cockroach who loves a mouse. Pura clings to these stories like coques cling to green leaves. When Pura grows up and moves from Puerto Rico to Harlem, she gets a job at the library, where she is surrounded by stories-but they're only in English. Where is Seor Gallo Where is Prez the mouse Where is Puerto Rico on these shelves She decides to tell children the tales of her homeland in English and in Spanish. Lyrically written, with lively illustrations, Pura's Cuentos captures the exuberant spirit and passion of Pura Belpr: celebrated storyteller, author, folklorist, and the first Latina librarian in New York City. A pioneer of bilingual storytimes, she welcomed countless new families to the library, formed cultural bridges in her community, and broke the rules by telling stories that weren't printed in books-at least, not yet.

Reviews

**STARRED REVIEW**
"Glowing, elegantly constructed celebration of a literary luminary."-- "Publishers Weekly"
**STARRED REVIEW**
"Morales' vivid artwork in warm, saturated colors wittily captures the movement, rhythm, and energy of Belpr's legacy, which is echoed in the lyrical text. Emphasizing the importance of books as mirrors, as well as inclusion, diversity, proactiveness, talent, and social impact, this is a treasure of a picture-book biography." -- "Booklist"
**STARRED REVIEW**
"The accompanying illustrations are vibrant, with rich, saturated colors. Dynamic double-page illustrations often consist of vignettes that blend into one another, adding depth to the narration. . .A vibrant portrayal of an important figure." -- "Kirkus Reviews"

Author Bio

Annette Bay Pimentel has published several picture book biographies, including All the Way to the Top; Girl Running, which was a Junior Library Guild pick and received a starred review; and Mountain Chef, winner of the Carter G. Woodson Award. She lives in Moscow, Idaho. Magaly Morales is the illustrator of What Can You Do with a Paleta, a Toms Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award winner, as well as the picture books Chavela and the Magic Bubble and A Piata in a Pine Tree. She was born in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.