2014 Pura Belpré: Award-winning Latino books for children

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The 2014 winning book for the Pura Belpré Author Award has been chosen. The selection is Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, written by Meg Medina and published by Candlewick Press. About the book: “Piedad “Piddy” Sanchez’s life is turned upside down when she finds out that Yaqui Delgado wants to kick her ass. While struggling to deal with the threat on her own, Piddy is forced to explore her identity, her culture and the role of others in her life. Meg Medina writes a powerful story about bullying and resilience.”

The 2014 Author Honor Books selected are:

• The Living, written by Matt de la Peña and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company. “In a thrilling survival story, Shy’s summer job on a cruise ship becomes a fight for his life. This page-turner adventure also raises important cultural and sociological issues.”
• Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale, written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS. “Duncan Tonatiuh has written the emotional story of the effects of undocumented immigration on those who leave and those who stay behind. Through traditional folk elements, readers follow young Pancho Rabbit in his arduous journey across the border in search of his father as he tries to keep his family together.  “

The 2014 winning book for the Pura Belpré Illustrator Award is Niño Wrestles the World, illustrated and written by Yuyi Morales and published by Roaring Brook Press. About the book: “Presenting Niño! Our underdressed lucha libre hero defeats almost all comers. Yuyi Morales’ clever use of fonts, text bubbles, word art and vibrant illustrations energizes this world-class wrestling match. The book was written by Yuyi Morales and published by Roaring Brook Press.”

The 2014 Illustrator Honor Books selected are:

• Maria Had a Little Llama / María Tenía una Llamita, illustrated and written by Angela Dominguez and published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC. “Maria and her llamita will delight young audiences in this adaptation of the traditional rhyme. Angela Dominguez’s exciting use of perspective, line, color and Peruvian-inspired details adds interest and humor to each page.”
• Tito Puente: Mambo King / Rey del Mambo, illustrated by Rafael López, written by Monica Brown and published by Rayo, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. “In this vibrant, bilingual portrayal of Tito Puente, the King of Mambo, Rafael López conveys the rhythm and movement of this musical legend through the use of bold colors, swirly lines, and carefully placed word art.”
• Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale, illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS. “Using Meso-American-inspired art and collage, Duncan Tonatiuh takes readers on a journey through the textured landscapes of the Mexico-United States border as Pancho Rabbit searches for his father. Vivid hues reflect the changing emotional tone of the story.”

About the Pura Belpré Award
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 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 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.

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NOTES:

• Related post: Award-winning Latino children’s books: Pura Belpré (Hispanic Houston)
• Source: Pura Belpré Award home page
• Related post: DiCamillo, Floca, Sedgwick Win Newbery, Caldecott, Printz (Publisher’s Weekly)
• Related post: American Library Association announces 2014 youth media award winners (ALA News)

Sandra Fernandez

Sandra Fernandez is a professional communicator, tech enthusiast, book lover, and blogger. You can find her main blog at SandraSays.com and more of her writing at HispanicHouston.com.