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 ALSC and REFORMA.

For these awards, Latino/Latina is defined as people whose heritage emanates from any of the Spanish speaking cultures of the Western Hemisphere. The author award is selected for the most outstanding text in an eligible book, and the illustrator award is chosen for the most outstanding eligible picture book. Books for children 0 - 14 are considered. The books must be published in the U.S. or Puerto Rico, and the author(s) or illustrator(s) must be residents or citizens of the U.S. or Puerto Rico.

The Award was established in 1996 and has been presented every two years since. The most recent awards were as follows:

• In 2000, the narrative award went to Alma Flor Ada for Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba (Atheneum), and the picture book award went to Carmen Lomas Garza for Magic Windows, (Children's Book Press.)  

• In 2002, the narrative award went to Pam Munoz Ryan for Esperanza Rising (Scholastic Press) and the picture book award to Susan Guevara for Chato and the Party Animals (G. P. Putnam's Sons.)

• In 2004, the narrative award went to Julia Alvarez for Before we were free (Alfred A. Knopf) and the picture book award to Yuyi Morales for Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book (Chronicle Books.)

• In 2006, the narrative award went to Viola Canales for The Tequila Worm (Wendy Lamb Books) and the award for illustration went to Raúl Colón for Doña Flor: A Tall Tale about a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart (A. Knopf.)

For a complete list of past winners see http://www.ala.org/alsc/belpre.html. To submit works for consideration: Review the terms and criteria for the award available at: http://www.ala.org/alsc/belpre_terms.html. Send one copy of the work to the ALSC office (50 East Huron, Chicago, IL 60611-2795). Please indicate for which award the submission is intended. Submit one copy of the work to the award committee chair. You have the option of sending a copy of the work to each committee member, but it is not required.

Visit the Pura Belpré Award Endowment Web page at the following link: http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/belpremedal/BelpreEndowment.htm

The deadline for submitting works is December 31 of the publication year for all awards. Questions regarding the award can be referred to: 

Barbara Scotto, Chair
2006 Pura Belpre Award Committee
barbara_scotto@brookline.mec.edu

Please spread the word and encourage your colleagues to submit nominations. Please take note of the deadline: December 31st.