Established in 1996, this Award is named after Pura Belpre, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpre Awards honor a Latino writer and illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of children's or young adult literature.
Past Pura Belpre Medal Winners
2016: Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir, by Margarita Engle; Drum Dream Girl, illustrated by Rafael Lopez and written by Margarita Engle
2015: I Lived on Butterfly Hill, by Marjorie Agosin, illustrated by Lee White; Viva Frida, by Yuyi Morales
2014: Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina; Niño Wrestles the World by Yuyi Morales
2013: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz; Martín de Porres: The Rose in the Desert illustrated by David Diaz, written by Gary D. Schmidt
2012: Under the Mesquite, written by Guadalupe Garcia McCall; Diego Rivera: His Words and Ours, illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh
2011: The Dreamer, written by Pam Munoz Ryan; Grandma's Gift, illustrated & written by Eric Velasquez
2010: Return to Sender, written by Julia Alvarez; Book Fiesta! Celebrate Children's Day/Book Day, illustrated by Rafael Lopez
2009: The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom, written by Margarita Engle; Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book, illustrated & written by Yuyi Morales
2008: The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano, written by Margarita Engle; Los Gatos Black on Halloween, illustrated by Yuyi Morales
2006: The Tequila Worm, written by Viola Canales; Dona Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart, illustrated by Raul Colon.
2004: Before We Were Free, written by Julia Alvarez; Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book, illustrated by Yuyi Morales
2002: Esperanza Rising, written by Pam Munoz Ryan; Chato and the Party Animals, illustrated by Susan Guevara
2000: Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba, written by Alma Flor Ada; Magic Windows, illustrated by Carmen Lomas Garza
1998: Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida, written by Victor Martinez; Snapshots from the Wedding, illustrated by Stephanie Garcia
1996: An Island Like You, written by Judith Ortiz Cofer; Chato's Kitchen, illustrated and written by Gary Soto
