ShelfEvidentPura Belpré Award
2025 Winner
2025 Shortlist & Longlist
- Honor
- Honor
Complete History
2020s
2010s
- 2019The Poet X — Elizabeth Acevedo
- 2018Lucky Broken Girl
- 2017Juana and Lucas
- 2016Enchanted Air
- 2015I Lived On Butterfly Hill
- 2014Yaqui Delgado Wants To Kick Your Ass
- 2013Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe — Benjamin Alire Sáenz
- 2012Under the Mesquite
- 2011The Dreamer
- 2010Return To Sender
2000s
- 2009The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom (Author) — Margarita Engle
- 2008The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano (Author) — Margarita Engle
- 2006The Tequila Worm (Author) — Viola Canales
- 2004Before We Were Free (Author) — Julia Alvarez
- 2002Esperanza Rising (Author) — Pam Muñoz Ryan
- 2000Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba (Author) — Alma Flor Ada
About the Pura Belpré Award
The Pura Belpré Award is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and a Latino/Latina illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in literature for children and youth. The award is jointly administered by the American Library Association (ALA) and REFORMA (the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking), and has been given since 1996. It is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian in the New York Public Library system, who spent her career preserving and celebrating Puerto Rican folklore through storytelling and published works. The award is presented every two years (since 2009, annually), with the narrative/author award and illustrator award given separately. Honor books are also recognized in each category. The Pura Belpré Award is a vital recognition for Latinx voices in children's and young adult literature.
Frequently Asked Questions
- The Pura Belpré Award recognizes Latino/Latina writers and illustrators whose work best portrays and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by ALA and REFORMA.
- Pura Belpré (1899–1982) was a Puerto Rican storyteller, author, and the first Latina librarian in the New York Public Library. She is celebrated for preserving Puerto Rican folklore and for her life's work in bringing Latino stories to children.
- Yes. The Pura Belpré Award is given separately to a narrative author and to an illustrator. Since 2009, when the award became annual and added a Young Adult category, it recognizes winners and honor books in children's and young adult narrative categories.
- Latino/Latina writers and illustrators who are US residents or citizens and whose work was published in the United States during the eligibility year are eligible. 'Latino/Latina' broadly includes anyone of Hispanic or Latin American heritage.
- The award is announced each year as part of the ALA Youth Media Awards, typically in late January at the ALA Midwinter Meeting.
- No. Books written in English, Spanish, or bilingually are all eligible, provided they authentically celebrate and portray the Latino cultural experience.
- The Award winner is the top honor in each category. Honor books are runner-up titles that also demonstrate excellence in portraying the Latino cultural experience. Multiple honor books may be named each year.