Belpré, Pura << behl PRAY, POOR uh >> (1899-1982), was a Puerto Rican-born librarian, author, and storyteller. The Pura Belpré Award was named in her honor, for her contributions to literature for Hispanic children. The award is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Sciences to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking. It is given annually to Latino or Latina authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults. The award recognizes those, in the opinion of the judges, “whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.”
Belpré was born in Cidra, Puerto Rico, on Feb. 2, 1899, and settled in New York City , New York, about 1920. She began her career as a children’s librarian in 1921, when she became the first Hispanic librarian at the New York Public Library. While working at various library branches in New York City, she was responsible for expanding Puerto Rican folklore programs, including storytelling and puppet theaters. Belpré wrote many books aimed at Hispanic children, beginning with Perez and Martina: A Puerto Rican Folktale (1932). She also wrote The Tiger and the Rabbit and Other Tales (1946), Ote: A Puerto Rican Folk Tale (1969), and Dance of the Animals: A Puerto Rican Folk Tale (1972). In addition, Belpré translated many English-language children’s books into Spanish.
Belpré resigned from the New York Public Library in 1944 to travel with her husband, composer Clarence Cameron White, and write. She returned to the library in 1961, following her husband’s death, and retired in 1968. She continued to work on special projects for several years. Belpré died on July 1, 1982. The Pura Belpré Award was established in 1996.
