Hispanic Heritage Month is a great time to check out the winners of this year’s Pura Belpré Awards. These awards are given out annually by the American Library Association to honor Latino authors and illustrators whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children’s books. The awards are named for New York’s first Puerto Rican librarian.
Abuelo, the sea, and me
by
2025 Pura Belpré Youth Illustrator Honor
This heartwarming story that explores intergenerational connection, the immigrant experience and heritage follows a young girl and her abuelo as they spend time together at their favorite place—the beach—where he tells her about his youth in Havana, Cuba.
2025 Pura Belpré Youth Illustrator Honor
This heartwarming story that explores intergenerational connection, the immigrant experience and heritage follows a young girl and her abuelo as they spend time together at their favorite place—the beach—where he tells her about his youth in Havana, Cuba.
A maleta full of treasures
by
2025 Pura Belpré Youth Illustrator Honor
As her Abuela prepares to leave, Dulce gathers items for her cousins to send home with Abuela to remind her cousins of the U.S. relatives they've never met and learns that home isn't just a place but the deep-rooted love they share no matter the distance.
2025 Pura Belpré Youth Illustrator Honor
As her Abuela prepares to leave, Dulce gathers items for her cousins to send home with Abuela to remind her cousins of the U.S. relatives they've never met and learns that home isn't just a place but the deep-rooted love they share no matter the distance.
The dream catcher
by
2025 Pura Belpré Youth Illustrator Award
An uplifting story about a boy who stays true to his biggest dream while finding the magic in every moment shows how living in the here and now can be a journey every bit as beautiful as a dream.
2025 Pura Belpré Youth Illustrator Award
An uplifting story about a boy who stays true to his biggest dream while finding the magic in every moment shows how living in the here and now can be a journey every bit as beautiful as a dream.
Cruzita and the mariacheros
by
2025 Pura Belpré Children's Author Honor
Cruzita must save her family's failing panaderia by winning a mariachi band contest--the only problem is she hates mariachi and cannot speak Spanish.
2025 Pura Belpré Children's Author Honor
Cruzita must save her family's failing panaderia by winning a mariachi band contest--the only problem is she hates mariachi and cannot speak Spanish.
Ultraviolet
by
2025 Pura Belpré Children's Author Honor
Bent on revenge after betrayal and heartbreak, eighth grader Elio Solis doesn't anticipate that a fight to prove his manhood and defend his girlfriend's honor will lead to dire consequences, in this hilarious, heartwarming and highly relatable coming-of-age story about puberty, hormones and first love.
2025 Pura Belpré Children's Author Honor
Bent on revenge after betrayal and heartbreak, eighth grader Elio Solis doesn't anticipate that a fight to prove his manhood and defend his girlfriend's honor will lead to dire consequences, in this hilarious, heartwarming and highly relatable coming-of-age story about puberty, hormones and first love.
Lola
by
2025 Pura Belpré Children's Author Award
To save her brother, who's growing sicker by the day, 10-year-old Lola, touched by magic, enters a hidden world where she must use her wits and face her deepest fears to defeat the kingdom's young queen who stands in the way of the cure.
2025 Pura Belpré Children's Author Award
To save her brother, who's growing sicker by the day, 10-year-old Lola, touched by magic, enters a hidden world where she must use her wits and face her deepest fears to defeat the kingdom's young queen who stands in the way of the cure.
Libertad
by
2025 Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Honor
In 2017 Honduras, as the 2017 presidential election looms, queer high school senior Libertad faces homophobia at home and school and threats to her political poetry online, and when tragedy strikes, she must speak her truth or leave the only home she's ever known.
2025 Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Honor
In 2017 Honduras, as the 2017 presidential election looms, queer high school senior Libertad faces homophobia at home and school and threats to her political poetry online, and when tragedy strikes, she must speak her truth or leave the only home she's ever known.
Wild dreamers
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2025 Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Honor
Living out of their car ever since her militant father became one of the FBI's most wanted, Ana meets Leandro, who struggles with crippling anxiety, and forming an instant connection, they fight to protect wildlife and heal from their troubled pasts.
2025 Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Honor
Living out of their car ever since her militant father became one of the FBI's most wanted, Ana meets Leandro, who struggles with crippling anxiety, and forming an instant connection, they fight to protect wildlife and heal from their troubled pasts.
Shut up, this is serious
by
2025 Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Award
An unforgettable YA debut about two Latina teens growing up in East Oakland as they discover that the world is brimming with messy complexities.
2025 Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Award
An unforgettable YA debut about two Latina teens growing up in East Oakland as they discover that the world is brimming with messy complexities.