Latino authors and illustrators honored for outstanding works in children’s literature

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Contact: Macey Morales


Public Information Office (PIO)

Recipients of prestigious Pura  Belpré Medal 
accept awards, sign winning books

CHICAGO – Hundreds will  gather for an  event that celebrates the most influential Latino authors and   illustrators of children’s literature.   The Pura Belpré Celebración  will serve as a national backdrop for the  presentation of the coveted  Pura Belpré Medal, an award that recognizes Latino  authors and  illustrators of children’s literature. The event, open to  registered  conference-goers, will take place from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. on Sunday,  June  27, 2010 at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel/East State Ballrooms,  during  the American Library Association (ALA)  Annual conference taking place from June  24 to June 29 in Washington, D.C.

Given annually, the Pura Belpré  Medal is awarded to a Latino writer  and illustrator whose work best portrays,  affirms and celebrates the  Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of  literature for  children and youth. The award is known worldwide for the high  quality  it represents and serves as a guideline for educators, parents and   bookstores for the best of the best in Latino-themed children’s  literature.

The event will honor the  following 2010 Belpré Medal winners  and honorees:

• Julia  Alvarez, author  of “Return to Sender,”  published by  Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House  Children’s Books.
• Rafael López, illustrator of “Book   Fiesta!: Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day; Celebremos El día de los  niños/El  día de los libros,” written by Pat Mora and published  by Rayo, an  imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
• Carmen T. Bernier-Grand and  David Diaz, author  and illustrator of “Diego: Bigger Than Life,” published by  Marshall  Cavendish Children.
• Georgina Lázaro, author of “Federico Garcia   Lorca,” illustrated by Enrique S. Moreiro and published by Lectorum  Publications Inc., a subsidiary of Scholastic Inc.
• Yuyi Morales, illustrator of “My   Abuelita,” written by Tony Johnston and published by Harcourt   Children’s Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
• John Parra, illustrator of “Gracias.   Thanks,” written by Pat Mora and published by Lee & Low  Books Inc.

Event highlights include a performance  by Los Quetzales Mexican  Dance Ensemble under the direction of Laura Ortiz. Participating   authors will sign copies of their award-winning books.

The Pura Belpré Medal is named in  honor of Pura Belpré, the first  Latina librarian from the New York Public  Library. As a children’s  librarian, storyteller and author, she enriched the  lives of Latino  children through her pioneering work of preserving and  disseminating  Puerto Rican folklore. The award is given by the Association for   Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division  of the American Library  Association (ALA),  and co-sponsored by the National Association to Promote  Library and  Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking (REFORMA).

For more information regarding  the Pura Belpré Medal please visit http://tinyurl.com/Belprémedal. 
ALSC is the world’s largest  organization  dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to   children.  With a network of more than 4,200 children’s and youth   librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is  committed to creating a better future for  children through libraries.  To  learn more about ALSC,  visit their Web site at www.ala.org/alsc.

Founded in 1971, REFORMA is committed  to  promoting the development of library collections that include Spanish   language and Latino oriented collections; advocating for library  services and  programs that meet the needs of the Latino community;  educating the Latino  population of the availability of library  resources; and the recruitment of  bilingual and bicultural library  professionals and support staff. For more  information on REFORMA, visit www.reforma.org.