From School Library Journal
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K-Gr 3—A picture book biography of one of the most significant
and inspiring figures in library history. Pura Belpré, the first
Puerto Rican librarian in New York City, initially arrived in
Manhattan to attend her sister's wedding. Intrigued perhaps by
the "hustle and bustle" of this "new island," she decided to
stay, finding temporary work as a seamstress. Belpré truly found
her calling when she took a position as a bilingual assistant
(the text notes that was she was, in fact, trilingual) at a
neighborhood library, and went on to transform library services
through culturally diverse storytelling, published books, and
targeted outreach. Denise sprinkles her lyrical verse with
Spanish, and emphasizes Belpré's love of stories, plucking the
title of the book from her desire "to be like Johnny
Appleseed... my story across the land." Escobar's warm
illustrations enliven the subject and carry the motif by
depicting Belpré in impeccably stylish outfits and accessories
detailed with floral patterns. Because of the composition style,
readers are given only brief depictions of significant moments in
Belpré's personal and professional life, but Denise provides a
detailed author's note, summarizing Belpré's lasting impact, and
includes a great a of back matter. VERDICT An appealing
tribute and successful remedy to the lack of titles about the
groundbreaking librarian. This book pairs nicely with Lucia
Gonzalez's The Storyteller's Candle, and is a must-have for all
libraries.—Jessica Agudelo, New York Public Library
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Review
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“An appealing tribute and successful remedy to the lack of
titles about the groundbreaking librarian…a must-have for all
libraries.” (School Library Journal (starred review))
“Anika Aldamuy Denise’s telling captures the magical,
folk-tale feeling of Belpré’s own stories. Her lyrical text,
sprinkled like fairy dust with Spanish words, begs to be read
aloud, while Paola Escobar’s stylishly detailed and warmly
expressive illustrations capture the joy of sharing stories.”
(New York Times Book Review)
“Denise and Escobar pay tribute to the legacy of librarian Pura
Belpré in this vibrant picture-book biography…ing Stories is
a glossy immigration tale of dreams coming true, and the lyrical
language lends itself to being read aloud.” (ALA Booklist)
“Belpré’s story is told in rhythmic language with a good dose of
Spanish sprinkled throughout. Escobar’s vibrant illustrations are
filled with details that help bring to life the story of this
remarkable librarian.” (Kirkus Reviews)
“Denise s an idea of her own—that telling stories is a
crucial activity for keeping culture alive.” (Publishers Weekly)
“Denise’s descriptive language moves between English and Spanish
seamlessly, without italics used or translations needed, and
portrays a lively Pura…Expressive digital illustrations in earthy
colors portray warm and radiant characters.” (The Horn Book)
“[A] delightfully informative title.” (Bulletin of the Center for
Children’s Books)
“The story is beautiful to look at and to read, and it showcases
one of the first people to recognize the need for young readers
to have books that reflected who they are.” (NBCNews.com)
“This excellent read-aloud, with its informative author’s note
and bibliographic resources… will likely inspire young readers to
create their own tales to share with others.” (Shelf Awareness)
“Pura Belpré led a rich life filled with travel, music, and
countless stories. Her own inspiring story is beautifully
presented in this perfect picture book…. The influence of her
work is still felt today, and ing Stories is a worthy
tribute.” (Shelf Awareness)
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