The winter of 1929 feels especially cold to cousins Hildamar and Santiago—they arrived in New York City from sunny Puerto Rico only months before. Their island home feels very far away indeed, especially with Three Kings’ Day rapidly approaching.
But then a magical thing happened. A visitor appears in their class, a gifted storyteller and librarian by the name of Pura Belpré. She opens the children’s eyes to the public library and its potential to be the living, breathing heart of the community. The library, after all, belongs to everyone—whether you speak Spanish, English, or both.
Award-winners Lucía González and Lulu Delacre have crafted an affecting homage to Pura Belpré, New York City’s first Latina librarian. Through her vision and dedication, the warmth of Puerto Rico came to the island of Manhattan in a most unexpected way.
Lucía González is an award-winning author, storyteller and children’s librarian. Born in Cuba, Lucía is a dynamic bilingual performer celebrated for her storytelling technique. Lucía performs string stories, puppetry and anecdotes about growing up in Cuba and coming to America, and about the legends of various Latino cultures. She is also the Associate Director for Programming, Literacy and Youth Services for Broward County Library and chair of the Children's and YA Services committee for REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and other Spanish Speakers. She received the Pura Belpré Honor Medal by the American Library Association in 1996. Lucía lives in Miami, Florida with her family, friends, and two cats. Lucía is donating her royalties for The Storyteller’s Candle to the Pura Belpré Award Endowment.
Lulu Delacre is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books. Born in Puerto Rico to Argentinean parents, she began to draw as a child. She received her first formal art training in Buenos Aires at the age of 10. A common thread in her work, which has been exhibited internationally, is the celebration of her Latino heritage. The illustrator of 32 books (the author of half of those), Lulu and her work has received wide acclaim. Lulu is the two-time winner of the Pura Belpré Honor Medal. She conducts teacher workshops and gives speeches related to her work as an author and illustrator. Lulu lives with her family in Silver Spring, Maryland.
- 2009 Pura Belpré Honor Awards for Narrative and Illustration
- 2009 Jane Addams Children's Book Award, Honor Book
- 2009 Américas Award, Honor
- 2009 ALA Notable Book
- 2009 Skipping Stones Honor Award
- 2009 International Latino Book Awards, Honorable Mention
- 2008 ForeWord Book of the Year Award, Finalist
- 2009-2010 Tejas Star Book Award Nominee
“...this warmhearted Spanish/English bilingual story adopts the perspective of two children who are inspired by Belpré to enter a library for the very first time… With this simple and affectionate story, González and Delacre...broadcast Belpré’s welcome message to new generations of immigrants: ‘Remember, the library belongs to you all...” —Publishers Weekly Starred Review
“The well-written text is presented in both Spanish and English. The illustrations were created with layers of oil washes and collage. Tantalizing bits of the New York Times from that date are embedded in the artwork, giving hints of the larger world-steamship arrivals, theater reviews, and even an account of Three Kings' Day in San Juan. Sepia tones evoke the time period and the setting. A lovely offering about the role of librarians in the lives of children.” —School Library Journal
“[González’s] text is charming and so filled with the voices of her characters that one gets a rich sense of community, and most of all, of Pura Belpré.” —ForeWord
“This wonderful mini-biography introduces readers to a true literary hero, the first Latina librarian in the New York Public Library system.” —MultiCultural Review
“Both the English and Spanish narratives have considerable flow and propulsion, which make the book a perfect fit for storytimes, especially during the holiday season. A sound addition for most public and school library collections.” —Críticas Magazine
“This is a warm, winning introduction to the work of the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York, whose name was given to the American Librarian Association's annual award that honors Latino authors and illustrators.” —Booklist
