The Storyteller's Candle / La velita de los cuentos

by Lucia Gonzalez, Lulu Delacre (Illustrator)

Overview

Pura Belpré Author Award Honor - American Library Association (ALA)
Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Honor - American Library Association (ALA)

Bilingual English/Spanish. A bilingual biography of Pura Belpré, New York City's first Latina librarian.

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.

The award-winning team of Lucía González and Lulu Delacre have crafted an 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780892392377
Publisher:	Lee & Low Books
Publication date:	04/01/2013
Edition description:	Bilingual: English & Spanish
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.70(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.20(d)
Language:	Spanish
Lexile:	730L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 11 Years

About the Author

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. A recipient of the Pura Belpré Honor Medal, Lucía lives in Miami, Florida with her family, friends, and two cats.

Lulu Delacre, three-time Pura Belpré Award honoree and winner of an Orbis Pictus Honor, is the illustrator of numerous award-winning books, several of which she also wrote or compiled. Her books include fiction and nonfiction and range from picture books to young adult titles. Delacre was born and grew up in Puerto Rico, where she loved to draw pictures, enjoy nature, and partake of the culture and traditions of her native island. Her experiences there are the inspiration for many of her works. Delacre and her husband live in Washington, DC. Learn more at luludelacre.com.

Editorial Reviews

* "[T]his 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 Reviews

"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

"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

Pura Belpré Author Award Honor - American Library Association (ALA)
Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Honor - American Library Association (ALA)

ALSC Notable Children's Books - American Library Association (ALA)
Américas Award - Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs
International Latino Book Award Honorable Mention - Empowering Latino Futures
Jane Addams Children's Book Award - Jane Addams Peace Association

From the Publisher