Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré - by Anika Aldamuy Denise (Paperback)

About the Book

When Pura Belprâe came to America in 1921, she carried the cuentos folklâoricos of her Puerto Rican homeland. Finding a new home at the New York Public Library as a bilingual assistant, she turned her popular retellings into libros and spread story seeds across the land. This captivating portrait of the author, puppeteer, and first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City reminds us of the power of storytelling and the extraordinary woman who opened doors and championed bilingual literature. --

Book Synopsis

RECIPIENT OF THE PURA BELPRÉ HONOR

* A Today Show's Best Kids' Books of 2019 * Indie Next List Pick * Junior Library Guild Selection *

"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)

An inspiring picture book biography of storyteller, puppeteer, and New York City's first Puerto Rican librarian, who championed bilingual literature.

When she came to America in 1921, Pura Belpré carried the cuentos folklóricos of her Puerto Rican homeland. Finding a new home at the New York Public Library as a bilingual assistant, she turned her popular retellings into libros and spread story seeds across the land. Today, these seeds have grown into a lush landscape as generations of children and storytellers continue to share her tales and celebrate Pura's legacy.

Brought to colorful life by Paola Escobar's elegant and exuberant illustrations and Anika Aldamuy Denise's lyrical text, this gorgeous book is perfect for the pioneers in your life.

Informative backmatter and suggested further reading included.

A Spanish-language edition, Sembrando historias: Pura Belpré bibliotecaria y narradora de cuentos, is also available.

"Anika Aldamuy Denise's intimate 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

From the Back Cover

FOLLOW LA VIDA Y EL LEGADO OF PURA BELPRÉ, THE FIRST PUERTO RICAN LIBRARIAN IN NEW YORK CITY

When she came to America in 1921, Pura carried the cuentos folklóricos of her Puerto Rican homeland. Finding a new home at the New York Public Library as a bilingual assistant, she turned her popular retellings into libros and spread story seeds across the land. Today, these seeds have grown into a lush landscape as generations of children and storytellers continue to share her tales and celebrate Pura's legacy.

This portrait of the influential librarian, author, and puppeteer reminds us of the power of storytelling and the extraordinary woman who opened doors and championed bilingual literature.

Review Quotes

"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 plants an idea of her own--that telling stories is a crucial activity for keeping culture alive." - Publishers Weekly
"Denise and Escobar pay tribute to the legacy of librarian Pura Belpré in this vibrant picture-book biography...Planting Stories is a glossy immigration tale of dreams coming true, and the lyrical language lends itself to being read aloud." - ALA Booklist
"[A] delightfully informative title." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"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
"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)
"Based on a true story, Planting Stories is both inspirational and a solid nod to follow your dreams." - Reading Eagle
"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
"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 Planting Stories is a worthy tribute." - Shelf Awareness
"With merry digital illustrations, this enchanting biography renders Belpré's books as mirrors for Puerto Rican kids and as windows into her culture for everyone else." - San Francisco Chronicle
"This darling picture book will inspire and delight." - Hispanic Living
A perfect book to share with a kid who loves a good trip to the library. - Book Riot
"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
"A lively narrative perfect for reading aloud." - Cooperative Children's Book Center
"This lush and colorful book celebrates Belpré's life and legacy, and encourages young storytellers to keep sharing their tales with the world." - A Mighty Girl
"A reverent tribute to a groundbreaking librarian." - Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
"Anika Aldamuy Denise's intimate 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
"The arc of Belpré's life and legacy is shown in a way that recalls the emotionally gripping opening sequence from the movie Up as words and pictures combine powerfully to convey the impact of Belpré's work." - BookPage