Pura Belpré Award
The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented to a Latino/Latina 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 awards are given biennially.
2004

For Narrative:

Winner:  Before We Were Free, by Julia Alvarez
Honor Books:
  • Cuba 15, by Nancy Osa
  • My Diary from Here to There / Mi Diario de Aquí Hasta Allá, by Amada Irma Pérez
For Illustration:
Winner:  Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book, illustrated and written by Yuyi Morales
Honor Books:
  • First Day in Grapes, illustrated by Robert Casilla, written by L. King Pérez
  • The Pot That Juan Built, illustrated by David Diaz, written by Nancy Andrews-Goebel
  • Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez, illustrated by Yuyi Morales, written by Kathleen Krull
2002

For Narrative:

Winner:  Esperanza Rising, by Pam Munoz Ryan.
Honor Books:
  • Breaking Through, by Francisco Jiménez.
  • Iguanas in the Snow, by Francisco X. Alarcón. Illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez.
For Illustration:
Winner:  Chato and the Party Animals, illustrated by Susan Guevara, written by Gary Soto
Honor Book:  Juan Bobo Goes to Work, illustrated by Joe Cepeda, retold by Marisa Montes
2000

For Narrative:

Winner:  Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba, by Alma Flor Ada
Honor Books:
  • From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems / Del Ombligo de la Luna y Otro Poemas de Verano, by Francisco X. Alarcón. Illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez.
  • Laughing out Loud, I Fly: Poems in English and Spanish, by Juan Felipe Herrera. Illustrated by Karen Barbour.
For Illustration:
Winner:  Magic Windows, illustrated and written by Carmen Lomas Garza.
Honor Books:
  • Barrio: José's Neighborhood, illustrated and written by George Ancona.
  • The Secret Stars, illustrated by Felipe Dávalos. Text by Joseph Slate.
  • Mama & Papa Have a Store, illustrated and written by Amelia Lau Carling.
1998

For narrative:

Winner:  Parrot in the Oven: mi vida, by Victor Martinez.
Honor Books:
  • Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems / Jitomates Risueños y otros poemas de primavera, by Francisco Alarcón,  illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez
  • Spirits of the High Mesa, by Floyd Martinez
For illustration:
Winner:  Snapshots from the Wedding, illustrated by Stephanie Garcia. Text: Gary Soto
Honor Books:
  • In My Family / En mi familia, illustrated and written by Carmen Lomas Garza
  • The Golden Flower: a Taino Myth from Puerto Rico, illustrated by Enrique O. Sánchez, text by Nina Jaffe
  • Gathering the Sun: an Alphabet in Spanish and English, illustrated by Simón Silva, text by Alma Flor Ada, English translation by Rosa Zubizarreta
1996

For Narrative:

Winner:  An Island Like You: Stories of the Barrio, by Judith Ortiz Cofer

Honor Books:

  • The Bossy Gallito / El Gallo de Bodas: A Traditional Cuban Folktale, by Lucía González, illustrated by Lulu Delacre
  • Baseball in April, and Other Stories, by Gary Soto
For Illustration:
Winner:  Chato's Kitchen, illustrated by Susan Guevara, written by Gary Soto

Honor Books:

  • Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead, illustrated and written by George Ancona.  Also published in a Spanish language edition: Pablo Recuerda: La Fiesta de Día de los Muertos
  • The Bossy Gallito / El Gallo de Bodas: A Traditional Cuban Folktale, illustrated by Lulu Delacre, retold by Lucía González 
  • Family Pictures / Cuadros de Familia, illustrated and written by Carmen Lomas Garza. Spanish language text by Rosalma Zubizaretta
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