Why did I love this book?
This lyrical picture book biography, written by Anika Aldamuy Denise and gorgeously illustrated by Paola Escobar, tells the story of Pura Belpré, the first Puerto Rican librarian hired by the New York Public Library. Belpré recognized the importance of bilingual storytimes and preserving Puerto Rican folktales, instituting what we might now call culturally responsive outreach in Spanish-speaking communities across New York City.
6 authors picked Planting Stories as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.
FOLLOW LA VIDA Y EL LEGADO OF PURA BELPRE, THE FIRST PUERTO RICAN LIBRARIAN IN NEW YORK CITY
When she came to America in 1921, Pura carried the cuentos folkloricos 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…