Planting Stories

I have always been fascinated by storytelling, and this book about a librarian pleases me so! What I especially love about this book is the metaphoric writing device of planting story seeds and how Pura Belpré, storyteller, puppeteer, and New York City’s first Puerto Rican librarian, shared her tales from her homeland along her journey.

The lyrical writing captures the magic of Belpré’s stories, inspiring readers to read and write. 

In this story about Pura Belpre, the Puerto Rican librarian, we learn about her journey of planting story seeds throughout the country. It all starts when she moves to the United States. Working as a bilingual librarian assistant, she notices there are no Puerto Rican stories. So, she writes her own and plants also dream seeds. This is a sparse, lyrical book with vivid and sweet illustrations. 

I picked up this book because of the illustrations on the cover, and the kids and I ended up loving the story! I didn’t know anything about Pura Belpre prior to picking up this book, and neither did the kids. We found her story fascinating and learned so much about her. (She was the first librarian, puppeteer, and author of Puerto Rican descent in NYC). Also, the artwork in this book is so beautiful!

I love books that are both beautiful to look at and beautiful to read. Planting Stories is the gorgeously illustrated and delightfully told story of Pura Belpre’, New York City’s first Puerto Rican librarian. Belpre’ was also a puppeteer and a storyteller who charmed children and adults alike with stories of her homeland. 

Pura Belpré’s persistence in sharing her stories and belief in her Puerto Rican heritage, one that all children deserve to know about, resulted in a rich legacy of culturally diverse storytelling and published books throughout America. Pura Belpré was the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City. She championed bilingual literature and spread story seeds across the land. In her honor, the American Library Association annually presents the Pura Belpré Award to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose literary work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience.

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.