The Life of / La vida de Pura

Pura Belpré was born on February 2, 1899 in Cidra, Puerto Rico. A gifted puppeteer and storyteller, Belpré captivated millions of bilingual readers across New York City - and worldwide. Her children's book, , became the first Spanish language children's book published by a mainstream U.S. press. She left such a lasting impact on the reading world and Latino community that the Pura Belpré Award is named in honor her legacy.