Pura Belpré Honor Books

Author Honor Books
• Diego: Bigger than Life by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, illustrated by David Diaz (Cavendish) review
• Federico García Lorca by Georgina Lázaro, illustrated by Enrique S. Moreiro (Lectorum) not reviewed

Illustrator Honor Books
• Diego: Bigger than Life illustrated by David Diaz, written by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand (Cavendish) review
• My Abuelita illustrated by Yuyi Morales, written by Tony Johnston (Harcourt) review to come
• Gracias / Thanks illustrated by John Parra, written by Pat Mora (Lee & Low) review

How the Horn Book reviewed the winners

Julia Alvarez  Return to Sender
      Knopf
      Reviewed fall 2009
After an accident injures Tyler’s father, their farm is in danger of folding — until a family of Mexican immigrants (some illegal) comes to help. Tyler befriends Mari, the oldest daughter, and helps the family reunite with Mari’s mother, to whom Mari writes heartfelt letters. The various relationships are complicated and nuanced, and the issues Alvarez raises will give readers pause. ERG

Mora, Pat  Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children’s Day / Book Day / Celebremos el día de los niños / El día de los libros; illus. by Rafael López
      Rayo/HarperCollins
      Reviewed fall 2009
This volume extends the Mexican celebration of El día de los niños (The Day of the Child) by adding books to the mix (El día de los libros). Mora’s rhymed text extols reading anywhere, anytime, and together with anyone. López’s rich-hued images of children reading in unexpected places (e.g., an elephant’s back) and exotic locales rejoice in imagination and universality. TW

Carmen T. Bernier-Grand  Diego: Bigger than Life; illus. by David Diaz
      Marshall Cavendish
      Reviewed 5/09
Bernier-Grand (who wrote about Frida Kahlo in Frida: ¡Viva la Vida! / Long Live Life!) uses free verse to chronicle the childhood of Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, before highlighting the passions — art, women, and politics — of his adult life. (“Critics said my Mexican cubism was interesting. / I could live on it. The rich bought it. / It hung where the poor couldn’t afford to go. / That wasn’t what I wanted. / I resigned cubism.”) These vignettes are appropriately accompanied by Diaz’s vibrantly colored mixed-media silhouettes and occasionally — and to great effect — Rivera’s own paintings. This offering makes an excellent companion to the poet’s previous books, not just because Frida Kahlo and Rivera were (twice) married, nor yet because Diaz and Bernier- Grand also collaborated on César, a verse biography of César Chávez, but because all these books celebrate the symbiotic relationship between art and politics in Latino culture. Extensive back matter — glossary, chronology, bibliography, notes, and quotes — is appended. J.H.

Tony Johnston  My Abuelita; illus. by Yuyi Morales
      Harcourt
review to come

Pat Mora  Gracias / Thanks; trans. by Adriana Dominguez; illus. by John Parra
      Lee & Low
      Reviewed 1/10
From morning till night, a young boy says thanks — to the sun that wakes him up “so I don’t sleep for years and years,” to his pajamas, “so soft they feel like I’m putting on air.” In between, he’s grateful for friends and family, ocean waves, and ladybugs. Often poetic (the ladybug is “a little red flying surprise”), often funny (the boy is thankful for his mother, who found his lost homework), Mora’s text is presented in Spanish first, then English, a respectful nod to Spanish-speaking readers. Parra’s folk-art-style acrylic illustrations look as though they’re painted on wood; the lines and imperfections give the pictures a worn, homey appearance that matches the sweetness of the text and the old-fashioned feel of the setting. This grateful lad has simple, low-tech belongings such as a baseball and glove, a kite, and a microscope — not a video game in sight. But there’s nothing outmoded about the sentiment, and many young readers will see themselves or someone they know in this biracial Latino boy who likes fishing, listening to his uncle’s electric guitar, and eating chocolate syrup on ice cream. JENNIFER M. BRABANDER

2010 ALA awards