The Life of / La vida de Pura

Introduce your little ones to the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City, Pura Belpré, in both English and Spanish!

A gifted puppeteer and storyteller, Pura Belpré captivated millions of bilingual readers across New York City – and worldwide. Her children’s book, Perez y Martina, 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 Puerto Rican community that the Pura Belpré Award is named after her legacy.

Author

Patty Rodriguez is the cofounder of Lil’ Libros, a publisher of bilingual children’s books and coauthor of more than 15 books celebrating the Latino-American experience in this country. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Time, and Rolling Stone magazine. You can also listen to Patty every morning in Los Angeles on the On Air with Ryan Seacrest nationally syndicated radio show. She lives in Los Angeles, California.

Ariana Stein is the cofounder of Lil’ Libros, a Los Angeles-based publisher that celebrates bilingualism and Latin American culture. Since 2014, she has coauthored a variety of first concept children’s books. She has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Forbes, CNN, KTLA, and more.

Citlali Reyes, born and raised in Mexico, loved to doodle as a child. It was after studying architecture that she was drawn toward the enchanting world of illustration and chose to become an illustrator full-time. Citlali enjoys telling stories through pictures, and her work is strongly influenced by the culture and vibrant colors of her country. She has partnered with Lil’ Libros to illustrate more than 15 popular bilingual picture books for children in their board book collection.