2025 Pura Belpré Award | PreK-12 Books & Hands-on Learning | Free Resources & PDF Tool

ALL BOOKS & HANDS-ON LISTS  >  2025 ALA AWARD WINNERS & CONTENDERS

2025 Pura Belpré Award

The Pura Belpré Award recognizes outstanding Latinx authors and illustrators whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latinx cultural experience in children's literature. Established in 1996, the award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Puerto Rican librarian at the New York Public Library, who was known for her dedication to serving the Latinx community and promoting bilingual literature for children. The award has two main categories: Author award and Illustrator award. 

Our expert certified librarians at Follett Content compile a list of contenders for Pura Belpré Award. This list is available for educators to research, share, or download a PDF of the list with our free export options.

All Award Seals and images are owned and trademarked by the American Library Association (ALA). © 1996–2024 American Library Association 

Download Book List

The Mango Tree = LA Mata de Mango

By Rodriguez, Edel
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
4 Professional reviews

The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky

By Galarza, Josh
Fiction
Young Adult
2 Professional reviews

The Girl, the Ring, & the Baseball Bat

By Gomera-Tavarez, Camille
Fiction
Young Adult
5 Professional reviews

The Beautiful Game

By Mendez, Yamile Saied
Fiction
Upper Elementary
1 Professional review

Prohibido Llorar

By Valle, Gama
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
1 Professional review

One Last Chance to Live

By Stork, Francisco X
Fiction
Young Adult
4 Professional reviews

No More Senora Mimi

By Medina, Meg
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
5 Professional reviews
Resources Available

Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice

By Lapera, Anna
Fiction
Middle School
5 Professional reviews

Mama's Panza

By Quintero, Isabel
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
3 Professional reviews

Mama's Magnificent Dancing Plantitas

By Trejo, Jesus
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
3 Professional reviews

Grandma's Hair Is Ankle Length

By Camacho-Church, Adriana
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
1 Professional review

Desert Song

By Kemp, Laekan Zea
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
5 Professional reviews

Cruzita and the Mariacheros

By Granillo, Ashley Jean
Fiction
Middle School
3 Professional reviews

Call ME Roberto! : Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos

By Alonso, Nathalie
Biography; Nonfiction
Upper Elementary
5 Professional reviews

Call ME Iggy

By Aguirre, Jorge Augusto
Nonfiction
Young Adult
3 Professional reviews

Brownstone

By Teer, Samuel
Nonfiction
Middle School
4 Professional reviews

Borderlands and the Mexican American Story (Race to the Truth)

By Romo, David Dorado
Nonfiction
Middle School
3 Professional reviews

Best Believe : the Tres Hermanas, a Sisterhood for the Common Good

By Ramos, NoNieqa
Nonfiction
Lower Elementary
4 Professional reviews

Barrio Rising : the Protest That Built Chicano Park

By Aguila, Maria Dolores
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
5 Professional reviews

Angelica and LA Guira

By Cruz, Angie
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
4 Professional reviews

Abuelita's Gift : a Dia de Muertos Story

By Rios Ramirez, Mariana
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
2 Professional reviews

A Second Chance on Earth

By Vidal, Juan
Fiction
Young Adult
4 Professional reviews

A Maleta Full of Treasures

By Sylvester, Natalia
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
3 Professional reviews

A Lomo de Cuento Por Colombia: El Hijo Del Sol y de LA Luna (Storybook Ride)

By Andricain, Sergio
Nonfiction
Lower Elementary
1 Professional review

A Flicker of Hope

By Harmony, Cynthia
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
6 Professional reviews

A Bridge Home

By Frazier, Mona Alvarado
Fiction
Young Adult
1 Professional review

Ultraviolet

By Salazar, Aida
Fiction
Middle School
4 Professional reviews

Wild Dreamers

By Engle, Margarita
Fiction
Young Adult
3 Professional reviews

Uno Mas, One More

By Lopez, Silvia
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
1 Professional review

The Perfect Place

By de la Pena, Matt
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
3 Professional reviews

Tamales for Christmas

By Briseno, Stephen
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
3 Professional reviews

Shut Up, This Is Serious

By Ixta, Carolina
Fiction
Young Adult
6 Professional reviews

Across So Many Seas

By Behar, Ruth
Fiction
Middle School
6 Professional reviews
Resources Available

My Daddy Is a Cowboy

By Seales, Stephanie
Fiction; Easy
Lower Elementary
4 Professional reviews

Pass the Note!

Create a free personalized PDF download of your book and hands-on learning resource picks from this exceptional list!

34

titles displayed from the 2025 Pura Belpré Award list available on Titlewave.

Custom Quotes

For special pricing on large collection/bulk ordering for your school library or multiple classrooms, including book processing services.

This list has not been tailored based on budget, curriculum, or other specifications. We encourage you to review this list closely to ensure that it meets the needs of your school community before placing your order.