I’m happy to announce that my children’s novel, Lety Out Loud, was named a 2020 Pura Belpré Honor Book. Woo hoo!
Wait! What is a Pura Belpré award?
The Pura Belpré Award was named for the first Latina librarian in New York City. Annually, the American Library Association (ALA) and Reforma, an affiliate of the ALA, present the Pura Belpré award to a Latino or Latina author and illustrator whose work best portrays the Latino cultural experience in a work of children’s literature. Learn More about the Pura Belpré Award
How did they tell me the big news?
Typically, an award committee member will call the author the night before the announcement. I missed the call. :) I had switched off my phone that evening to watch the Grammy Music Awards. Who does that?!
Me.
The next morning, my Scholastic editor, Anna, tried to reach me by phone. After a few failed attempts, she sent me an email with the subject line: Big news for Lety!
She also wrote that she’d try another call in a few minutes. I couldn’t wait to know the “big news,” so I logged onto Twitter for the scoop. Doesn’t everyone? That is how I learned that Lety Out Loud was a 2020 Pura Belpré Honor Award book.
Learn more about Lety Out Loud.
2020 Pura Belpré Author Awards
I was in good company! I was overjoyed to see so many of my favorite books and author friends were also recognized by the Pura Belpré award committee. I’m happy to say I’ve read all of these fantastic books and recommend them.
Learn more about the Pura Belpré Award here.
Acceptance Speech?
You can watch my acceptance speech here: Angela Cervantes Pura Belpre Honor Award Speech
Forever grateful
Again, I want to thank all of the school librarians and booksellers I’ve met through all my book tours and school visits for always treating me like a rockstar and sharing your passion for literacy and love for books. I’m forever grateful to the American Library Association, The Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC), Reforma and the Pura Belpré committee for believing in Lety Out Loud. Big hugs to my Scholastic and Full Circle Literary familia for the support. This honor belongs to all of us.
