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Reviews
Sembrando Historias: Pura Belpré Bibliotecaria y Narradora de Cuentos by Anika Aldamuy Denise
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
This book was recommended to me by a fellow librarian, and given that it was just published, our academic library didn't yet have it. And, considering our academic library serves a large community of library science students, I figured that we could get away with purchasing more resources about librarians. So we did!
Planting Stories is a beautiful, biographical tale about Pura Belpre who made space for herself and her culture in her library. The focus is more on her work as a librarian rather than her as a wife or parent, which was just...incredible. Finally, a biography about a specific aspect of a person's life that doesn't completely shift focus into her home life!
Not only that, but the illustrations are absolutely beautiful--they're colorful, evocative, bright, joyful. I'm going to definitely keep an eye on this book as the year continues. I think this book will make its way into award committee meetings, either for its nonfiction genre or for its illustrations. I mean, maybe it's my own bias of absolute love for this book, but I also think that this book, if more widely recognized, will take the literary world by storm. I'm excited to see where it goes!
Review cross-listed here!
Planting Stories is a beautiful, biographical tale about Pura Belpre who made space for herself and her culture in her library. The focus is more on her work as a librarian rather than her as a wife or parent, which was just...incredible. Finally, a biography about a specific aspect of a person's life that doesn't completely shift focus into her home life!
Not only that, but the illustrations are absolutely beautiful--they're colorful, evocative, bright, joyful. I'm going to definitely keep an eye on this book as the year continues. I think this book will make its way into award committee meetings, either for its nonfiction genre or for its illustrations. I mean, maybe it's my own bias of absolute love for this book, but I also think that this book, if more widely recognized, will take the literary world by storm. I'm excited to see where it goes!
Review cross-listed here!
johnnymacaroni's review against another edition
5.0
How could I not love a book about a children's librarian? But especially about the inspirational Pura Belpre! Wonderfully told and the illustrations are just gorgeous!
pattydsf's review against another edition
5.0
This review says everything I want to say about this book, but much better than I ever could:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2720311802?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2720311802?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1
fleurdujour's review against another edition
4.0
An extremely beautiful biography of Pura Belpré. I absolutely adored the illustrations, and there's a ton of back matter for further reading which is always appreciated.
carissaplake's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so fun to read and see the life of Pura Belpre. I thought it was interesting that the story came full circle at the end. I would probably use this as a read aloud in my classroom because I want girls, especially those of color, to see that they are able to be successful. This story will help them see themselves in the future.
barbarianlibarian's review against another edition
4.0
adorable pictures, great story, just wish there was a little more depth to it
kristi_starr35's review against another edition
4.0
A beautifully illustrated biography of Pura Belpré, the first Puerto Rican librarian at the NYPL, a multicultural author and storyteller, and the namesake of the American Library Association's prize for Latinx literature.
I would have appreciated more information about her. Did she face and overcome any discrimination? Was her first book submission published as quickly and easily as it appears? She is depicted encountering Clarence White at an ALA event; what was the event, and what recognition was she receiving then? Also, there is no glossary for the Spanish words sprinkled throughout the book. For someone who might be thoroughly unfamiliar with Spanish (and its pronunciation), this could be problematic as a read-aloud.
I would have appreciated more information about her. Did she face and overcome any discrimination? Was her first book submission published as quickly and easily as it appears? She is depicted encountering Clarence White at an ALA event; what was the event, and what recognition was she receiving then? Also, there is no glossary for the Spanish words sprinkled throughout the book. For someone who might be thoroughly unfamiliar with Spanish (and its pronunciation), this could be problematic as a read-aloud.
smallhawk's review against another edition
5.0
The illustrations in this book are beautiful and it tells a lovely story about Pura Belpre immigrating to the United States and becoming the first bilingual librarian at the New York Public Library. Will definitely be using this as a Read Aloud book.