Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpre
By Anika Aldamuy
The Story
A young woman arrives in America in 1921 carrying the folktales of Puerto Rico, becomes New York City's first Puerto Rican librarian, and turns her storytelling into books that spread bilingual stories for generations.
Why It's Special
For the kid who loves hearing about real people who changed the world with something as simple as a good story, this is a quiet kind of hero tale.
- Big idea: The stories we carry from home are worth keeping — and sharing them can change what a whole community gets to see themselves in.
- Vibes: Lyrical, warm, and rooted in heritage, with language that begs to be read aloud.
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy true stories about real people
- are curious about where family stories and traditions come from
- respond well to bilingual language woven into the text
- like to imagine themselves as librarians, storytellers, or puppeteers
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & history: What did Pura Belpré bring with her when she came to America in 1921?
- Real-life connection: What's a story or tradition from your family that you'd want to share with others?
- Imagination: If you were a librarian like Pura, what story would you want to tell first?
- Big ideas: Why do you think it mattered that Pura told her stories in both Spanish and English?
- Legacy & meaning: What do you think it means that Pura's story seeds are still growing today?
