Pura Belpré was the first Puerto Rican librarian hired by the New York Public Library, and she used that position to transform what a public library could be — hosting bilingual story hours, collecting and publishing Puerto Rican folktales, and ensuring Spanish-speaking families felt welcome at the library long before that was the norm. This This Month™ Close-up guide introduces K–5 students to her life, her books, and her legacy through grade-differentiated content, a biographical timeline, discussion questions, and Explore More writing and research activities. Published for Latino Books Month and aligned to Georgia GSE, North Carolina, Common Core, New York State, and New Jersey ELA standards.
Pair this guide with our Pura Belpré Award Book Recommender to help students find their next read.
