Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré

Planting Stories traces the inspiring life of Pura Belpré, who came to America from Puerto Rico in 1921 carrying the folktales of her homeland and became New York City's first Puerto Rican librarian, turning her popular bilingual storytelling sessions into beloved books that are still read today. Anika Aldamuy Denise's lyrical, Spanish-sprinkled text and Paola Escobar's vibrant illustrations honor Belpré's legacy of spreading story seeds that continue to grow into a lush literary landscape. This is a beautiful choice for students because it celebrates the power of storytelling, bilingual literature, and the librarians who champion underrepresented voices.

Publishing Details

Author : Anika Aldamuy Denise

Illustrator : Paola Escobar

Author Nationality : United States

Physical Details

Type of Book: Picture

Cover: Hardcover

Pages: 40

Size: 8.7 x 11.0 inches

Year Published: 2019

Instructional Details

Reading Grade Level: Kindergarten

Genre: Non-Fiction

Sub-Genre: Biography

Theme: Hispanic Heritage Month, About POC, Reference, Social Studies