She Persisted: Pura Belpré

She Persisted: Pura Belpré, written by Meg Medina, is a children's book that tells the inspiring story of Pura Belpré, the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City. The book is part of the 'She Persisted' series, which highlights the contributions of women who have made a significant impact on society. In this installment, readers learn about Belpré's journey from Puerto Rico to New York and her dedication to preserving and sharing her culture through storytelling, puppetry, and community engagement. Despite facing challenges due to her ethnicity and language, Belpré persisted in her mission to promote bilingual literature and ensure that children of all backgrounds had access to books that reflected their experiences and heritage. Her legacy is celebrated as a pioneer in the field of library services to diverse communities. Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, a chapter book series about women who spoke up and rose up against the odds--including Pura Belpré! Pura Belpré moved from Puerto Rico to New York City and became a librarian at a time when libraries were filled with only English language books. But she knew that Spanish speakers would love to make use of the libraries too, and so she persisted in implementing bilingual programming and offerings in libraries across the city. She also wrote stories of her own and translated Puerto Rican tales into English to bring them to wider audiences. She changed the way libraries reach readers and gave Spanish speakers across the city and the country the opportunity to read and find community in ways they never had before. In this chapter book biography by bestselling and award-winning author Meg Medina, readers learn about the amazing life of Pura Belpré--and how she persisted. Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Pura Belpré's footsteps and make a difference! A perfect choice for kids who love learning and teachers who want to bring inspiring women into their curriculum. And don't miss out on the rest of the books in the She Persisted series, featuring so many more women who persisted, including Sonia Sotomayor, Diana Taurasi, Malala Yousafzai, and more!