In this biography, Pura Belpré loves the Puerto Rican stories she grew up with, but as a librarian, she is only allowed to tell stories from books. With bravery and creativity, she brings her stories—and the stories of many others—to children throughout the city.
Pura’s Cuentos: How Pura Belpré Reshaped Libraries with Her Stories
Discuss the Book
Special Story Time
Pages 1–9
- Important Moment: Pura loves listening to her abuela’s stories in Puerto Rico and wants to be a librarian.
- Ask and Share: Why do you think stories are so special to Pura? Which stories were most important to you when you were younger?
Stories New to the Library
Pages 10–17
- Important Moment: As a librarian, Pura is only supposed to tell stories from books at story time. Though none of the stories she knows from Puerto Rico are in the library, she decides to tell one of her abuela’s stories.
- Ask and Share: Why do you think Pura breaks the library’s rule and tells her abuela’s story at story time? Have you ever challenged a rule you didn’t think was fair?
Welcoming New Children
Pages 18–23
- Important Moment: Pura wants to encourage more children from all backgrounds to enjoy the library. Walking the neighborhood, she spreads the word that she also tells stories in Spanish at the library.
- Ask and Share: How does Pura welcome more people into the library? What are some ways that you welcome new kids in your school or neighborhood?
Publishing Books
Pages 24–28
- Important Moment: Pura writes down her abuela’s stories to be published in a book.
- Ask and Share: What inspires Pura to put her stories into books? How do you think her life might change after she starts writing and translating stories? Is there something special in your life that you would like to share with others?