The Life of/La vida de Pura

Toddler-PreS–The latest in the Lil’ Libros biography series continue to showcase the lives of important figures in Latinx history. In Chico, readers learn about Chico Mendes, a preservationist who was the leading figure in the fight against the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest. Kids will admire his bravery as he stares down the tractors threatening to destroy his home and family. In Pura, children are treated to the life story of storyteller, puppeteer, and librarian Pura Belpré, the first Puerto Rican librarian at the New York Public Library. She went on to write the first book in Spanish released by a major U. S. publisher. These jewel-tone bilingual board books present the childhoods, struggles, triumphs, and the impact of the figures’ legacies. The digital art is kid-friendly, sometimes giving the heroes childlike appearances. The majority of the text is presented on the recto, with the English narrative at the top and the Spanish version at the bottom. Though their stories are told in child-appropriate language, some of the words, such as barons, empower, liveliness, flourish, and mainland, will require explanation. All of the people have brown or Black skin.