BANK STREET CHILDREN’S BOOK COMMITTEE HONORS

THE BEST SPANISH LANGUAGE PICTURE BOOKS OF 2022 AND 2023

New York, NY—January 23, 2024—The Spanish Language Affiliate of the Children’s Book Committee (CBC) at Bank Street College of Education is pleased to announce the gold and silver medalists of its Premio, Mejor Libro Infantil/Best Spanish Language Picture Book Award. Presented biennially, this award recognizes the most outstanding Spanish language picture books written or translated in 2022 or 2023.

Recordings of acceptance speeches from this year’s honorees will be posted on the Center for Children’s Literature’s Best Spanish Language Picture Book Award webpage in February at bankstreet.edu/best-spanish-book. See below for more information about the awards and the winning titles.

2024 Gold Medalist for a Book Published or Translated in 2022 or 2023

La guardiana de la libreta: Una historia de bondad desde la frontera por Stephen Briseño; ilustrado por Magdelena Mora; traducido por Juan Vicario

The Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border by Stephen Briseño; illustrated by Magdalena Mora

A refugee transcribes the names of families seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border, and a young girl learns that kindness can exist anywhere. Colored pencil and gouache illustrations.

The jury said of La guardiana de la libreta, “This book makes the experience at the border meaningful and accessible for children, as well as exemplifies an act of humanity under severe distress. The writing is rich and the translation is thoughtful and nuanced. The book is beautifully designed with a gorgeous color palette and excellent back matter.”

2024 Silver Medalists for Books Published or Translated in 2022 or 2023

Los coquíes aún cantan: Un cuento sobre hogar, esperanza y reconstrucción por Karina Nicole González; ilustrado por Krystal Quiles; traducido por Amparo Ortiz

The Coquíes Still Sing: A Story of Home, Hope and Rebuilding by Karina Nicole González; illustrated by Krystal Quiles; translated by Amparo Ortiz

When Category 4 Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, the community rebuilt neighborhoods and restored habitats. Vibrant, mixed-media illustrations. Extensive back matter.

Cultivando a un artista: La historia de un jardinero paisajista y su hijo por John Parra, traducido por Adriana Domínguez

Growing an Artist: The History of a Landscaper and His Son by John Parra, translated by Adriana Domínguez

Author and illustrator John Parra’s childhood experience about the bond between himself and his father, hard work, and the links between nature, art, and creativity. Acrylic illustrations.

Martina tiene muchas tías by Emma Otheguy; illustrated by Sara Palacios; translated by Emily Carrero Mustelier

Martina Has Too Many Tías by Emma Otheguy; illustrated by Sara Palacios, translated by Emily Carrero Mustelier

In an updated version of the much-loved, magical Caribbean folktale “La Cucarachita Martina,” Martina experiences the love and magic of her eccentric group of aunts. Digital illustrations with a collage feel.

Dr. Cynthia Weill, Director, Center for Children’s Literature, noted that all of the contenders for the award were nominated from books that received a star on the CBCs Los mejores libros infantiles en Español/The Best Children's Picture Books of the Year in Spanish list of works published or translated in 2023. Apart from being exceptional literary works, these books also serve to provide readers with greater insight into Latin American, Caribbean, Spain, or Latinx culture in the United States and are culturally authentic in text and artwork.

First presented in 2020, the biennial award is chosen by Spanish-speaking Children’s Book Committee members, Bank Street alumni, members of the New York Public Library, and the City University of New York system. This year, Dr. Susie Ríos, teacher, Bank Street School for Children member, Children’s Book Committee; and reviewer, Los mejores libros infantiles en Español/The Best Children's Picture Books of the Year in Spanish list, acted as moderator for the jury.

“It was such a joyful process with the judges sharing their own cultural connections and the ways they would use the books in their classrooms and libraries,” said Ríos. “All children love to learn about unfamiliar cultures and share their own culture and experiences. In these award books, children will see themselves in ways that they have not seen themselves before.”

Earlier this month, the Spanish Language Affiliate of the Children’s Book Committee released its 2024 edition of Los mejores libros infantiles en Español/The Best Children's Picture Books of the Year in Spanish (for books published in 2023) . Offered annually since 2017, the list is designed to guide parents, teachers, and librarians in choosing the highest quality Spanish language and bilingual picture books for children. The affiliate is made up of Spanish-speaking members of the Children’s Book Committee, Bank Street Graduate School faculty, School for Children teachers, and Bank Street alumni working in education and libraries.

The complete list of recommended 2023 titles is available online ateducate.bankstreet.edu/ccl/25.

About the Children’s Book Committee

The Children’s Book Committee (CBC) was founded more than 100 years ago to help parents, teachers, and librarians choose the books that children will find captivating and transforming. Every year, it produces comprehensive annotated book lists for children aged infant through 18. The CBC reviews over 6,000 titles each year for accuracy and literary quality and considers their emotional impact on children. It chooses the best 600 books, both fiction and nonfiction, which it lists with annotations according to age and category.

The CBC strives to guide librarians, educators, parents, grandparents, and other interested adults to the best books for children published each year. It also awards annual literary prizes in the genres of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry and a biennial award for board books. To learn more, visit bankstreet.edu/cbc .

About Bank Street College of Education

Bank Street College of Education is a recognized leader in early childhood education, teacher and leader preparation, and the development of innovative practice in school systems across the country. For one hundred years, Bank Street’s focus has been improving the education of children and their teachers by applying to the education process all available knowledge about learning and growth, and by connecting teaching and learning meaningfully to the outside world. Learn more about Bank Street’s Children’s Programs, Graduate School of Education, and the Bank Street Education Center at bankstreet.edu .