Book In Review

       I love this children’s book called, The Storyteller’s Candle.  It is the story of a woman named Pura Belpre who was born in Puerto Rico.  She became the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City.  She brings her rich culture and her story telling abilities to the city where many latino’s had come to begin a new life.  The library was viewed by them to be off limits to them.  They did not know of the richness of culture inside the walls of the library…of the books written not only in English but also in Spanish.

         Soon, the story telling room was transformed into a place that celebrated their Spanish culture in an environment that had previously seemed so cold and foreign to them having coming from a tropical island.  This story is written in both English and Spanish.  It is rich in history, in emotion and in culture.   Mrs. Belpre puts on a fiesta complete with a parade, dances and a play.  She uses puppets in her story telling at school which is where the children first learned about her work at the library.   I think adults and children alike will enjoy it.The illustrations are realistic and golden and represent the latino culture well.  The pictures take us back in time and show what New York City was like back then.

         It was written by Lucia Gonzalez and illustrated by Lulu Delacre.  It was published by Children’s Book Press in 2008.  You can see their website here:  http://www.childrensbookpress.org .