Paola Escobar

When Pura Belpre arrived in New York City from Puerto Rico, she carried a suitcase full of clothes and a heart full of beautiful folktales. She soon found work at the public library as a bilingual assistant, but she quickly noticed that something incredibly important was missing from the shelves. There were no books that told the vibrant stories of her homeland, and the Spanish speaking children in the neighborhood had nothing to read in their native language. You will be enchanted as you follow Pura's mission to change the library forever. She decided to plant her own stories like seeds, bringing the colorful legends of Puerto Rico to life through magical puppet shows and captivating storytelling hours. Eventually, she transformed these spoken tales into beautiful published books for everyone to enjoy. This inspiring biography celebrates a true pioneer who championed bilingual literature and transformed libraries into welcoming homes for every community, proving that a single voice can bloom into a lasting legacy.