Pura Belpré
Award
1998
Medal Winner for Narrative
Martinez,
Victor. Parrot in the Oven: mi vida. YA Martinez, V.
Poetic,
moving and harrowing - these vignettes paint a realistic portrait of a Chicano
boy's coming of age in Fresno, California. The graphic realism and lyrical
imagery highlight not only familial and societal tensions, but also unexpected
moments of humor, insight, and tenderness.
Medal Winner for Illustration
Snapshots from the Wedding, illustrated by Stephanie Garcia. Text: Gary Soto j E SOT
Maya, the flower girl, is busy snapping pictures at this lively Mexican American wedding. She captures the groom with his arm in a cast due
to
a softball accident, the bride with gifts of money pinned to her dress, the
mariachis with their instruments, and the younger guests playing in their
dress-up clothes. Ingenious in her execution, Stephanie Garcia has created a
series of three- dimensional tableaux created with sculpy clay and found
objects, such as olives, potato chips, and ribbons, placed against a delicate
background of pink and white lace.
Honor Books for Narrative
Alarcón,
Francisco 
Laughing
Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems
/
Jitomates Risueños y otros poemas de
primavera
illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez j 811 ALA
A
bilingual collection of humorous and serious poems about family, nature, and
celebrations by a renowned Mexican American poet.
Martinez,
Floyd. Spirits of the High Mesa
YA Martinez, F.
In
this moving coming-of-age novel set in rural New Mexico, the young protagonist,
Flavio, is torn between the seductiveness of progress and new technology and his
loyalty to village traditions so steadfastly preserved by his grandfather, El
Grande.
Honor Books for Illustration
Lomas Garza, 
Carmen.
In
My Family
/
En mi familia
j 306.88 GAR
From
the author of Family Pictures/Cuadros de familia comes a second book that
returns readers once again to the town of Kingsville, Texas, near the border
with Mexico. Through ful-color paintings and warm personal stories, Garza brings
to life more loving memories of growing up in a traditional Mexican American
community.
Sánchez,
Enrique O. The
Golden Flower: a Taino Myth from Puerto Rico text by Nina Jaffe
Long ago, the
island of Puerto Rico was called Boriquen . . . . And so begins this myth from
the Taino, one of the indigenous cultures of the West Indies. Exquisitely penned
by a gifted storyteller, this unique tale tells how a golden flower brought
water to the world. Full color. Baby/Preschool.
Silva, Simón. Gathering
the Sun: an Alphabet in Spanish and English text by Alma Flor Ada;
English translation by Rosa Zubizarreta j
E ADA
This
book of p
oems
is about working in the fields and nature's bounty, one for each letter of the
Spanish alphabet.