(2) K-3 Illustrated by Magaly Morales. "Pura Belpré always knew that many stories worth telling aren't in books" is the lingering message of this picture-book biography. Growing up in Puerto Rico, Belpré listened as her abuela told vivid cuentos that elicited "giggles...shivers...sighs," reactions later mirrored by the enthralled library audiences with whom Pura shared those same folk stories. Belpré began library work in Harlem among a growing Spanish-speaking diaspora, at a time when the library lacked both staff to communicate in their patrons' language and books to reinforce a connection. Recognizing how the rigid traditions of storytime limited her ability to promote culturally relevant stories--stories shared had to be read from a book--Belpré proposed her own oral storytelling practice to the library "bosses" (all depicted as white). Eventually she published those stories and devoted herself to reaching the public beyond library walls, paving the way for practices of modern librarianship. Pimentel (Girl Running, rev. 3/18) captures Belpré's dazzling storytelling ("She hisses...murmurs...roars") through text that carries a soft rhythm apt for reading aloud. Morales's (A Piñata in a Pine Tree, rev. 11/09) digital images feature a bright and distinct color palette and illustrate Pura's liveliness through dynamic perspectives and expressive gestures. Deftly incorporated details throughout the art, including a coqui and characters such as Pérez and Martina, evoke Belpré's childhood influences and culture. An author's note, a source list, and a selected bibliography are appended. Pair with González and Delacre's The Storyteller's Candle and Denise and Escobar's Planting Stories (rev. 1/19).

Reviewer: Jessica Agudelo | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Magaly Morales. A bubble blown from Magic Chicle chewing gum whisks Chavela away to the jungles of Yucatan. There she sees her grandmother's stories in action as chicleros harvest sap for gum from sapodilla trees. Brown's imaginative tale is paired with Morales's whimsical illustrations full of eye-catching swirls and candy colors. Brown wisely leaves her "stewards-of-nature" message for the author's note. Websites.

Reviewer: Alissa C. Salamone

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Magaly Morales. In this zippy spin on "The Twelve Days of Christmas," a cherub-like girl dances across the pages as she accumulates gifts from her amiga. Morales's candy-colored acrylic paintings play with space and proportion and exude the girl's contagious holiday joy. The double-page spreads contain pronunciation guides for both gifts and numbers. Informative author's and illustrator's notes and music are appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2009

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Magaly Morales. A Mexican American girl waxes rhapsodic over the paletas (ice pops) that arrive in her barrio every summer. What seems like a narrow subject becomes larger with each page turn: the book is ultimately a portrait of a tight-knit community celebrating one of its traditions. The acrylics are rendered in warm, fruity colors. The bilingual edition nicely incorporates Spanish text on the pages. Review covers these titles: What Can You Do with a Paleta?[c1] and What Can You Do with a Paleta? / ¿Qué puedes hacer con una paleta?.