reformadeflorida Chapter News

2025 Pura Belpré Donation Grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: REFORMA de Florida 2025 Pura Belpré Book Grant Committee

Submissions now open for REFORMA de Florida 2025 Pura Belpré Book Donation Grant

REFORMA de Florida announces its 2025 Book Donation Grant of Latinx children’s and YA books to a Florida library or organization serving Latinx youth. The grant consists of a donation of a collection of 150-200 children and YA books published in 2024, created by Latinx authors and illustrators portraying the Latino cultural experience in the lives of children. You do not have to be a member of REFORMA de Florida to apply.

Your application should explain how your Florida community will benefit from receiving the books, and include your name, email address, phone number, type of library, name of your library, your status as a REFORMA de Florida member (non-members are welcome to apply), and anything else you’d like the committee to know. The timeline for the 2025 Book Grant application is as follows:

  • February 10: Submission period opens in honor of Pura Belpre’s birthday.
  • March 31: Last day to submit grant applications.
  • April 7: Winners announced during National Library Week.
  • April 15-30: Winning library(s) receive donation of books in time for their April 30th celebration of El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day).

To apply by the March 31st deadline, send proposals to: redeflpurabelprebookgrant@gmail.com

About the REFORMA de Florida Pura Belpré Book Donation Grant

Applicants submit proposals to qualify to win a collection of 150-200 books published in 2024 that were among titles submitted by publishers for consideration to the 2025 Pura Belpré Award Selection Committee.

Applicants may include public libraries, school libraries, and/or other institutions providing literacy-based family programs to Latino communities in Florida.

The deadline for submitting applications is March 31, 2025.

reformadeflorida Book Reviews

“My name is Cool!” Antonio Sacre; ill. by Sarah Demonteverde

The current image has no alternative text. The file name is: my-name-is-cool.jpeg

Familius. 2022.

Reviewed by Alma Ramos-McDermott

Category: Elementary school

Rating: 5 stars

Is it possible for a 5-year-old to have more than two names? Antonio Bernardo Sacre will be first to tell you his name is “Mr. Magoo, El Señor Magoo, El Goo, Antonio, Bernardo, Sacre, Papito, Coquito, Futinquito, El Capitán de los Mosquitos.” 

Antonio Bernardo Sacre has never had any trouble with everyone knowing all his names, but now it’s time to go to kindergarten. When Mrs. Green asks for his name Antonio Bernardo Sacre proudly recites all ten of them. Uh oh! What will happen when a boy with ten names meets a teacher who only thinks he can have two names?

This amusing story is highlighted with full-page, colorful illustrations to complement Antonio Bernardo Sacre’s list of names. As the owner of 10 names myself (and a former kindergarten teacher) I’m not happy with how his teacher handled the situation. However, if Mr. Magoo, El Señor Magoo, El Goo, Antonio, Bernardo, Sacre, Papito, Coquito, Futinquito, El Capitán de los Mosquitos is happy, then Alma, Rosa, La Loca, Mi Vida y Corazón, Tire, Ramos, Feliciano, Mercedes, O’Neill, McDermott is happy too.

Recommended for ages 5-10.

Note: This review was originally published in: You Decide: Should I read it or not?

Reproduced here as a courtesy to Alma Ramos-McDermott

reformadeflorida Book Reviews

“Call me Roberto: Roberto Clemente goes to bat for Latinos” Nathalie Alonso; art by Rudy Gutierrez

The current image has no alternative text. The file name is: call-me-roberto.jpeg

Calkins Creek (Astra Books for Young Readers). 2024.

Reviewed by Alma Ramos-McDermott

Category: Elementary school

Rating: 5 stars

(Includes “Author’s note,” photographs, “Glossary,” “Timeline of Roberto Clemente’s life,” and a “Selected Bibliography.”) 2024.

Exciting, action-filled descriptions of Roberto Clemente’s incredible hits, throws, and leaps that lifted the Pirates to two World Series, are contrasted with the lows he experienced due to racism. Reporters, opposing players, and fans didn’t like that he was Black and spoke Spanish, while teammates ignored him. Roberto insisted on being called by his first name, while reporters wanted to call him “Bob” because it sounded “more American” and made fun of his accent by phonetically quoting him in newspapers. During spring training in segregated Florida Roberto couldn’t leave his far-away room in a hotel for Blacks that was nothing like that provided to his White teammates. The constant prejudices he endured made Roberto more determined to have Latino players be treated equally.

Roberto was proud to be from Puerto Rico, and they were proud of him. After his first World Series win hardly anyone in Pittsburgh cared that he’d had a hit in every game, but Puerto Rico threw him a huge parade. They were always ready to celebrate his talent when he returned home, but Pittsburgh and its reporters only saw his skin color. Roberto was interviewed after his second World Series win and shocked everyone when he spoke Spanish, giving his blessing to his children and asking his parents for theirs. Puerto Ricans were extra proud. 

Rudy Gutierrez’s lively and bold illustrations made with acrylic paint, colored pencils, and crayons fill each page. Scattered throughout are a series of Puerto Rican symbols like her elusive coquis, flag, palm trees, Flamboyan, and Taino petroglyphs, as well as musical instruments like the cuatro, bomba drum, maracas, pandero, and pandereta (tambourine). These hidden jewels, fun for young readers to discover, allow Roberto’s story to be interspersed with his island’s history and music.

From humble beginnings in Carolina, Puerto Rico, to the pinnacle of his success with the Pirates in 1972, young readers will learn about the phenomenon that was Roberto Clemente. Alonso’s phrases from the beginning and end of Roberto’s story states “He lives to swing and slide. To catch. To throw. To run.” These sentences summarize Roberto’s beginning and his end. Though tragically killed almost 53 years ago, Roberto’s baseball legacy in Pittsburgh, and the love he had for Puerto Rico, will live forever in the minds and hearts of his fans.

I really hope this book wins a Pura Belpré Author award as well as an Illustration Award at the January 2025 ALA Media Awards in Phoenix. As a Puerto Rican, it makes me proud. I will be in Phoenix that Monday morning to hope, scream, and shout if/when it wins. Stay tuned!

Highly recommended for ages 6-10.

Note: This review was originally posted in You Decide: Should I read it or not?

Reproduced here as a courtesy to Alma Ramos-McDermott.

reformadeflorida Book Reviews

“These vengeful wishes” Vanessa Valdes

These vengeful wishes

Zando Young Readers (Zando). To be published February 4, 2025.

Reviewed by Alma Ramos-McDermott

Category: High School (Young Adult)

Rating: 5 stars

Senior year was supposed to be the beginning of Ceci’s plan to get away from her mother’s constant failed marriages in pursuit of money. All she’d ever wanted was her love and attention, but her mother was more interested in money and men. After her husband was arrested, they were penniless and forced to return to the small town where her mom had grown up. There they would live in an ancient mansion that once belonged to the Sevilla family, the same family who town lore said La Segua, a wronged witch who could grant wishes, had cursed so no one ever lived long.

Due to her mom’s coldness towards her Ceci spent her life closed off to emotions. However Jaime, a cute boy she met soon after her arrival, seemed to bring out the best in her. Soon Ceci started to hear voices and began sleepwalking to the dark, haunted woods alongside the property but didn’t know what was happening. Jaime believed in her and, together, they uncovered a secret, hidden place in the woods where they met La Segua. Knowing wishes could change her life for the better Ceci began to ask La Segua for things, but darkness and destruction followed as her wishes began to come true.

It didn’t take long for the same darkness to stalk Ceci’s every move and for a voice from beyond the grave to call to her. With La Segua filling her mind with ancient memories and experiences, and events coming to their unnatural conclusions, it will take true love to save Ceci from the forces of evil conspiring against her.

I loved this book and was hooked from its first pages. I know my teen readers will be too.

Highly recommended for ages 16 and older.

Note: This review was originally posted in You Decide: Should I read it or not?

Reproduced here as a courtesy to Alma Ramos-McDermott.

reformadeflorida Book Reviews

“Mamá’s magnificent dancing plantitas” Jesús Trejo; illustrated by Eliza Kinkz

Little Jesús #2.

Minerva (Astra Books for Young Readers). 2024

Reviewed by Alma Ramos-McDermott

Category: Elementary school

Rating: 5 stars

Full-page, colorful, childlike illustrations fill every page as little Jesús recounts his happiness at being appointed caretaker of his mother’s beloved collection of plants. From the spider plant’s “bajillion legs” to the “baseball-mitt chair” of her peace lilies, all hold special places in his imagination.

Unfortunately, little Jesús’ happiness is short lived when he finds his mother’s favorite plant looking ill, throws it a dance party, and accidentally breaks its pot. Despite his fears, Jesús tells his mother and learns that breaking the plantita is a good thing.

This sequel to “Papá’s magical water-jug clock,” which won Trejo the 2024 Pura Belpré Author Honor Award and awarded Kinkz an Illustrator Honor, is funny and delightful. Kinkz’s illustrations light up the pages, bringing Little Jesús’ adventures to life. Trejo’s comedic style is interwoven in his memories, while illustrations of seed packets with titles like “Goldfish muerto seeds,” (showing a dead goldfish), “Magical bean seeds” (shown farting), and “Seed seeds” (with one asking “what was the point?) are sure to bring laughs to his young readers.

Recommended for ages 5-10.

Note: This review was originally posted in You Decide: Should I read it or not?

Reproduced here as a courtesy to Alma Ramos-McDermott.

reformadeflorida Chapter News

Delivery of Book Donation Grant titles to Lafe Allen Memorial Library

Saturday August 24, 2024

Former ReDeFL President Alicia K. Long drove down to North Miami from Tampa to personally deliver 100-200 Latinx children’s and YA titles to Edenia M. Hernandez at Lafe Allen Memorial Library in North Miami. Edenia is the 2024 winner of REFORMA de Florida’s Pura Belpré Book Donation Grant.

Alicia, along with ReDeFL’s current Vice-President/President-Elect Lucia Gonzalez, presented a delighted Edenia with the titles. More information about the presentation will be in our September newsletter. Congratulations to Edenia and the Lafe Allen Memorial Library!

reformadeflorida Book Reviews

“One last chance to live” Francisco X. Stork

Scholastic Press (Scholastic). 305 p. To be published September 3, 2024.

Reviewed by Alma Ramos-McDermott

Category: High school

Rating: 5 stars

Seventeen-year-old Nico has been in love with his neighbor Rosario since they were little. Though both loved to write and wanted to be famous, Rosario was obsessed. She needed writing to be her ticket away from their neighborhood. Since her future was all planned out Nico couldn’t understand why Rosario was later found dead from an overdose, so became preoccupied with finding out why she committed suicide.

As he struggled to figure out a strange dream he had about his own death, Nico’s pain was interrupted by the news his mother was very ill and his little brother was joining a local gang. Though he’s not interested in anything not having to do with Rosario, Nico must climb out of the hole he’s dug for himself or allow his dream to come true.

Told through Nico’s memories and the present time, his story of unrequited love, heartache, suicide, and death is complicated and messy. Stork left a few unexplained issues, which gives his teen readers opportunities to discuss solutions amongst themselves or in a book club.

Note: This review was originally posted in You decide: Should I read it or not?

Reproduced here as a courtesy of Alma Ramos-McDermott.

reformadeflorida Chapter News

REFORMA de FL at Miami Book Fair 2023

Miami, FL November 2023

REFORMA de FL President, Maria Vega, and Immediate Past President, Mari Martinez, joined the Miami Book Fair on Sunday, November 19, 2023 to moderate a panel with authors and illustrators of middle grade fantasy and spooky book for middle grades. titled: “Through the Looking Glass: Adventures in Alternate Universes” with authors Ryan Calejo, Angela Cervantes, Monica Magaña, and Justine Pucella Winans.

reformadeflorida Chapter News

2024 Pura Belpré Book Donation Grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Pura Belpré Book Grant Committee

Submissions now open for Pura Belpré Book Donation Grant

REFORMA de Florida announces the creation of a book donation grant of Latinx children’s and YA books to a Florida library or organization serving Latinx youth that demonstrates how their community might benefit from receiving the books. The grant aims to bring books created by Latinx authors and illustrators portraying the Latino cultural experience into the lives of children. You do not have to be a member of REFORMA de Florida to apply.

Your application should explain how your Florida community will benefit from receiving the books, and include your name, email address, phone number, type of library, name of your library, your status as a REFORMA de Florida member (non-members are welcome to apply), and anything else you’d like the committee to know.

To apply by the August 15th deadline, send proposals to: redeflpurabelprebookgrant@gmail.com

About the REFORMA de Florida Book Donation Grant

Applicants submit proposals to qualify to win a collection of 100-200 books published in 2023, among titles submitted to the 2024 Pura Belpré Award Selection Committee. Applicants may include public libraries, school libraries, and/or other institutions providing literacy-based family programs to Latino communities in Florida.

The deadline for submitting applications is August 15, 2024.

Questions regarding the application process may be addressed to committee members Isabel Castro, Lucia M. Gonzalez or Alma Ramos-McDermott at redeflpurabelprebookgrant@gmail.com

About REFORMA de Florida

REFORMA de Florida is a chapter of REFORMA which actively seeks to promote the development of library collections to include Spanish-language and Latino oriented materials; the recruitment of more bilingual and bicultural library professionals and support staff; the development of library services and programs that meet the needs of the Latino community; the establishment of a national information and support network among individuals who share our goals; the education of the U.S. Latino population in regards to the availability and types of library services; and lobbying efforts to preserve existing library resource centers serving the interests of Latinos. REFORMA is an affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA).

To learn more about REFORMA de Florida visit https://reformadeflorida.org/