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From School Library Journal --------------------------- K-Gr 3—A picture book biography of one of the most significant and inspiring figures in library history. Pura Belpré, the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City, initially arrived in Manhattan to attend her sister's wedding. Intrigued perhaps by the "hustle and bustle" of this "new island," she decided to stay, finding temporary work as a seamstress. Belpré truly found her calling when she took a position as a bilingual assistant (the text notes that was she was, in fact, trilingual) at a neighborhood library, and went on to transform library services through culturally diverse storytelling, published books, and targeted outreach. Denise sprinkles her lyrical verse with Spanish, and emphasizes Belpré's love of stories, plucking the title of the book from her desire "to be like Johnny Appleseed... my story across the land." Escobar's warm illustrations enliven the subject and carry the motif by depicting Belpré in impeccably stylish outfits and accessories detailed with floral patterns. Because of the composition style, readers are given only brief depictions of significant moments in Belpré's personal and professional life, but Denise provides a detailed author's note, summarizing Belpré's lasting impact, and includes a great a of back matter. VERDICT An appealing tribute and successful remedy to the lack of titles about the groundbreaking librarian. This book pairs nicely with Lucia Gonzalez's The Storyteller's Candle, and is a must-have for all libraries.—Jessica Agudelo, New York Public Library Read more ( javascript:void(0) ) Review ------ “An appealing tribute and successful remedy to the lack of titles about the groundbreaking librarian…a must-have for all libraries.” (School Library Journal (starred review)) “Anika Aldamuy Denise’s telling captures the magical, folk-tale feeling of Belpré’s own stories. Her lyrical text, sprinkled like fairy dust with Spanish words, begs to be read aloud, while Paola Escobar’s stylishly detailed and warmly expressive illustrations capture the joy of sharing stories.” (New York Times Book Review) “Denise and Escobar pay tribute to the legacy of librarian Pura Belpré in this vibrant picture-book biography…ing Stories is a glossy immigration tale of dreams coming true, and the lyrical language lends itself to being read aloud.” (ALA Booklist) “Belpré’s story is told in rhythmic language with a good dose of Spanish sprinkled throughout. Escobar’s vibrant illustrations are filled with details that help bring to life the story of this remarkable librarian.” (Kirkus Reviews) “Denise s an idea of her own—that telling stories is a crucial activity for keeping culture alive.” (Publishers Weekly) “Denise’s descriptive language moves between English and Spanish seamlessly, without italics used or translations needed, and portrays a lively Pura…Expressive digital illustrations in earthy colors portray warm and radiant characters.” (The Horn Book) “[A] delightfully informative title.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books) “The story is beautiful to look at and to read, and it showcases one of the first people to recognize the need for young readers to have books that reflected who they are.” (NBCNews.com) “This excellent read-aloud, with its informative author’s note and bibliographic resources… will likely inspire young readers to create their own tales to share with others.” (Shelf Awareness) “Pura Belpré led a rich life filled with travel, music, and countless stories. Her own inspiring story is beautifully presented in this perfect picture book…. The influence of her work is still felt today, and ing Stories is a worthy tribute.” (Shelf Awareness) Read more ( javascript:void(0) ) See all Editorial Reviews ( /dp/product-description/0062748688/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&isInIframe=0 )