Maximillian & The Mystery of the Guardian Angel - Xavier Garza

Maximillian & The Mystery of the Guardian Angel by Xavier Garza
Max loves luche libre, his favorite fighter is Guardian Angel. Max is excited about going to a match with his dad. It's his reward for earning straight A's in the fifth grade. This book came out last year, it looked like fun and I wanted to read it. However I never got around to it. After it was selected as a 2012 Purla Belpre honor, I moved it up my tbr list and very happy that I did. Max is a very likable character, and has a lucha libra filled summer. He even gets to meet Guardian Angel. Along with Max's voice, Garza does an excellent job of including the family. There are over exaggerated and very cool black and white illustrations of the fighters included throughout. The big match at the end plays out very well visually and will easily draw the reader into Max's love of luche libre. This is a bilingual story. English and Spanish are side by side, so a reader can read one and not be distracted by the other.

2012 Pura Belpre Honorees Video Edition

The 2012 Youth Media Awards were handed out last month. I thought I'd share the videos by the Latino authors and illustrators who received a Pura Belpre award.

Diego Rivera: His World and Ours by Duncan Tonatiuth


The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred by Samantha R. Vamos illus. by Rafael Lopez.


Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia Mccall


Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel by Xavier Garza


Hurricane Dancers by Margarita Engle


I couldn't find a video for one honoree- Sara Palacios illustrator of Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match/Marisol McDonald no combina by Monica Brown - There's a used copy on sale at amazon for 1,068.77 + shipping, Over a $1,000 and seller can't cover shipping. Cuesto mucho mucho dinero no bueno. Es muy loco. I hope no one is foolish enough to buy that. Since its a used copy Brown and Palacios will not get any residuals.



A lot of these titles are on back order, the publishers have to print more (reprint) to meet the demand. This is a good thing, it means the Pura Belpre award is having the intended effect, people are seeking out the books and diversifying their library

So if there's a book on here that you want and it happens to be on back order, go ahead and place your order, that way publishers are aware of the demand and then wait for the reprint. More copies should be available in a few weeks. Whatever you do, do not buy the used copies. I love used books when they're like three or five bucks. But not when the used copies cost more than the retail price of the book. Sellers making a larger profit than the authors really pisses me off. So wait for the reprint to let authors, illustrators and their publishers can get the credit they deserve. And don't forget to check the your local biblioteca.

2012 Pura Belpre Award (Amor, Un Mas Tiempo)

Ayer, I looked at the illustrator half of the Pura Belpre Award. Today it's all about the Narrative. As with the CSK award, its not age specific, as long as a book fits the criteria its eligible.
The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, an ALA affiliate.

There were 17 Latino authors published in 2011. I've included the nine titles I believe are eligible along with the the four picture books. Unfortunately I had to leave off the picture books I haven't read. (with one exception) Since online spreads allowed me to see illustrations but not enough text to make an educated guess on narrative.

Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown illus. by John Parra
Diego Rivera: His World and Ours by Duncan Tonatiuh
The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred by Samantha R. Vamos illus. by Rafeal Lopez
Pablo Neruda by Monica Brown illus. by Julie Paschkis
Tia Isa Wants a Car by Meg Medina illus. by Claudio Munoz
SkateFate by Juan Felipe Herrera
Hurricane Dancers by Margarita Engle
If I Could Fly by Judith Ortiz Cofer
Tomas and the Magic Race Cars by Ramon Mesa Ledesma
Dancing Home by Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel M. Zubizarreta
Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia Mccall
How Tia Lola Ended Up Starting Over by Julia Alvarez
Maximilian and the Mystery of the Guardian Angel by Xavier Garza

There were a lot of verse novels published in 2011 and that's confirmed by this small sample of novels. Four out the nine on this list are in verse form. (Herrera, Engle, Cofer and Mccall)

Skatefate - unfortunately the verse style of this one didn't capture me.
How Tia Lola Ended Up Starting Over - This is a fun series and I always look forward to the next one. Alvarez won the narrative award in 2010 for Return to Sender (loved it) and she will win it again in the future her writing is too good not to.
Maximilian and the Mystery of the Guardian Angel - I haven't read this one but from the summary it sounds like a fun story.
Tomas and the Magic Race Cars - For this one I read the excerpt and it was more than enough to get a feel for the writing. It was good but there are simply too many strong contenders this year.
Dancing Home - I really enjoyed this one. Maybe the fact that the committee will have to read four verse novels will work in favor of Dancing Home. The authors have a new book coming out in July called Love, Amalia, I love the cover.


If I Could Fly - This recieved a starred kirkus review and was named a Best Teen Book of 2011 by Kirkus

Hurricane Dancers is classic Engle, and past committee's have responded well to her style.

Under the Mesquite - This was my favorite novel in verse last year . It received a starred kirkus review and was named a Best Teen Book of 2011. It's also a 2012 Morris Award finalist.

Waiting for the Biblioburro - I really enjoyed the text of this one. The story had a wonderful arc and it was just fun.

Diego Rivera: His World and Ours - There are a lot of strong contenders this year but I am pulling for this to get a honor. There are a lot of children's bios on Diego Rivera but I really liked how was still able to make this one stand out textually. And loved all the extra info in the back.

The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred - Vamos non tradional approach to a bilingual story was so smart and very good.


Pablo Neruda - The text has a great rhythm it was very poetry -esque, a wonderful way to remember a poet.

Tia Isa Wants a Car - This is my one expection. From the little I've read so far the text is beautiful and musical. I could easily see this one getting an honor, and I'd be more than okay with that.


Who I think will win - Guadalupe Garcia Mccall for Under the Mesquite
Who I want to win - Guadalupe Garcia Mccall for Under the Mesquite

Who I think will honor - Samantha R. Vamos for The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred, Alma Flor Ada for Dancing Home, Monica Brown for Waiting for the Biblioburro

Who I want to honor - Alma Flor Ada for Dancing Home, Duncan Tonatiuh for Diego Rivera: His World and Ours, Monica Brown for Waiting for the Biblioburro

2012 The Pura Belpre Award (Un Poco de Amor)

On Jan. 23 the Youth Media Awards will be given out. I've already looked at the CSK award and to do that and not the Pura Belpre Award es no bueno.

The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, an ALA affiliate.

1.A Bailer ! Lets Dance by Judith Ortiz Colfer illus. by Christina Ann Rodriquez
2.Adelita and the Veggie Cousins by Diane Gonzales illus. by Christina Rodriquez
3.Clara and the Curandera by Monica Brown illus. by Thelma Muraida
4.Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown illus. by John Parra
5.Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match by Monica Brown illus. by Sara Palacios
6 Diego Rivera: His World and Ours by Duncan Tonatiuh
7. Ladder to the Moon by Maya Soetoro Ng illus. by Yuyi Morales
8. The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred by Samantha R. Vamos illus. by Rafeal Lopez
9. Talking Eagle and the Lady Roses by Eugene Gollogly illus. by Amy Cordova
10. Tia Isa Wants a Car by Meg Medina illus. by Claudio Munoz

I think I've found all the eligible picture books for illustrator award but then I thought the same thing for the CSK award and missed three books. Lo siento if I do the same thing here. I've read four out of the nine. For the rest I had to make do with online excerpts and spreads.

A Bailer ! Lets Dance is one of the ones I didn't read. Since it didn't get a good kirkus review I will place this in the non contender pile.

Adelita and the Veggie Cousins - didn't read this either however the cover art isn't working for me.

Clara and the Curandera for this one I was able to look at a few spreads via Thelma Muraida, the illustrators site and really enjoyed what I saw. Especially when Clara smells the flowers.

Talking Eagle and the Lady Roses - Again I had to make do with spreads and I liked what I saw and Cordova was an honor recipient in 2009 for What Can You Do With A Rebozo?

Tia Isa Wants a Car - (I knew I'd forgot one) Only saw a little of this one as well but liked what I saw. The illus. have a clean straight forward look and Munoz color palette is very nice. I would not be surprised to see this one get an honor.

Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match this is the last one I haven't read promise. Though I love the spreads I saw via Sara Palacios, the illustrators site. Marisol is adorable with her little eye patch.


Diego Rivera: His World and Ours - Tonatiuh style is such that either you like it or you don't. I happen to like it a lot. Last years committee did as well, his debut Dear Primo was an illustrator honor recipient. The illus. of Diego Rivera are very much the same as his debut. Overall I like this one more.


Waiting for Biblioburro - Parra's illustrations are beautiful and each time I look at them I like them even more. They fit Brown's text perfectly


Ladder to the Moon - Morales illustrations are gorgeous, I could easily enjoy this story without reading a word. Though according to the rules of the award books must portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience and Ladder to the Moon doesn't do that. It does however encourage cultural unity and that should count for something. Since it's illlustrated by an artist who is a past winner, I believe the committee will at least look at it. If its eliagble or not, yo no se


The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred - Lopez loves color and knows how to use it. The bright and beautiful illustrations pop off the page.


In the end I believe who will win is between Parra, Morales and Lopez. Since Ladder to the Moon may or may not fit the criteria, it comes down to a two way push between Parra and Lopez (in my head I am picturing the two artist in a ring with a canvas and their medium of choice)

Who I think will win - Parra for Waiting on Bibliburro/Lopez for The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred

Who I want to win - Lopez The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred / John Parra for Waiting on Bibliburro

That was muy dificil and I totally chickened out, but it really is a coin toss.

Who I think will honor - Palacios for Marisol Mcdonald Doesn't Match, Muraida for Clara and the Curandera, Lopez or Parra,

Who I want to honor - Lopez or Parra, Tonatiuh for Diego Rivera, Palacios, Morales for Ladder to the Moon