Hand puppets “Perez” and “Martina”

In this generations-old Puerto Rican folk tale, the beautiful cockroach Martina has many animal suitors but prefers the gallant mouse, Perez. The story’s first published translation into English is by Pura Belpré, the first Puerto Rican librarian at The New York Public Library. Belpré was dedicated to promoting her homeland’s cultural heritage and was an enthusiastic advocate for the Spanish-speaking communities of New York City. She added Spanish-language books to library collections and pioneered bilingual story hour using her own handmade puppets. Her Perez and Martina puppets are on display here. In honor of her legacy as a librarian, educator, and storyteller, the American Library Association offers the annual Pura Belpré Award to children’s book creators who embody the Latinx cultural experience through their work.