2017 Judge: Lulu Delacre

Lulu Delacre was born in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. She studied art at L’Ecole Supérieure d’Arts Graphiques in Paris, France, and released her first title, Arroz con Leche (Scholastic) in 1989. Since then, she has written and illustrated many titles for children and young adults, striving to create quality literature incorporating her own life experiences and Latino roots.

As a strong advocate of bilingual literacy, Delacre has been on the forefront of writing and illustrating children’s books for Spanish-speaking children for over two decades. She continues to be an important presence in the Latino community, and is actively involved with Latinas for Latino Literature (L4LL), which was founded as a way to get more Latino literature to the public.

Delacre’s work has earned many awards and honors, including the Américas Award, several Pura Belpré Honors, and a Jane Addams Book Award Honor. Her books have been named to the American Library Association’s Notables list, Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year, the Cooperative Children’s Book Center “Choices” list, and the International Reading Association’s Notable Books for a Global Society.

Delacre is a versatile artist and author whose work spans many genres and styles. Her past titles include a young adult novel, Alicia Afterimage, written in memory of her daughter, and Jay and Ben, a book specially designed for children with developmental and learning disabilities. Her other books include the Rafi and Rosi chapter book series, and the award-winning book The Storyteller’s Candle.

Her most recent book, ¡Olinguito, de la A a la Z! invites readers on a journey through the Andean cloud forest in search of the elusive olinguito. A Junior Library Guild Selection, Olinguito has received four starred reviews from School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus Reviews.

Delacre lives with her family and lop-eared rabbit, Cocó, in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Photo credit: Arturo Betancourt

Filed under: 2017, Judge