The Pura Belpré Award is an annual award presented by the American Library Association to recognize outstanding literature that portrays the Latino experience. It honors both a children's author and an illustrator whose work reflects the cultural heritage and contributions of the Latino community. Established in 1996, the award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City. The award aims to promote diversity in children's literature and encourage the creation of books that resonate with Latino children and families.