Latino Children's Book Fuses Style with Mexican Culture Marisa - LatinaLista
go to original May 10, 2012

Rafael López, illustrator of "The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred" and 2012 Pura Belpré honoree. (ALAYouthMediaAwards)

Rafael López is an artist and children’s book illustrator. Rafa, as he’s known to family and friends, credits his upbringing in Mexico with inspiring his artwork, which is described as a fusion of a strong graphic style and magical symbolism.

The result has been a career laden with awards. Recently, Lopez was awarded his second 2012 Pura Belpré award for his illustration of “The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred.”

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.”

Lopez not only illustrates children’s books but also drew the Latin Music Legends stamp series in 2011 for the US Postal Service; was asked to transform a rundown section of San Diego with bright colored murals and was asked to contribute three paintings to Oprah Winfrey’s school in South Africa.

Today, he and his family divide their time between San Miguel de Allende and San Diego.

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!