A tale of storytelling magic and handmade puppets from the Bronx to the Lower East Side! Pura Belpré was the very first Puerto Rican librarian hired by the New York Public Library. She was an advocate for Spanish-speaking communities and was responsible for introducing bilingual story hours, authoring children’s stories in Spanish, and releasing the first book of translated Puerto Rican folktales in the U.S. Ms. Belpré was a visionary whose literary programs kept new generations connected to their Hispanic culture and showed all children that their stories matter! ¡Una historia de magia narrativa y marionetas hechas a mano desde el Bronx hasta el Lower East Side! Pura Belpré fue la primera bibliotecaria puertorriqueña contratada por la Biblioteca Pública de Nueva York. Fue una defensora de las comunidades de habla hispana y fue responsable de introducir horas de cuentos bilingües, escribir cuentos infantiles en español y publicar el primer libro de cuentos populares puertorriqueños traducido en los EE. UU. La Sra. Belpré fue una visionaria cuyos programas literarios mantuvieron conectadas a las nuevas generaciones con su cultura hispana y mostró a todos los niños que sus historias importan! Get transcripts in Spanish: https://bit.ly/ep42transcript_es  Go to the episode webpage:  https://jonincharacter.com/pura-belpre Visit the Dorktales Storytime Podcast website: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktales-storytime-podcast/ YOUR KIDS ON OUR SHOW: Contact our “Mr. Redge Hotline” for a chance for a shout out or featured in one of our episodes! Leave us a voicemail, email, video or use our color page - https://jonincharacter.com/contact-the-podcast/  FOLLOW US: If our storytelling brings you some joy…and a few laughs, please follow us in your preferred podcast app so future episodes will automatically show up in your podcast library. We’d be so grateful if you helped us grow, by letting others know about our geeky tales too. Now, go be the hero of your own story and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time! KIDS LISTEN MEMBERS: advocates for quality podcasts for kids: https://www.kidslisten.org/ WE LOVE FEEDBACK: https://ratethispodcast.com/dorktales  BE PART OF OUR DORK SQUAD, FREE PERKS: https://bit.ly/dorktales-signup  CREDITS: This has been a Jonincharacter production. The Hidden Heroes of History episode was written by Molly Murphy. Jonathan and Mr. Redge were performed by Jonathan Cormur. Special thanks to guest actor, Erika Ludwig who voiced Isabella, the bear. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Hamilton Studio Recor Check out  "Wiggles, Stomps and Squeezes, Calm My Jitters Down," a picture book about sensory differences: https://www.wigglesstompsandsqueezes.com/ Attention grown-ups! We want to hear from your kids! Have them ask Jonathan and Mr. Redge a question for a chance to hear a shout out and response on a future episode. Email us at [email protected], call the Mr. Redge hotline at 650.503.9122 or go to our podcast contact page for more ways to get in touch! Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dorktales)