The entire book rests on a thematic metaphor of planting seeds, transformation, and
renewal. This approach allowed for truth and authenticity while maintaining the
poetry and emotional resonance of the text. Pointing the lens at this precise
moment felt like the natural start to her story—the beginning of a literal and
figurative journey.

A
primary source, Pura’s own words, gave me the detail of the tamarind tree which
recurs as a narrative and visual symbol throughout the book.

“As
a child, I enjoyed telling many of the tales that I had heard. The characters
became quite real to me. I remember during school recess that some of us would
gather under the shade of the tamarind tree. There we would take turns telling
stories.”
 –Pura Belpré, The Pura Belpré Papers, Centro
de Estudios Puertorriqueños, Hunter College

A
different quote of Belpré’s found in the same archival essay inspired the
book’s title and helped me synthesize key plot points in her story.

“I
thought of myself as a storyteller. I wished to be like Johnny Appleseed, who
in the United States was known for planting apple seeds across the land. . .
And so, I wished to plant my story seeds across the land.”  

Now
that I had a thematic framework in place, I pointed my lens at the dramatic
moments and key turning points in Belpré’s journey: hard work in a garment
factory, a golden opportunity with the library, her very first candlelit story
hour, discovering the art of puppetry, becoming a published author, leaving the
library to tour with her husband, and even her husband’s passing.

Each moment underscored Belpré’s creativity, vibrancy, and perseverance—documenting
the fullness of her life and career, beyond just her time in the children’s
room.

Threaded
together with purpose and poetry, a picture book biography blooms into
inspiration; a reason to care and learn more. Like a powerful documentary—it
stays with you.

A
rousing call to (lights, camera. . .) ACTION!

Anika
Aldamuy Denise is
an award-winning author of narrative nonfiction. Her debut picture book
biography, Planting Stories, won a Pura Belpré Author
Honor, an NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor, and the Arnold Adoff Poetry Award.
Additional nonfiction titles by Anika include A Girl Named Rosita, which
was recently chosen for the RISE Feminist Book Project reading list, and Phenomenal
AOC: the Roots and Rise of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.