May 16, 2011
Diane G. Bertrand, writer-in-residence at St. Mary’s University and professor in the Department of English and Communication Arts, has been awarded the 2011 Austin Public Library Friends Foundation Award for her latest bilingual children’s book. The award was presented by the Texas Institute of Letters.
The book, The Party for Papa Luis/La fiesta para papa Luis (2010 Arte Publico Press), was previously named a finalist for the 2010-2011 Tejas Star Book Award. She has received many regional, state and national accolades for her children’s fiction and non-fiction, which often reflect the issues and experiences of urban Latino children and their families.
Two of Bertrand’s previous novels, Trino’s Choice and The Ruiz Street Kids were previously nominated for this award. The Texas Institute of Letters was founded in 1936 to recognize literary achievement and promote interest in Texas literature.