The Pot That Juan Built Pura Belpre Honor Book Illustrator Awards

About This Book

This true story celebrates Juan Quezada, a potter from Mata Ortiz in northern Mexico, who revived the ancient pottery traditions of the Casas Grandes people using only natural materials and traditional techniques. Told as a cumulative tale reminiscent of “The House That Jack Built,” the narrative traces how Juan’s dedication transformed his village from poverty into a thriving community of skilled artists. Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator David Diaz brings the desert landscape and the intricate beauty of Juan’s pottery work to vivid life on the page. It’s a picture book that shows how one person’s craftsmanship can create lasting change in a whole community.