Best Selling Books by Pat Mora

"In Borders, Mora explores the political, cultural, social, and emotional borders that divide people, forming their individual identities."--Publisher.

El Paso, the pass to the north, lies between vast stretches of desert. This is a geographic accident. Yet like everywhere, people live, love, marry, grow old and die. They also rejoice and despair. These poems relate all these experiences ? but in the magical presence, the telluric force, of the desert. Two women poets sing here, one in the guise of the desert, the other in the figure of Pat Mora. Together they intone Chants. The desertÍs beauty is perceived in subtle gradations of color and texture, in stark contrasts between light and darkness. It speaks as a magical force, as a lonely woman and, for our patience, offers flowers. Like the desert, Pat Mora speaks with muted tones, weaves incantations; she invests her poetic space with magical figures, yet from her loneliness come as well fear, resentment and despair. But she learns the peaceful solitude of the desert. From their dialogue, words become blossoms, fragile in desert rhythms..

Chocolate, papaya, corn, and potatoes - these are only a taste of the many delicious foods native to the Americas and celebrated in this delightful collection. Imaginative, evocative poems and exuberant illustrations introduce 14 different indigenous foods, along with a descriptive paragraph of information for each.

This evocative collection of poems combines Pat Mora¹s simple, yet shining words with Steve Jenkin¹s bright collage images. The landscapes, animals, and people come into sharp focus and the beauty and mystery of the American Southwest are captured.

More than sixty poems, some with Spanish translations, include such titles as "The Young Sor Juana", "Graduation Morning", "Border Town 1938", "Legal Alien", "Abuelita Magic", and "In the Blood".

Communion, a third collection of poetry by Pat Mora, builds upon her previous writings and her new experiences to provide a healing voice, additional depth and maturity, and an international perspective in considering the art of poetry itself, male/female relationships, separation from children, homeland and tradition. The concerns of our domestic culture in the United States are seen here from within the framework of the Third World in Asia and Latin America. The poetic works of Pat Mora once more explore the themes of womanhood, political and sexual borders, the Southwest and interior landscapes, all in a rich, lyrical style.

Combining poetic language and the traditions of magic realism to paint a vivid portrait of her family, Pat Mora’s House of Houses is an unconventional memoir that reads as if every member, death notwithstanding, is in one room talking, laughing, and crying. In a salute to the Day of the Dead, the story begins with a visit to the cemetery in which all of her deceased relatives come alive to share stories of the family, literally bringing the food to their own funerals. From there the book covers a year in the life of her clan, revealing the personalities and events that Mora herself so desperately yearns to know and understand.

Doña Flor is a giant woman who lives in a puebla with lots of families. She loves her neighbors–she lets the children use her flowers for trumpets, and the families use her leftover tortillas for rafts. So when a huge puma is terrifying the village, of course Flor is the one to investigate. Featuring Spanish words and phrases throughout, as well as a glossary, Pat Mora’s story, along with Raúl Colón’s glorious artwork, makes this a treat for any reader, tall or small. Award-winning author Pat Mora’s previous book with Raúl Colón, Tomás and the Library Lady, received the Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award, an IRA Teacher’s Choice Award, a Skipping Stones Award, and was also named a Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List title and an Americas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature commended title. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Take a ride in a long submarine or fly away in a hot air balloon. Whatever you do, just be sure to bring your favorite book! Rafael López''s colorful illustrations perfectly complement Pat Mora''s lilting text in this delightful celebration of El día de los niños/El día de los libros; Children''s Day/Book Day. Toon! Toon! Includes a letter from the author and suggestions for celebrating El día de los niños/El día de los libros; Children''s Day/Book Day. Pasea por el mar en un largo submarino o viaja lejos en un globo aerostático. No importa lo que hagas, ¡no olvides traer tu libro preferido! Las coloridas ilustraciones de Rafael López complementan perfectamente el texto rítmico de Pat Mora en esta encantadora celebración de El día de los niños/El día de los libros. ¡Tun! ¡Tun! Incluye una carta de la autora y sugerencias para celebrar El día de los niños/El día de los libros. The author will donate a portion of the proceeds from this book to literacy initiatives related to Children''s Day/Book Day. La autora donará una porción de las ganancias de este libro a programas para fomentar la alfabetización relacionados con El día de los niños/El día de los libros.

A Common Core Exemplar Text by an award-winning author-illustrator team Tomás is a son of migrant workers. Every summer he and his family follow the crops north from Texas to Iowa, spending long, arduous days in the fields. At night they gather around to hear Grandfather''s wonderful stories. But before long, Tomás knows all the stories by heart. "There are more stories in the library,"Papa Grande tells him. The very next day, Tomás meets the library lady and a whole new world opens up for him. Based on the true story of the Mexican-American author and educator Tomás Rivera, a child of migrant workers who went on to become the first minority Chancellor in the University of California system, this inspirational story suggests what libraries--and education--can make possible. Raul Colón''s warm, expressive paintings perfectly interweave the harsh realities of Tomás''s life, the joyful imaginings he finds in books, and his special relationships with a wise grandfather and a caring librarian. "A gentle text and innovative artwork. . . . While young readers and future librarians will find this an inspiring tale, the end note gives it a real kick: the story is based on an actual migrant worker [Tomás Rivera] who became chancellor of a university--where the library now bears his name."--Publishers Weekly

Libby''s great aunt, Lobo, is from Mexico, but the United States has been her home for many years, and she wants to become a U.S. citizen. At the end of the week, Lobo will say the Pledge of Allegiance at a special ceremony. Libby is also learning the Pledge this week, at school—at the end of the week, she will stand up in front of everyone and lead the class in the Pledge. Libby and Lobo practice together—asking questions and sharing stories and memories—until they both stand tall and proud, with their hands over their hearts.

Who doesn''t love a good celebration? Whether you''re marching in a pet parade or planning a masquerade, enjoying good times is always fun, especially when you can strut and ballyhoo with friends. From singing canciones to planning a hoopla day, Join Hands! joyfully celebrates the many ways that children build communities with friends of all ages.

Wine-sipping syllables, a communion of bones, impetuous pinches of chile, and parrot-sassy guacamole. With a mélange of aromas and tastes, colors and sounds, award-winning poet Pat Mora invites readers into her home in this new collection of forty-nine odes. Inspired by Pablo Neruda’s Odas Elemantales and reinvented with a Latina identity, Mora celebrates the ordinary in lyrics that are anything but. Her poetry is the poetry of space—house patterns and adobe constructions—and the human rhythms that happen inside. It is also the poetry of what she loves—chocolate, books, dandelions, church bells, hope, courage, and even rain. Thick with the microcultures of foodstuffs, family, places, regions, deities, spirits, and literary figures, Mora’s adobe universe is luscious and tactile, elemental and dynamic. From family gossip and beauty secrets, to women darning hand-me-downs, to reluctant hands carrying bodies across borders, Mora traverses the tangled threads of culture, community, family, gender, and injustice. Her vivid observations together with her deft handling of symmetry and meter make her poetry uniquely insightful, subtle, and elegant. Sprinkled with Spanish and plenty of spice, each ode is a sensory flurry of mind and body. Together they make a cauldron of flavorful, simmering language. They are meant to be savored as they slowly stir the soul.

An illustrated collection of poems for children that celebrates the beauty of the American southwest.

Every December, Grandma Lupita tells Rose the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. As they make paper flowers to put around her statue, Grandma begins: Long ago, on a cold December morning near what is now Mexico City, a man named Juan Diego put on his cloak and started down the road to church. On his way, Juan Diego sees a beautiful Lady at the top of a hill. She tells Juan Diego to go to the Bishop and ask him to build a special church for her. But the Bishop doesn''t believe that Juan Diego has seen the Lady; he asks for a sign. Again the Lady sends Juan Diego, and again the Bishop asks for a sign. Until finally, she provides one: her shining image on Juan Diego''s cloak for everyone to see. This ebook contains Read & Listen audio narration.

After the visitors have left the zoo and the animals have settled down for the night, a mischievous monkey starts a ting-tong rhythm on the marimba and slowly the animals awaken. Lions and llamas samba and cougars and coyotes conga as all the animals join in the fun to create a rollicking fiesta. Infused with Mexican American flavor, ?MARIMBA! is a unique alphabet book that also introduces the concept of cognates--words in different languages that are similar. Young Spanish speakers will be delighted to find they are already familiar with twenty-six words in English, and English speakers with find they already know some Spanish. Author''s note, pronunciation guide, rebus dictionary.

Presents an adaptation of the folk song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" in which friends exchange gifts such as piątas and a little girl receives a present from a secret friend whose identity is eventually revealed.

Stella loves her family and her Mexican heritage, but she doesn''t always like being different from the other kids at school. Now her class is going to dance around the Maypole at the school''s May parade, and Stella wants her tulip costume to be special, even if she won''t look like the other girls at school. Sometimes being different can be exciting. This touching story that celebrates diversity is based on author Pat Mora''s mother''s childhood and is brought to life by Elizabeth Sayles''s evocative paintings. Illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles.

Mora''s insights on bilingualism, education, women, and family are sometimes barbed and always exact.

Like Sonia Sanchez and Sandra Cisneros, Pat Mora draws on oral and lyrical traditions; she reclaims the history and culture of her Mexican roots, especially real and imagined Mexican women of the past, from a tribute to Frida Kahlo to an interview with an Aztec goddess.

Inspired by Edgar Lee Masters’s Spoon River Anthology and Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, Pat Mora brings us the poetic monologues of Encantado, an imagined southwestern town. Each poem forms a story that reveals the complex and emotional journeys we take through life. Mora meanders through the thoughts of Encantado’s residents—the mothers and sisters, brothers and fathers in whom we see slivers of ourselves and our loved ones—and paints a portrait of a community through its inhabitants’ own diverse voices. Even the river has a voice we understand. Inspired by both the real and imagined stories around her, Mora transports us to the heart of what it means to join in a chorus of voices. A community. A town. Encantado.

With the help of her mischievous cat, Cecilia finds the perfect birthday present for her Tía. Today is Tía''s birthday! Cecilia wants to surprise her great-aunt with a very special present. But what could it be? Could it be Tía’s favorite mixing bowl that she and Cecilia used to make delicious bizcochos? Could it be a ball like the one Tía played with as a little girl in Mexico? With the help of her cat, Chica, Cecilia plants the perfect surprise. And Tía has a very special surprise for Cecilia, too!

Presents a collection of fifty poems featuring teen narrators who share their thoughts about love and heartbreak, in a volume that also explores a variety of poetic forms.

A bilingual poem which describes some of the sounds of nature in a desert.

My Singing Nana is a compassionate tribute to families dealing with Alzheimer''s Disease. This story celebrates the ideals of family, heritage, and happy memories, showing kids that no matter how their loved one might change they always have ways to maintain their special connection. “In a context perfect for the understanding of elementary-aged children, award-winning author and acclaimed literary critic Pat Mora sheds light on the everyday experiences of a family member living with dementia. In My Singing Nana Mora eloquently demonstrates that, despite the hefty toll this devastating disease can take, grandchildren and children alike can still enjoy meaningful and heartfelt relationships with those affected.” —San Francisco Book Review

"A rhyming text weaves together numbers from one to ten in English and Spanish as two sisters gather presents for their mama''s birthday from a Mexican market."--ALA "Booklist." Full color.

A biography of the seventeenth-century Mexican poet, learned in many subjects, who became a nun later in life.

A poetic depiction of the desert as the provider of comfort, food, spirit, and life.

Each year on his birthday, a young Mexican American boy looks forward to seeing how his grandfather has decorated the tree he planted on the day the boy was adopted.

"Zing! is a wonderful book that encourages others to be creative by sharing what has worked for Pat Mora in all of her creative efforts." —Camila A. Alire, Dean Emeritus University of New Mexico "In a series of letters to teachers written with her signature poetic grace, Pat Mora gently reminds us of the potential in ourselves and our students." —Lee Galda, Professor University of Minnesota "In this era of mandates, accountability and adherence to canned curricula, Mora reminds us that great educators are fueled by passion and creativity." —Gary Bloom, Superintendent Santa Cruz City Schools, Soquel, CA Cultivate your own creativity and the creative potential of all your students! Zing! Seven Creativity Practices for Educators and Students is a beautifully written guide that offers seven powerful practices for personal creativity and professional inventiveness. For each of the seven practices, author Pat Mora proposes seven symbols and presents parallel exercises for teachers and students. Evocatively written in the form of letters to teachers and librarians, this book: Helps educators access their creative selves and, in the process, become better teachers Nurtures students in expressing themselves through writing and other creative pursuits Includes activities at the end of each chapter This moving and inspirational volume serves as a reminder that inventive teaching is truly an art form that enriches lives and transforms teachers and students. Pat Mora was named one of the "Fifty Most Inspiring Authors in the World" by Poets & Writers magazine.

Illustrated with wonderfully ingenuous paintings of scenes of Santa Fe in the early part of the twentieth century, this picture book''s story of a girl becoming an artist is based on childhood memories. Maria draws the world around her--chile vendors, the feast of San Isidro, preparing for the fiesta, flying kites, and picking herbs--to entertain herself and her mother. When her mother gives her a set of paints, it is the dawning of Maria''s creative self as she paints the hills around her beloved town.

Long, long, long ago, Bella and her grandmother Mamá Alma admired their vegetable garden. They liked gardening together. They grew sunflowers and lilies too, and chatted with lizards and hummingbirds. They walked around the flowers and vegetables holding hands, something they had done frequently since Bella was a baby. As her grandmother aged, Bella helped her to walk. “Every year, I need your help more and more,” said Mamá Alma. Sitting on their favorite rock, they remembered how Mamá Alma carried Bella to show her the sun and everything that grew in its powerful rays: trees, cacti, corn and flowers. The oldest and wisest woman in the village, she taught her granddaughter to sing, tell stories and weave. Mamá Alma is pleased that Bella has become the best healer in the village, the one everyone comes to for help with a sick bird or a stomach ache. Mamá Alma tells her granddaughter to remember their happy times together and to plan an annual “remembering day,” a special time to think about her when she is gone. In this special bilingual picture book for children, acclaimed author Pat Mora creates an origin myth in which she imagines how the Mexican custom of remembering deceased loved ones—El día de los muertos or the Day of the Dead—came to be. With tender illustrations by Robert Casilla that depict Bella and Mamá Alma’s loving relationship, this book will encourage children to honor loved ones, whether by writing stories and poems or creating their own remembering place.

While helping his family in their work as migrant laborers far from their home, Tomás finds an entire world to explore in the books at the local public library.