Book cover from: goodreads.com
Bibliographic data:
Mora, Pat. 1997. TOMÁS AND THE LIBRARY LADY. Ill. by Raul Colón. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. ISBN 0-679-80401-3
Summary:
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. [1] The story begins as Tomás and his family travel from their winter home in Texas to Iowa for the summer to pick fruits and vegetables. One of the things Tomás loves the most is the stories that his grandfather tell him. Grandfather, Papá Grande, convinces Tomás to visit the library. Even though Tomás is unsure and nervous he goes to the library. Before Tomás brings up his courage to go into the library, the library lady offers him to come in and get a drink of water. Tomás is totally engrossed by the books he reads that time flies and by the time he realizes it it is the end of the day. The library lady could see how much Tomás had enjoyed the books that he had read that she checked out two books under her name for him to take home. Tomás walked out of the library anxious to get home and share the new stories with his family. He continues to visit the library whenever time allows and even takes Papá Grande with him. When it is time for Tomás’ family to go back to Texas, he takes the library lady a gift of pan dulce, sweet bread, sent by his mother. To Tomás’ surprise, the library lady has a gift for him too, a book of his own to take with him.
Critical analysis:
Critical analysis:
Through her unique voice as an author, Pat Mora brings to life the biography of Tomás Rivera while giving children a realistic view of Mexican-American migrant workers. The characters in TOMÁS AND THE LIBRARY LADY are credible and distinctive. Tomás’ behavior is consistent with his age; he has a strong sense of self, and has a unique way of seeing himself and his family in their situation. The plot has a logical series of happenings that a relevant to the story as the illustrations move the plot along as the story progresses. The conflict that grows in the story is from a believable situation that happens even today. The setting is integral to the story. It takes place one summer day in which the life of Tomás changes. The setting also it brings to light what migrant children and families go through in life. The theme in the story has deeper meanings that glean subtly and implicitly through the understanding of what migrant workers go through, how people behave, and how stories reveal those truths that many of us overlook. Several topics are covered in this book such as character, values, friends and friendship, and Hispanic and Latino-Americans. The story demonstrates how one person can make a difference in another’s life and encourages learning and the enjoyment of reading. Throughout the book, Raul Colón's illustrations beautifully portray not only the warmth of summer and family love, but also the great leaps of imagination that Tomás enjoys when he is reading the library books. The combination of watercolors and colored pencils in earth tones creates the hazy feel of summer days, which nicely complement the heartwarming story by Pat Mora. [4] Many Pat Mora’s books are bilingual, presenting topics affecting Mexican-American families and culture. The story is even more affecting when we realize it is a fictionalized account of one summer in the life of a real person. An afterword reveals that the story is based on the childhood experiences of Tomás Rivera, a migrant worker whose desire to learn led him to a career as a writer and educator. He died in 1984, while serving as the chancellor of the University of California at Riverside. [4]
Review excerpt(s):
"From the immigrant slums of New York to the fields of California, it’s an elemental American experience: the uprooted child who finds a home in the library. Mora’s story is based on a true incident in the life of the famous writer Tomás Rivera, the son of migrant workers who became an education leader and university president." —Hazel Rochman, Booklist [2][5]
"{There is a} benevolent, if caricatured, library lady (note the peter-pan collar and the glasses slipping down her nose). . . . Colón's expressive illustrations done in scratchboard overwashed in sunlit rainbow colors impart a richness and texture that is not quite expressed in the more pedestrian text, although the pathos of migrant life is striking. What packs a powerful punch is the fact that this story is inspired by {a} real life story. . . . This is a warm and attractive tribute to the power of libraries and librarians, but it may be a bit too stodgy to evoke a response in young readers." -Pat Mathews, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books [6]
"Colón's sensitive scratchboard illustrations beautifully capture Tomás's apprehensions as he stands in front of the library doors, as well as his fantasies from the world of books. So many of us from Hispanic America, including this reviewer, who did not enjoy the luxuries of school or public libraries in our countries of origin but had wonderfully loving grandparents, will identify with Tomás's story about librarians' kindnesses and a grandfather's stories." –Isabel Schon, Multicultural Review [7]
Awards: [2]
1997 Américas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature Commended Title
Notable Books for Children,1997, Smithsonian
1998 Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award
1998 Teachers' Choices Award from the International Reading Association
1998 Skipping Stones Multicultural Book Award
1999-2000, Texas Bluebonnet Master List Title
1999-2000, Nebraska Golden Sower Nominee
Connections:
· After exploring with students the qualities of heroes and why some people such as sports or music figures are noticed and others like nurses, school bus drivers, migrant workers or park rangers aren’t, work with students to write brief biographies or biographical poems about unnoticed heroines and heroes. They could also draw portraits. [2]
· Few of us know enough about migrant workers. Students can learn about the history of migrant workers in this country and about their difficult lives and the discrimination they encounter. [2]
· Using maps, students can share their families’ historical journeys and facts about the family’s countries of origin.[2]
· Students can also learn about the history of libraries, the library as a career, and the kinds of librarians and libraries. Further they could study how libraries are funded and what a library board is. [2]
Other books by Pat Mora: [2]
· Abuelos
· Agua, Agua, Agua
· The Bakery Lady/ La señora de la panadería
· A Birthday Basket for Tia
· Book Fiesta!
· And many more…
Other books illustrated by Raul Colón: [3]
· Always My Dad (written by Sharon Wyeth)
· My Mama Had a Dancing Heart (written by Libba Moore Gray)
· Grandmother's Garden (written by John Archambault)
· Yolanda's Genius (written by Carol Fenner)
· Celebration! (written by Jane Resh Thomas)
· A Weave of Words: An Armenian Tale (written by Robert D. San Souci)
· Buoy: Home at Sea (written by Bruce Balan)
· A Band of Angels: A Story Inspired by the Jubilee Singers (written by Deborah Hopkinson)
· Hercules (written by Robert Burleigh)
· Secrets from the Dollhouse (written by Ann Warren Turner)
· The Snowman's Path (written by Helena Clare Pittman)
Bibliographic Information:
Mora, Pat. 1997. TOMÁS AND THE LIBRARY LADY. Ill. by Raul Colón. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. ISBN 0-679-80401-3
Houghton Mifflin Reading. Meet the Illustrator: Raul Colón. http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/mtai/colon.html . (June 13, 2011).
About.com. Tomás and the Library Lady. http://childrensbooks.about.com/od/productreviews/fr/tomas_library.htm . (June 13, 2011).
Rochman, Hazel. 1997. "Tomás and the library lady (Book Review)." Booklist 93: 1906. Article Citation, WilsonWeb (accessed 14 June 2011).
Mathews, Pat. 1997. "Tomás and the library lady (Book Review)." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 51: 63. Article Citation, WilsonWeb (accessed 14 June 2011).
Schon, Isabel. 1998. "Tomás and the library lady (Book Review)." MultiCultural Review 7, no. 2: 62. Article Citation, WilsonWeb (accessed 14 June 2011).
[1] Mora, Pat. 1997. TOMÁS AND THE LIBRARY LADY. Ill. by Raul Colón. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. ISBN 0-679-80401-3
[3 ] Houghton Mifflin Reading. Meet the Illustrator: Raul Colón. http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/mtai/colon.html . (June 13, 2011).
[4] About.com. Tomás and the Library Lady. http://childrensbooks.about.com/od/productreviews/fr/tomas_library.htm. (June 13, 2011).
[5] Rochman, Hazel. 1997. "Tomás and the library lady (Book Review)." Booklist 93: 1906. Article Citation, WilsonWeb (accessed 14 June 2011).
[6] Mathews, Pat. 1997. "Tomás and the library lady (Book Review)." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 51: 63. Article Citation, WilsonWeb (accessed 14 June 2011).
[7] Schon, Isabel. 1998. "Tomás and the library lady (Book Review)." MultiCultural Review 7, no. 2: 62. Article Citation, WilsonWeb (accessed 14 June 2011).
Video link:
Watch a video from http://www.colorincolorado.org/ where Pat talks about Tomas: http://bcove.me/qyq1agjp
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