Pat Mora's Blog, page 31

Join Me: Vote for First Book

The Cat in the Hat has thrown his iconic red & white hat into the ring for president! To celebrate the release of One Vote, Two Votes, I Vote, You Vote, Random House Children’s Books has teamed up with Día Partner First Book and other nonprofits to encourage kids (and grown-ups, too) to vote for a cause they care about. The winning organization will receive a $10,000 donation from Random House.

VOTE FOR FIRST BOOK from now through November 8 at: http://www.seussville.com/catinhat4prez and pl...

An August greeting from Pat to kids

Dear Teachers,
I hope that you and your students will find this letter helpful. I also hope you’ll share this letter with your colleagues. All my previous letters to children are posted in the Kid Fun section of the website.

Want to do us a favor? Let us know if these letters are useful. We welcome your ideas.

Wishing you a rewarding school year of inspiring your students to be readers and writers,

Pat

Click the letter to see a larger view:

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Say hello to Lola Levine!

Author Monica Brown

Have you met sporty, soccer-playing Lola Levine yet? We want to spread the word about this great chapter book series by our friend Monica Brown. Kirkus gave Lola a starred review, saying “Brown introduces a smart, young protagonist with a multicultural background in this series opener for chapter-book readers. Celebrate a truly accepting multicultural character.”

You can also download an educator’s guide!

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Communion

I rarely go back and read books I’ve written. I prefer working on new manuscripts. Thumbing through Communion, a book published twenty-five years ago, is a journey to my past. Places I visited: San Francisco, Mexico, India, Pakistan, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and long drives between Santa Fe and Cincinnati. I find stories people told me and references to what I was reading and what I was thinking and feeling.

I remain grateful to Dr. Nicolas Kanellos and Arte Público Press, for publishing...

Enjoy family time with the My Family * Mi familia series

I was encouraged to write this four-book series of easy-read bilingual books by a friend in Texas who is not bilingual but who generously and creatively fosters literacy by putting bilingual books in the hands of children who need them.

In this series, readers meet the Rosas family: Isabel, Tina, Danny, Mom, Dad, and Abuelita. They meet the family’s dog, Tico, and the family’s new kitty too. The books depict children’s daily activities: a family meal, chasing a kitten, bedtime, and a boy’s m...

Welcoming a New Día Dynamo

We are celebrating Día’s 20th Anniversary this year! Thanks to all the wonderful Dynamos who promote celebrating all our children throughout the year and culminating April book fiestas.

On May 15, 2015, Angela Hubbard became the Program Officer, Projects & Partnerships at the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). ALSC is a major Día partner, and Angela became an enthusiastic supporter adding her leadership and positive energy...

Our Jackie Woodson

I encourage you to read Jackie’s evocative “When a Southern Town Broke a Heart” on the front page of the Travel section of Sunday’s New York Times, July 13, 2016.

I so enjoyed Colm Toibin’s novel Brooklyn (and the movie). I look forward to Jackie’s upcoming novel Another Brooklyn.
Pat

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A poem to celebrate the summer sun

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Today is National Aunt & Uncle’s Day!

Illustration by Cecily Lang from A Birthday Basket for Tía

I was blessed with some wonderful aunts and a fantastic uncle. The aunt in The Gift of the Poinsettia wasn’t based on a family member. A Birthday Basket for Tía (celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2017!) and I Pledge Allegiance starred my beloved aunt, whom we called Lobo, who was like a second maternal grandmother. I’ve also written about her in my poetry collections for adults. All my special aunts and my uncle appear in my family m...

Spreading Bookjoy at the AFT Convention

Pat spent some time in Minneapolis this week attending the American Federation of Teachers Convention promoting bookjoy and Children’s Day, Book Day (Día), thanks to the collaboration of First Book and AFT.

Happy 100th birthday, AFT! Pat reads to children at the AFT/Urban Ventures Community Fair. Spreading bookjoy with some AFT paraprofessional delegates. Making new friends… Visiting the First Book booth. Found at the First Book booth! Texas AFT President Louis Mal...