The Desert Is My Mother / El desierto es mi madre

by Pat Mora, Daniel Lechon (Illustrator)

The first bilingual picture book published under the Pinata Books imprint in 1994, Pat Mora's ode to the desert is finally available in paperback format. The Desert Is My Mother introduces the partnership of an award-winning poet and a prize-winning painter to create a beautiful poetic and artistic rendition of the relationship between people and nature. Rather than being an expanse empty of life and value, the desert is lovingly presented as the provider of comfort, food, spirit, and life.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Poetry, Spanish Literature

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Pat Mora (born 1942) is a female Mexican-American author and poet. Pat Mora was born in El Paso, Texas. She is married and has 3 grown children.

Reviews

[Barbara Lovejoy]

I have been a fan of Pat Mora's for a number of years, and I have loved this book. I recently read this poem in my poem book, "How to Eat a Poem"...and decided I wanted to read the book again and enjoy the illustrations. An added bonus: This is a great book to read for those wanting to learn English or Spanish as it is bilingual.

[Bao Chau]

this book have nice illustration. the person that draw all the pictures in the book had really good eyes about the color of desert. the book was about the young Mexican girl live in the desert. she think the desert is her mother because the desert able to provide her anything when she needed. when she sick, the desert will give her peppermint and oregano to heal her. when she want to look pretty , the desert will able give her beautiful flowers so she can put it on her hairs. the whole book was about how happy this girl with the desert. she called the desert is her strong mother because the desert just like a real mother to her, the desert able to take care her whenever she needed. the text in the book very simple. each page only have one sentence in English on top, and the bottom was translate to Spanish.

[Kensey Gabbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Desert Is My Mother is an uplifting spiritual book that tells a very simple story of a young girl that copliments mother nature, and the desert with all of its beauty stregnthens and how it nurtures her. Each pagee displays both English and Spanish. It is a very easy read, which I enjoy and won a Skipping Stone Honor Award.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful poem and a lovely Spanish bilingual picture book that can be used to teach metaphor. Some of the illustrations are a little dated-feeling, but overall a wonderful work of art.

I recommend pairing this with Alice Walker's THERE IS A FLOWER AT THE TIP OF MY NOSE SMELLING ME.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bi-lingual "early reader" for young children. Good for basic Spanish comprehension.

[Julie]

A bilingual text gives us a little girl who feels affinity for the desert in which she lives. The text is playful but contain's a lot of information about desert life and phenomena.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could be used to teach metaphor and poetry for beginning level ESL students.

[Colleen]

Cactus & Canyons - unit 5
Leveled Books - Intermediate

[Elizabeth]

A lovely illustrated poem about all that the desert has to offer.

My favorite part is:

I say teach me.
She blooms in the sun's glare,
the snow's silence,
the driest sand.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pat’s word choice and storytelling creates a short but beautiful read.

[Aaron]

The big selling point for this book for me is that it is written in both English and Spanish. Each page has both an English and Spanish section. The illustration is beautiful as well. I really like this book, and it is very unique.

I love the possibilities of this book for ELL students. Being able to see something in their native language and compare it to English is invaluable. I think it is a must have in any classroom that has ELL students.

[Savanna Bitting]

This book is told in English and Spanish, its vivd pictures tells a story of a little girls love for the desert.
While this book doesn't have many words, or a story line, it's a great way to integrate another language in the classroom. I can use this book to teach students Spanish, it's very easy to follow! I can also send this book home with a Spanish speaking ESL student. It's a great way for them to read with their parents, since the book is in both languages.