Love to Mamá: A Tribute to Mothers

by Pat Mora (Editor)

Pat Mora edited and contributed to this beautiful and celebratory collection, in which thirteen poets write with joy, humor, and love about the powerful bond between mothers, grandmothers, and children. These poets represent a wide spectrum of Latino voices, from award-winning authors to a 15-year-old new talent. They write passionately about their Puerto Rican, Cuban, Venezuelan, and Mexican American backgrounds and the undeniable influence of their mothers and grandmothers. Illustrated with exuberance by Ecuadorian artist Paula S. Barragán M., Love to Mamá is sure to be embraced and treasured by everyone who wants to recognize mothers as one of our universal role models.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, Cultural, Family, Juvenile, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2001

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

[Samantha Howard]

This book is a collection of poems by Latina women all over the world. The book is dedicated to mothers. The compilation of poems categorizes this book as a poetry book. The text is written for lower elementary aged students, and could be used to teach about mother’s day in the spring, when students are making cards and other projects.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

900L. Fourteen Latino poets pay tribute to their mothers and grandmothers in this touching volume. With
verses written in English and generously peppered with Spanish words and expressions, all brilliantly
captured in vibrant illustrations, Love to Mama offers a look at the maternal touches that remain with
us forever.

[Marilin Equihua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children’s Poetry Anthology:

Mora, Pat (Ed.) (2001). Love to Mama: A Tribute to Mothers

Target audience: Ages 7-10
This anthology includes 13 poems written by 13 different Latino poets, both well-known and new. These loving poems are dedicated to mothers and grandmothers. The poems share stories about the Latino culture, including food, games, songs, and special celebrations. They are about the special relationship between mothers and grandmothers and their children. All poets integrated the Spanish language into their poems; making them more authentic and special for the Latino community. The back pages include background information on all 13 poets and a glossary of the Spanish vocabulary used.

Illustrations: The colorful illustrations were made using pencil, cut paper, and gouache painting and then computer-enhanced. They portray the poems in a fun and beautiful way. The illustrations really make the main idea of the poet stand out.

Education: This anthology can be used when discussing heritage and culture. Teachers can read it aloud to students and then assign them to create their own poems that include information about their own culture and even using some of the language of their culture.

[Diana Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poetry book was made up of poems all by different Latino poets. The main focus of the poems were all about women in their families, specifically mothers and grandmothers. Each poet in the book reflects on their one woman in their life and a memory or object that reminds them of that person. Each poem also has a picture that is illustrated well and displays and represents the meaning of the poem. There was one poem I really enjoyed and the structure was different that other poems. It was written in a question and response form. The child in the poem would ask his mother a question and the mother would respond with so much love. The poet definitely made the readers feel the love and support of that mother just through the poem. I would use this book in my classroom around Mother’s Day to introduce poetry and maybe have the students write their own poem about their own mother or grandmother. Overall, I really enjoyed this style of poetry. It was relatable on the part that a lot of what the poets talked about but the book can be universal to everyone. It was also nice to read all about mothers and grandmothers since I am a mommy’s girl myself.

[Katie Urton · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUMMARY:
A collection of poems written by many different Latin authors, each tells of the unbreakable, loving bond between mothers and their children and even their grandchildren. The theme is centered on the joy that mother-child bond brings, and also includes discussing the heartache that it can bring as well. This book highlights the Latino culture by keeping to a common theme that is found in any culture.

EVALUATION:
Call me biased, but I welcome any book that celebrates mothers as being the instrumental role models that they are. This book is a great introduction to not only poetry, but also to the Hispanic culture...especially as that culture typically focuses on family, especially mothers/grandmothers. Children will be exposed to contemporary events that have occurred throughout Latin America as well as many simple Spanish words and phrases.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. How would you, or do you, honor your own mother?
2. Why would this be a good read for Mother's Day?
3. What is special about your grandmother and/or mother?
4. How do these poems help you to understand about the Hispanic culture?
5. Which poem is your favorite and why?

[Danielle Witter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was nice to hear what the poets had to say about their mothers and grandmothers. I also enjoyed hearing about some of the different foods.

Summary: In this book of poetry, 13 poets write about what they love about their mothers and grandmothers. From the food they cook, to the clothes they wear. They talk about where their mothers and grandmothers grew up, and what they did when they visit them. One of the poems in here is even in Spanish, and is then translated into English on the other side. But it sounds better in Spanish because of the words that need to be added in for the English translation. There is also a part in the back of the book that translates the words that were said in Spanish.

How to use this book with students: Since this book is for 1st-5th grade and it is about Latinos, you could use it for Hispanic heritage month (September 15th-October 15th). You can teach your students about the Hispanic culture and have anyone who is Hispanic to possibly share something they like about their culture.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of poems dedicated to mothers. The different contributing poets recall the feelings of safety their mothers gave them and the fun times they had with their mothers. The book features many Spanish phrases.
The illustrations are paired nicely with each featured poem. The illustrations do not help tell the story in the poem, but are nice nonetheless. The poems all have different styles, as they are written by different people, but they were picked well. All of the poems share the same theme of tribute to mothers.
Children will enjoy reading this book, as it is about a topic that they can relate to. All children have a mother or a mothering figure in their lives that has influenced them. This book is a wonderful tribute to them.

[Lisa Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love to Mama is a cute poem book about mothers and grandmothers, written by Hispanic women from all over. There are thirteen poems, each by an individual author. The authors describe in great detail what it is they love about their mothers and grandmothers. From the clothing they wear, to the food they cook it is all very detailed and the illustrations go along with it beautifully. A couple of the poems are written in Spanish and translated into English. This would be a great read around Mother's Day to give students an idea about what to put on their Mother's Day cards. The poems are very relatable and give the reader a warm fuzzy feeling when bringing back fond memories of mothers and grandmothers.

[(NS) - Heather Hayman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love to Mama is a beautiful anthology of poems by various Latino authors, such as acclaimed writers Pat Mora and Francisco X. Alarcon. Each wonderfully written poem, accompanied by incredible illustrations, is a tribute to mothers and grandmothers around the world. These poems celebrate relationships, biligualism, food, and family history. Since most of the authors use a little Spanish, there is even a glossary with a pronounciation key. This book is wonderful for reading alone or sharing aloud with your loved ones with an appeal to every age and every culture.

[Bernice · Rating 4 out of 5]

These beautifully written poems revolve ones dedicated to mothers, grandmothers, and daughters of Latina decent. There are 13 poems telling the stories of how important these women were in their lives and what they have given them through their bonds and traditions. The illustrations add to this decorated book. It brightens up the poems as you read them aloud and gives you a celebrated feeling. It would a wonderful gift for mothers and children as they reminisce about their past, present, and future.

[Gina Starling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grades 1-5

A wonderful book to read in class to celebrate Mother's Day.

" Thirteen poets write with joy, humor, and love about the powerful bond between mothers, grandmothers, and children. These poets represent a wide spectrum of Latino voices, from award-winning authors to a 15-year-old new talent. They write passionately about their Puerto Rican, Cuban, Venezuelan, and Mexican American backgrounds and the undeniable influence of their mothers and grandmothers"

[Christine Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fourteen Latino poets pay tribute to their mothers and grandmothers in this touching volume. With verses written in English and generously peppered with Spanish words and expressions, all brilliantly captured in vibrant illustrations, Love to Mama offers a look at the maternal touches that remain with us forever. www.hcpl.net

Children's poetry,
American
Hispanic American authors.
Bilingual books, Spanish.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is filled with poems about mothers and grandmothers from Latino voices from Mexica, Cuba, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico. I especially like this book of poetry because many of the poets my students have heard of and they can identify with at least one of the poems. The book also contains info. about each poet and I think the kids would like to know some of them are from Chicago.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this Latino collection of poems, a different poet wrote each poem about a mother or grandmother. A few of the poems are about Cuban grandmothers, but other Latino heritages are represented as well. Additionally, a few of the poems are include words in Spanish and one poem is in both Spanish and English.

Publication Date: 2001
Age/Grade level: Preschool to 2nd grade
Format: Print Book

[Sephire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to use during the poem unit to get the children to bring out their own voice. This is a book written as a tribute to mother everywhere with some Latino flava! Great book!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

These poems are absolutely wonderful. There might be too many Spanish words for non-Spanish speakers to fully enjoy them.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

the poems are full of music and picture, and the illustrations are vibrant and add to the reader's creativity and imagination.

[Mileigh Rabun]

This poetry book gives credit to mothers for how awesome they are. I think this would be great to help inspire students to write their mother's poems - maybe even for mother's day!

[Jailene Soto]

Thirteen poets write with joy, humor, and love about the powerful bond between mothers, grandmothers, and children. I would use this book in my classroom perhaps around mother's day or in September (Hispanic Heritage month).