Genre 1 - PICTURE BOOKS

Tomás and the Library Lady

written by Pat Mora
illustrated by Raul Colon
Alfred A. Knopf, New York
1997
ISBN - 0-679-80401-3

SUMMARY

Tomás and the Library Lady is a fictionalized account of a summer in the life of Tomas Rivera, the son of Mexican-American migrant workers.  When Tomas was a young boy, his family moved between Iowa and Texas; migrant workers must follow the crops.  One particular summer, Tomas visited the public library for the very first time and he was hooked.  While he sat reading stories, he became a part of the story, traveling to faraway lands, riding on dinosaurs, listening to noises in the wilderness.  He has always loved listening to Papa Grande tell stories and, with the help of the local librarian, Tomas discovers the magic of books.  

Now he has become the family storyteller, reading to the others as they gather around.  He is sad about leaving Iowa, but his new friend, the librarian, gives him his very own book to take home with him.  The story ends by going almost full circle - Tomas is once again riding a dinosaur through the wilderness.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This is a delightful tale of a young boy who discovers the joy in reading and shares that wonder with his family.  Mora has taken a snippet of Tomás Rivera’s life and turned it into a teachable moment for all children.  Ms. Mora shows children the possibilities of adventure when they open the pages of a book.  The language is simple, yet detailed enough to provide the big picture.  The story seems to stay true to the lifestyle of a migrant worker, but doesn’t have an oppressive feel.

Raul Colon studied murals by Mexican artists and based his illustrations on the simplicity he found in those art pieces.  He uses a combination of colored pencils, crayons, and an etching tool that scratches lines through the color, adding dimension and causing the illustrations to almost glow.  His use of warm colors throughout this book help the reader feel the warmth of those summer days.

Although most sites state this book is for 3-7 year olds, I believe it can work well with older children.  I read this book to a group of sixth graders; a lively discussion of grandparents, libraries, and books followed the reading.  Discussion after reading can provide valuable insight for teachers and parents.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

KIRKUS REVIEWS:  “A charming, true story about the encounter between the boy who would become chancellor at the University of California at Riverside and a librarian in Iowa. Tomás Rivera, child of migrant laborers, picks crops in Iowa in the summer and Texas in the winter, traveling from place to place in a worn old car. When he is not helping in the fields, Tomás likes to hear Papa Grande's stories, which he knows by heart.”

BOOKLIST:  "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... 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."

AMAZON:  “Sometimes you read a story and it almost seems too nice. This book may seem to be one of those at first, but the difference is that this story is true! Tomás and the Library Lady is the wonderfully illustrated tale of Tomás Rivera and the kind librarian who helped him learn to love books. Tomás started his life as a migrant worker and, when he died, was a university chancellor. (The UC Riverside library now bears his name.)
This tribute to Tomás and his mentor reminds us of the power of stories and those dedicated librarians who have changed the lives of so many people.”

CONNECTIONS

I think this would be a good opening for a unit on immigration, migrant workers, or cultural connections.  This would give a short introduction to the lives of migrant workers, allowing the teacher to then move into more in depth literature.  Some books that might pair well with Tomás and the Library Lady are Voices From The Fields by S. Beth Atkin, The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child by Francisco Jiménez, Cesar Chavez: A Hero for Everyone by Gary Soto, and Dolores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers by Sarah E. Warren.  These are all books about migrant workers or people who helped them improve their conditions.  Relating these stories to cultures would work well in a social studies class.

AWARDS

1997              Américas Award for Children’s and  Young Adult Literature                                                Commended Title
1997              Notable Books for Children, 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

Mora, Pat. 1997. Tomás and the Library Lady. Ill. by Raul Colon. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-679-80401-3