TOMAS AND THE LIBRARY LADY by Pat Mora, Illustrated by Raul Colon

Bibliography
Mora, Pat. Tomas and The Library Lady. Random House International,1977. ISBN 0375803491

Awards

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

Plot Summary

Tomas was born to a family of migrants. The story starts with the family’s annual drive through the summer heat from Texas to Iowa to pick corn. In Iowa, Tomas listens to his grandfather tell stories, and with Papa Grande’s encouragement, he walks downtown to the library to find more stories. Noticing his reluctance to enter, a librarian kindly offers him a drink and brings him books. Tomas spends all day reading, and when the library closes, the library lady lets him take books home, checked out on her own card. All summer, Tomas goes to the library whenever he can, reading his library books to his family in English and teaching the library lady a few words of Spanish. At the end of the summer, Tomas teaches her a sad word: Adios. He gives her a loaf of pan dulce, sweet bread, from his mother. And in the car on the way back to Texas, he reads his new book, a gift from the library lady.

Critical Analysis

This book is a heartwarming story from the childhood of Tomas Rivera. It is not a full biography, but a true and significant incident in the life of a real person. In a natural way, when describing what Tomas is reading, Mora uses the imagery words “smelled, rode, heard, and felt" to express all the different experiences he finds in books. The mixture of English and Spanish, instinctively translated within the dialogue, is used throughout the book and lends cultural credibility to the text. The idea of the boy, teaching the library lady some Spanish words, is also an excellent addition. Tomas and the Library Lady is a lovely tribute to a remarkable man, and to the woman who first set him on his journey of discovery.

Tomas and the Library Lady was Mora's first children's book to be accepted for publication, however, it took 8 years to see it in print. The book's illustrations slowed down the publication process. Raul Colon, the illustrator of the finished book, was actually the third illustrator to work on it. With his unique illustrating style Colon creates beautiful pictures. He weaves the illustrations to demonstrate to the reader the stories Tomas is hearing, and the books he is reading. The textures and colors used are gentle and moving. Some images in this book appear as if the artist used an etching tool on his painting to give an allusion of an old master print.

Although the story skims over the difficulty and poverty of migrant living, it introduces the concept to young readers, while offering an example of a real boy who had a very strong drive to learn. This is a book about the wonderful way librarians can change lives; a powerful vision of the rewards of the education that will reach across cultures.

Review Excerpts

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “While young readers and future librarians will find this an inspiring tale, the endnote gives it a real kick; the story is based on an actual migrant worker who became chancellor of a university—where the library now bears his name."
SMITHSONIAN: “powerful story”
BOOKLIST: “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."

Connections

• The book could be used with other books that depict a special love for the library and reading:
McKissack, Patricia. Goin' Someplace Special. ISBN 9781416927358
Miller, William. Richard Wright and the Library Card. ISBN 9781880000885
Parr, Todd. Reading Makes You Feel Good. ISBN 0316043486

• Lead a discussion about migrant labor:
Adler, David A. A picture book of Cesar Chavez. ISBN 9780823422029
Ancona, George. Harvest. ISBN 9780761450863


• Gather more book related to the traditions of Mexican American families
• Dorros, Arthur. Abuela. ISBN 0140562257
• Soto, Gary. Too many tamales. ISBN 0698114124
• Garza, Carmen Lomas. In my family. ISBN 0892391634