Holiday Reading with Pat Mora

Stories and Poems for Thanksgiving Gracias~Thanks "A boy recounts the many things he is thankful for, like his time at the beach and the bees that don't sting him when he is outside playing. The poetic writing flows in both Spanish and English and carries a sense of happiness brought by the simple things in life...this delightful bilingual book has universal appeal."--School Library Journal   Yum! ¡Mmm! ¡Qué Rico! America's Sproutings "This concept book serves as a delicious introduction to 14 types of food, all of which have their origins in the Americas. Snippets of information and a haiku poem accompany each one, ranging from blueberry and chili pepper through papaya, prickly pear, and vanilla. Using English and a smattering of Spanish words, Mora crafts a playful introduction to each one."--School Library Journal Celebrate Christmas traditions The Gift of the Poinsettia/El regalo de la flor de nochebuena "This popular title introduces readers to Mexican traditions and inspires them to think about gift-giving in a different way. The authors take children through each of the days of the posada ("inn") celebration, in which celebrants take figurines representing the Virgin Mary and Joseph from one inn to another as they look for a place to rest. Carlos worries that he has no money to buy a special gift to offer the Christ child, but his grandmother urges him to pick a flower along the way. This humble flower blossoms into a glorious poinsettia on Christmas Eve. An enjoyable selection for readers of any age."—Criticás A Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas "In trading a partridge for a piñata and intertwining English and Spanish, Mora has created not only a fun adaptation of a classic Christmas carol but also an introduction to many elements of holiday celebrations for families across the U.S. and Latin America...[the] paintings share a similar colorful and vibrant style as they integrate words, numbers, Spanish pronunciations, joy, and excitement throughout each full page spread."--Booklist December 12: Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe The Beautiful Lady: Our Lady of Guadalupe La hermosa Señora: Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe "The author pays loving tribute to Mexico’s Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, the most noted appearance of the Virgin Mary in the Americas, framing this story with a family’s sharing traditions surrounding the celebration of her feast day, December 12. Grandma Lupita and her granddaughter create yellow, orange, and red paper roses and bake rose cookies to commemorate Our Lady’s appearance to a poor man in the hills near Mexico City in 1531. A jewel-toned palette presents both expressive faces and the warmth of Mexican mountain landscapes.--School Library Journal January 6: Feast of the Three Kings, el Día de los Reyes Magos The Bakery Lady/La señora de la panadería "Mora has once again succeeded in writing a warm family story that includes information about Mexican traditions and celebrations while appealing to the common elements that link people across cultures."—School Library Journal   A Thanksgiving Message from Pat Holidays are a time for gratitude, friends, family--and good food! Thanks to each of you who creatively promotes bookjoy and Día throughout the year and who shares bookjoy with more and more children and families. Together, let's make Día a national tradition.