Pat Mora Explained
Pat Mora (born January 19, 1942) is an American poet and author of books for adults, teens and children. A native of El Paso, Texas, her grandparents came to the city from northern Mexico. She graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso, received Honorary Doctorates from North Carolina State University and SUNY Buffalo, and was awarded American Library Association Honorary Membership. A literacy advocate, in 1996, she founded Children's Day, Book Day (Spanish; Castilian: El día de los niños, El día de los libros), now celebrated across the country each year on April 30.
Career
Pat Mora taught for the El Paso Public Schools, the El Paso Community College, and the University of Texas at El Paso where she then became Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and later Assistant to the President.
Writing
Mora began professionally writing in the early 1980s.[2] She has produced writing for all age groups, creating picture books, poetry and biographies. Her choice of subject matter and theme is often shaped by life on the Mexico–United States border where she was born and spent much of her life. she says: "The desert, mi madre, is my stern teacher...The Southwestern landscape has been my world, my point of reference."[3] Her writing highlights the human and cultural diversity of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. She writes of the rich sense of "diversity within Mexican American experience."[4] Mora celebrates diversity and is opposed to the idea of an American monoculture; therefore, she is very concerned with preserving cultural heritage: "I write because I believe that Mexican Americans need to take their rightful place in U.S. literature. We need to be published and to be studied in schools and colleges so that the stories and ideas of our people won't quietly disappear."
Mora is a strong advocate of bilingual literacy. Early in her career, she coined a concept she named "bookjoy" which describes the pleasure of reading.
Mora's style of writing often incorporates code-switching between English and Spanish words.[5] As a writer, she allows a free-flow of ideas in her first draft: she doesn't question her motivation for writing and writes using "as little conscious analysis as possible." She prefers to use her critical eye for editing her own work later.
Mora has collaborated with her daughter, Libby Martinez, on two children's books: I Pledge Allegiance and Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo!, for which Martinez is the illustrator.[6]
Children's Day, Book Day
In the mid-nineties, Mora founded the community-based, family literacy initiative, El día de los niños, El día de los libros/Children's Day, Book Day (Día). In 1997, she received the official endorsement of REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking for the project. Mora based Dia on Mexican National Children's Day festivities held since 1925.[7] The two part celebration of Día includes a commitment to promote literacy and bookjoy, and culminates in book celebrations that unite communities. When choosing a date to kick off Día, she chose April 30 because it was the last day of National Poetry month. The first Dia took place in 1996.
Children's Day, Book Day, has grown in the U.S. to include all children, languages and cultures. Mora has expressed the desire to have books, celebrations and materials for Día to include "all languages spoken in the United States."
In 2004, the Association for Library Services to Children's (ALSC) division of the American Library Association became an active partner for Dia. Mora says, "If we want our nation to be a country of readers...[we] need to work together to inspire communities in nurturing reading families."../
Awards
- Texas Writer Award (2015)
- International Latino Book Award, Best Children's Fiction Picture Book: The Beautiful Lady: Our Lady of Guadalupe, (2013).
- Loretto Legacy Award for Arts and Literature (2012).
- Con Tinta Achievement for Literary Activism from Association of Writers & Writing Programs (2012)
- Gelett Burgess Children's Book Award
Gracias~Thanks, (2011).
- Eureka! Children's Nonfiction Award, Silver Honor, California Reading Association: Dizzy in Your Eyes: Poems About Love, (2010).
- Literary Legacy Award, El Paso Community College (2010).
- International Latino Book Award for Best Children's Picture Book in English: Abuelos, (2009).
- Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association Poetry Award, Adobe Odes, (2008).
- Bronze Medal in Poetry, Independent Publisher Book Awards: Adobe Odes, (2008).
- Border Regional Library Association, Southwest Book Award: House of Houses, (2008).
- Luis Leal (writer) Award for Distinction in Chicano/Latino Letters, University of California at Santa Barbara (2008).
- International Latino Book Award, Best Poetry in English: Adobe Odes, (2007).
- Robert Long Medal for Distinuguished Contributions to Celebrating the Cultural Diversity of Children, University of Alabama at Birmingham (2007).
- Pura Belpré Honor Award for narrative: Doña Flor: A Tall Tale about a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart, (2006).[8]
- National Hispanic Cultural Center Literary Award (2006).
- Amelia Bloomer Project Recommended List: A Library for Juana: The World of Sor Juana Inéz, (2004).[9]
- Arizona Governor's Book Award: Confetti: Poems for Children, (2004).
- Pellicer-Frost Bi-national Poetry Award, Ford Foundation, FEMAP Foundation and Museo de Arte e Historia del INBA-Cd. Juarez, (1999).
- Fahd Elbadry Southwest Book Award: A Birthday Basket for Tia, (1992).
- Poetry Award, Conference of Cincinnati Women (1990).
- El Paso Herald-Post Writer's Hall of Fame Inductee (1988).
- Kellogg National Fellowship Leadership Award (1986).[10]
- Border Regional Library Association Award: Borders (1986).
- Border Regional Library Association Award: Chants (1984).
- Southwest Council of Latin American Studies, Harvey L. Johnson Award (1984).
- National Association for Chicano Studies, Creative Writing Award (1983).[11]
Mora has received Honorary Doctorates in Letters from North Carolina State University and SUNY Buffalo and is an Honorary Member of the American Library Association. She was a recipient of a Civitella Ranieri Fellowship to write in Umbria, Italy. She was a Visiting Carruthers Chair at the University of New Mexico, a recipient and judge of the Poetry Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, and a recipient and advisor of the Kellogg National Fellowships.
Bibliography
- Book: 2018. Encantado: Desert Monologues. University of Arizona Press. 9780816538027.
- Book: 8 November 2006. Adobe Odes. University of Arizona Press. 9780816526109.
- Book: 20 July 1997. Agua Santa: Holy Water . Beacon Press. 9780807068298.
- Book: 30 September 1997. Aunt Carmen's Book of Practical Saints. Beacon Press. 9780807072066.
- Book: 1994. Chants. Arte Publico Press. 9780934770248.
- Book: May 1991. Communion. Arte Publico Press. 9781558850354.
- Book: 1986. Borders. Arte Publico Press. 9780934770576.
Adult Books: Nonfiction
- Book: 30 March 2010 . Zing!: Seven Creativity Practices for Educators and Students . Corwin Press. 9781412978392.
- Book: 16 September 2001 . House of Houses. Beacon Press. 9780807072059.
- Book: 1 March 1993 . Nepantla: Essays From The Land In The Middle . University of New Mexico Press . 9780826314543 .
Young Adult Books: Poetry
Children's Books:
- Book: Bookjoy, Wordjoy. illustrated by Raúl Colón . 2018. Lee & Low Bookss. 9781620142868.
- Book: The Remembering Day/El día de los muertos. illustrated by Robert Casilla . 1 October 2015. Piňata Books. 9781558858053.
- Book: Water Rolls, Water Rises/El agua rueda, el agua sube. illustrated by Meilo So. 1 October 2014. Children's Book Press. 9780892393251.
- Book: 1 January 2014 . I Pledge Allegiance. Random House Children's Omni. 9780307931818 . co-authored with Libby Martinez illustrated by Patrice Barton.
- Book: The Beautiful Lady: Our Lady of Guadalupe. illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. 1 January 2012. Knopf Books for Young Readers. 9780375868382. registration.
- Book: Book Fiesta! Celebrate Children's Day, Book Day/Celebremos el Dia de los libros. illustrated by Rafael López. 10 March 2009. Rayo. 9780061288777. registration.
- Book: Wiggling Pockets/Los bolsillos saltarines. illustrated by Maribel Suárez. 1 June 2009. Rayo. 9780060850470. registration.
- Book: 14 September 2009 . A Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas. Clarion Books. 9780618841981 . illustrated by Magaly Morales.
- Book: Sweet Dreams/Dulces Suenos. illustrated by Maribel Suárez. 27 May 2008. Rayo. 9780060850418. registration.
- Book: Join Hands!. illustrated by George Ancona. 1 January 2008. Charlesbridge. 9781580892032. registration.
- Book: Let's Eat!/A Comer!. illustrated by Maribel Suárez. 1 March 2008. Rayo. 9780060850395. registration.
- Book: Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman With a Great Big Heart. illustrated by Rafael López. 1 October 2007. Lee & Low Books. 9781584302711.
- Book: ¡Marimba!: Animales From A to Z. illustrated by Doug Cushman. 13 November 2006. Clarion Books. 9780618194537. registration.
- Book: 1 July 2005 . Gracias/Thanks . Lee & Low Books. 9781600602580 . illustrated by John Parra.
- Book: 16 August 2005. The Song of Saint Francis and the Animals. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. 9780802852533. illustrated by David Frampton.
- Book: Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman With a Great Big Heart. illustrated by Raúl Colón. 11 October 2005. Knopf Books for Young Readers. 9780375823374.
- Book: 12 November 2002 . A Library for Juana: The World of Sor Juana Inés. Knopf Books for Young Readers. 9780375806438 . illustrated by Beatriz Vidal.
- Book: Maria Paints the Hills. illustrated by Maria Hesch. 1 October 2002. Museum of New Mexico Press. 9780890134108.
- Book: Love to Mama: A Tribute to Mothers (editor). illustrated by Paula S. Barrigan M.. 1 April 2001. Lee & Low Books. 9781584302353. registration.
- Book: Tomas and the Library Lady. illustrated by Raúl Colón. 22 February 2000. Turtleback Books. 9780613283625.
- Book: The Rainbow Tulip. illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles. 1999. Viking Children's Books. 9780670872916.
- Book: This Big Sky. illustrated by Steve Jenkins. April 1998. Scholastic Inc.. 9780590371209.
- Book: Delicious Hullabaloo/Pachanga Deliciosa . illustrated by Steve Jenkins. 1 January 1998. Piňata Books. 9781558852464.
- Book: 1 October 1996 . Confetti . Lee & Low Books. 9781880000250 . illustrated by Enrique Sanchez.
- Book: Uno, Dos, Tres: One, Two, Three. illustrated by Cecily Lang. 1 April 1996. Clarion Books. 9780395672945.
- Book: The Race of Toad and Deer. illustrated by Domi. 1 September 1995. Orchard Books. 9780531094778.
- Book: The Gift of the Poinsettia/El Regalo de La Flor de Nochebuena. illustrated by Daniel Lechón. 1 January 1995. Arte Publico Press. 9781558851375.
- Book: Agua, Agua, Agua. registration. illustrated by José Ortega. 1 September 1994. Good Year Books. 9780673361950.
- Book: Pablo's Tree. illustrated by Cecily Lang. 1994. Simon and Schuster. 9780027674019.
- Book: A Birthday Basket for Tía. illustrated by Cecily Lang. 1992. Macmillan Publishing Company. 9780027674002.
- Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo!
- The Desert Is My Mother/El desierto es mi madre(bilingual)
- Abuelos
- The Bakery Lady/La señora de la panaderia (bilingual)
- Listen to the Desert: Oye al desierto
- My Family/Mi Familia series: Here Kitty, Kitty/¡Ven gatita, ven! (bilingual)
- The Night the Moon Fell
Family
Pat Mora raised her 3 children and worked in El Paso until 1989, when she moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. She is married to Vern Scarborough, a professor of anthropology.[12] She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Notes and References
- Book: Gilb. Dagoberto. Hecho en Tejas: an Anthology of Texas-Mexican Literature. 2006. University of New Mexico Press. Albuquerque, NM. 9780826341259. 329.
- Murphy. Patrick. Conserving Natural and Cultural Diversity: The Prose and Poetry of Pat Mora. MELUS. 1996. 21. 1. 59–69. 10.2307/467806. 467806. 0163-755X.
- Book: Mora. Pat. Farah. Cynthia. Literature and Landscape. 1988. Texas Western Press. El Paso, Texas. 0874042062. 58–59. 1st.
- Kurzen. Crystal. Pat Mora's Literary Nepantia: Blueprints for a Word-House Refuge. A/B: Auto/Biography Studies. 2011. 26. 2. 342–363. 10.1353/abs.2011.0013. 10 February 2015. The Autobiography Society. 191498854.
- Larson. Jeanett. Talking with Pat Mora. BookLinks. January 2011. 20. 2. 23–26. 4 February 2015. American Library Association / Booklist Publications. 1055-4742.
- Web site: Mora. Pat. Bookjoy. Pat Mora's Homepage. 10 February 2015.
- Roy. Lorience. Let Book Joy Begin @ Your Library!: Ten Years of El Día de los Niños/El Día de los Libros. Library Media Connection. March 2007. 25. 6. 14–16. 7 February 2015. ABC-Clio - Library Media Connection. 1542-4715.
- Web site: The Pura Belpre Award winners, 1996-present. Association for Library Service to Children. American Library Association. 4 February 2015. 2015.
- Web site: The Amelia Bloomer Book List. American Library Association: Awards and Grants. American Library Association. 4 February 2015. 2015.
- Web site: Mora. Pat. Pat's Awards. Bookjoy. 4 February 2015.
- Book: Farah. Cynthia. Literature and Landscape: Writers of the Southwest. 1988. Texas Western Press. El Paso, Texas. 0874042062. 123. 1st.
- Web site: Oliver-Rotger. Maria-Antónia. Pat Mora. Voices from the Gaps. University of Minnesota. 10 February 2015. 1999.
http://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/handle/11299/166277/Mora%2c%20Pat.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y "This page was researched and submitted by: Delia Abreu, Kristene Both, and Beth Woodruff on [May 16, 2000]." Retrieved 2015-09-18.