Module 10 | Tomás and the Library Lady

PLOT SUMMARY
Young Tomás travels with his family each summer from Texas to Iowa to work the land. Tomás loves his grandfather's cuentos, and exuberantly shouts out the ending to each one. Papá Grande suggests that Tomás should visit the library to find even more stories. Tomás' discovery of the library's many books, as well as the friendly librarian with whom he shares them, changes his life.

MY IMPRESSIONS
The story – based on the life of Tomás Rivera, who rose to become chancellor at the University of California at Riverside – is touching without being saccharine; Tomás is a likable protagonist who will no doubt inspire children (especially Latino children) to visit the library. The relationships between characters – specifically Tomás and his grandfather and Tomás and the library lady – are all portrayed in a positive manner, showing how Tomás values his roots while also embracing the idea of expanding his worldview. Tomás and the Library Lady is a fantastic entry in the historical fiction genre.

REVIEWS
"This is a warm and attractive tribute to the power of libraries and librarians, but it may be a bit too stodgy to evoke a response in young readers."
Pat Mathews, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, October 1997, Vol. 51, No. 2

"Colon's beautiful scratchboard illustrations, in his textured, glowingly colored, rhythmic style, capture the warmth and the dreams that the boy finds in the world of books."
 Hazel Rochman, Booklist, Aug. 1997, Vol. 93, No. 22

"A heartwarming story for children from all backgrounds."
Cheryl Peterson, Children's Literature, 1997
To read Peterson's full review, visit:
http://www.childrenslit.com/childrenslit/mai_mora_pat.html

USES IN THE LIBRARY
This would be a good selection for a story time in connection with El Día de los Niños. In addition, the book could inspire librarians to set up an activity once a month in which struggling English-language learners could read aloud to staff as a way to practice their language skills (and perhaps teach monolingual staff members Spanish words in return).

CITATION
Mora, P. (1997). Tomás and the library lady. New York: Knopf.