|
Great Gift Ideas for the
Whole Year? BOOKS!
The cheerful sounds of
“Deck the halls” often
mean rush-rush-rush.
Work deadlines tug at us
as we make list of
things to do, gifts to
buy and try to squeeze
in resolutions for next
year. As Latinas, we’re
feeling a special desire
to connect with family
whether in person or
through calls, cards and
e-mails.
Though I now live in
Santa Fe, New Mexico, I
was born and raised my
three children in El
Paso, Texas. I loved
reading books and giving
them as gifts long
before I decided to
focus on being a writer.
I’d been a teacher and
university administrator,
but about twenty-five
years ago, I began to
spend time writing. I
didn’t know how much
rejection is part of the
writing life. Good thing
I’m persistent. As
Latinas, we have to be,
right?
I write poetry and
nonfiction (Nepantla:
Essays from the Land in
the Middle, and a memoir
about my family, House
of Houses) for adults
and encourage you to
write or tape the
stories of your family. |
 |
You can make your own
books to share. I also
write many children’s
books. Can you imagine
how much fun it is to
have amazing
illustrators create
their art from my words?
Plus, kids treat writers
like rock stars. When I
visit schools, they hug
me and write me notes.
What’s not to like?
There’s a serious side
to children’s books
though. We need Latino
children, and all
children, to be readers
from the time they’re
little. As a mom,
grandmom, aunt or friend,
you and I can teach
children what I call
bookjoy, the pleasure of
enjoying a book. Without
that skill, success in
school becomes harder
year by year. With that
skill, as we know, we
not only do better in
school, we know how to
read for information,
relaxation, learning and
inspiration.
You can be the link that
brings the children you
care about the lifelong
pleasure of reading.
How? Let them see you
reading, sit them close
to you and have regular
reading time.
Advertisers know that we
do things on cue. People
turn on the TV and get
in the mood to munch.
For many, walking into
the kitchen in the
morning means coffee.
I’ve started promoting,
“Books + PJs.” I love
the thought of kids and
families reading my
books including the new
easy-read bilingual
series, My Family, Mi
Familia.
I never expected to
become a literacy
advocate, but as I
realized that many
children don’t have the
habit of reading every
night, I wanted to
create a way to link all
children to books. In
1996, with the help of
some dedicated Latina
and Latino librarians, I
started El día de los
niños/El día de los
libros, Children’s Day/Book
Day. Know how kids say,
“There’s Mother’s Day
and Father’s Day, why
isn’t there Kid’s Day?”
Well, I wanted us to
have a day to celebrate
kids, and I wanted books
to be part of the
celebration.
|
|
|
Pat
Mora
is
an
award-winning
author
and
the
founder
of
the
family
literacy
initiative
El
día
de
los
niños/El
dia
de
los
libros:
Children’s
Day/Book
Day,
now
housed
at
the
American
Library
Association
and
celebrated
on
April
30.
Photo
credit:
Cheron
Bayna
|
|
“Día,” as we call this
family literacy
initiative that’s a
daily commitment, is now
housed at the American
Library Association. Its
main goal is to link all
children to books,
languages and cultures.
Lots of information and
ideas for celebrations
are available at
www.patmora.com and in
my new book, brightly
and beautifully
illustrated by Rafael
López, Book Fiesta:
Celebrate Children’s Day/Book
Day, Celebremos El día
de los niños/El día de
los libros. You and your
child reading buddy will
see kids reading in a
hot air balloon and even
in a whale’s mouth!
Is Día celebrated at
your local schools,
libraries, book stores?
I hope so since annual
celebrations are held
across the country on or
near April 30th. Chat
with your bookstore
managers, librarians and
teachers to insure that
books by Latinas are on
their shelves and
displays. Are they in
your home library too?
Make a special effort to
support Latina authors.
If we want these books
published, we need to
convince publishers that
there’s a growing
audience for the books.
Back to decking the
halls, Latina style.
Whether you’re looking
for holiday or birthday
gifts, books are
wonderful solutions for
all ages. Deck your
halls throughout the
year with books and more
books!
By Pat Mora
|
