Tomas' and the Library Lady

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mora, Pat. 1997. Ill by Raul Colon. New York: Random House Inc. ISBN 0679804013

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Tomas’ and the Library Lady is about Tomas, a young boy whose family are migrant workers traveling from Texas to Iowa each year during summer to work on farms. As Tomas’s family works in the fields, he helps with chores and helps bring water to them. When Tomas’ isn’t working, he spends his time playing games with a ball his mom has made from and old teddy bear and listens to his grandfather, PaPa Grande, tell stories. Tomas’ PaPa Grande encourages him to go to the library so he can come back and tell him more stories. As Tomas’ is looking in the library, the librarian invites him into the library to get a drink of water. While he is there the librarian brings him books to read. By the end of the day the librarian checks two books out to him and he takes them home to share with his family. Tomas’ continues to visit the library throughout the summer. By the end of summer, Tomas’ gives the librarian a farewell gift and in return she gives him a book of his own.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is based on Tomas’ Rivera’s life as a Mexican American boy and growing up in a migrant family. Mora gives the readers an insight of what it was to live as a migrant farm worker. Tomas’ family is not wealthy. The story begins with Tomas’ on their way to Iowa to work on a farm. They are traveling in an “old car” that has no air condition because Tomas’ tells his mom, “If I had a glass of cold water, I would drink it in large gulps. I would suck the ice. I would pour the last drops of water on my face.” When the family arrives in Iowa, his family shares a small house with other workers and Tomas’ must sleep on a cot. Tomas’ family works in the fields picking corn while Tomas’ and his brother fetch water for them and other workers. Sometimes Tomas’s and his brother play ball that their mother made from an old teddy bear. Tomas’ family would also go to the town dump and look for pieces of iron to sell while Tomas’ looked for books.
Mora’s use of names such as Tomas’ and Enrique are examples of cultural markers. When Tomas’ talks to his mother, father and grandfather, he addresses them as Mama’, Papa’, and Papa’ Grande which are a part of the culture. Throughout the story, Mora uses Spanish dialect to bring more authenticity to the text and translations after each phrase and word to help readers understand their meanings by using words like, “Buenas noches,” meaning “good night,” “En un tiempo pasado” meaning “once upon a time,” and “Que’ tigre tan grande!” meaning, “what a big tiger.”
The underlying theme seems to be strong family ties. Tomas’ family travels from Texas to Iowa working together, playing, going through the dump to find things to sell, listening to stories, and encouraging Tomas’ to explore the library and the books it offers and sharing those stories.
Raul Colon is the illustrator and his has done a wonderful job depicting the 1940 era. He has added cultural marker by giving Tomas’ and his family skin tones of light brown. The colors that Colon has chosen to use give the reader a sense of warmth and contentment. The illustrations show a family that is united and a boy who has the freedom to have adventures while reading books. Both the text and illustrations complement each other to provide the readers with a story that is enjoyable to read and encourages the enjoyment of reading and shows the impact that it can have on one’s life.



4. REVIEW EXCERPT(s)

Booklist: “Ages 4^-8. Based on a true incident in the life of the famous writer Tomas Rivera, the son of migrant workers, this picture book captures an elemental American experience: the uprooted child who finds a home in the library.”

Kirkus Review: “A charming, true story about the encounter between the boy who would become chancellor at the University of California at Riverside and a librarian in Iowa.”

5. CONNECTION
Mora, Pat. CONFETTI: POEMS PARA NINOS/POEMS FOR CHILDREN. ISBN 9781584302704
Mora, Pat. THE BAKERY LADY/ LA SENORA DE LA PANADERIA’. ISBN 978155885340
Mora, Pat. YUM! MMMM! QUE RICOL: AMERICAS SPROUTINGS. ISBN 9781584302711