Libby Martinez, Pat’s daughter and co-author, wrote this poem when she worked for the Philadelphia Zoo, the oldest zoo in the country.
ZING! Seven Creativity Practices for Educators & Students is a book to share with new teacher graduates: help them cultivate their own creativity and the creative potential of all their students.
The UN General Assembly designates May 21 as World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. Their website says “Bridging the gap between cultures is urgent and necessary for peace, stability and development.” The mission of Children’s Day, Book Day (Día) aligns: “a year-long commitment to celebrating all our children and to motivating them and their families to be readers, essential in our democracy.”
Join the collaboration of national and state library and literacy organizations, educators, presses and readers creatively striving to share bookjoy and its importance!
Although many libraries and schools hold culminating Children’s Day, Book Day (Día) celebrations in April, Día stands for our daily commitment to celebrating all our children and to motivating them and their families to be readers, essential in our democracy. May and June offer an opportunity for Día partners to plan Summer Reading programs for families and children. Programs like the Collaborative Summer Reading Program (flyer pictured below) and iRead provide resources to help institutions celebrate.
This weekend is Mother’s Day, our annual day to honor the strong women in our lives. Over fifteen years ago, Pat edited and contributed to Love to Mamá: A Tribute to Mothers, a beautiful and celebratory collection in which thirteen poets write with joy, humor, and love about the powerful bond between mothers, grandmothers, and children.
“Lots of food, hugs, kisses, and endearments, in Spanish and English, fill the 13 poems in this anthology that celebrates Latina mothers and grandmothers … On the page opposite each poem, big, bold illustrations mix traditional media and computer graphics to create brilliant color and swirling figures, many with mamá’s circling arms at the center."—Booklist
May 8th is NEA’s Teacher Appreciation Day and this week is the PTA’s Teacher Appreciation Week, so let’s congratulate dedicated teachers at all levels! Thanks for the vitality, the ZING you bring to your classrooms and libraries.
Pat’s parents, Estela and Raúl Mora, her sister Cissy and Pat
This year’s Mora Award winner will receive a $1,000 First Book Marketplace credit, and two additional honor awards of $500 in First Book Marketplace credits will be granted to strong applicants.
Last year’s winner was Mattawa Elementary School in Mattawa, Washington. They put on a fantastic Día celebration with the help of parents and several community partners. They had over 200 attendees, lots fun and engaging reading activities, and free books for children and families to take home as prizes. Maybe your celebration could be this year’s winner!
The application deadline is June 30, 2018. Apply now.