Autumn Welcome!

Pat Mora

I savor each of the seasons, but this month and next, I’m savoring gold leaves and purple blooms. I enjoy hot tea all year long, but this month and next, I’m especially enjoying honey in my tea. I’m also savoring the lines learned years ago, “October gave a party, the leaves by hundreds came.” I’m grateful to my teachers, mostly nuns, who had me memorize many poems and taught me to love poetry, its pure pleasure.

I so enjoyed writing my poetry collection, Adobe Odes (The University of Arizona Press), about all kinds of things I like and love such as you: Readers!
Adobe Odes by Pat Mora
“Ode to Readers.”

             “Without you,
what I’ve prepared will wither
                                                into dust.

Tempt you?”

Enjoy poetry and autumn
Pat

Growing an Artist: The Story of a Landscaper and His Son

Pat Mora

Growing an Artist by John Parra
How I enjoyed reading my friend John Parra’s new book, Growing an Artist: The Story of a Landscaper and His Son.

The author tells us that the story is inspired by his own work helping his dad. I too helped my dad at his optical company in El Paso, Texas. Like John’s grandparents, my dad came from Chihuahua, Mexico to the border.

I also grew up bilingual, English and Spanish like John, and enjoyed the braiding of both languages in this text. I’ve also enjoyed gardening for years and savoring Mexican food such as burritos.

I don’t have John’s artistic talents and appreciated his sketching and illustrations, dual talents. I also learned from his father’s landscaping skills.

Just as author and illustrator John Parra is proud of his father’s landscaping talents, I’m sure that his father is proud of his son’s talents on the page. Congratulations, John! ¡Felicitaciones!

Pat

Family: a wonderful inspiration for my writing

Pat Mora

My family has been a wonderful inspiration for my writing.

My family memoir, House of Houses, was published by Beacon Press. I’m grateful to my editor Deborah Chasman.

My daughter, writer Libby Martinez, and I so enjoyed writing I Pledge Allegiance, about our beloved aunt, Libby’s great aunt, Ygnacia Delgado who was born in Mexico. We called this aunt Lobo which means “wolf.” (Read the book to find out why.) Libby and I are so grateful to Patrice Barton for her delightful illustrations.
Pat

Dedications

Pat Mora

Welcome! Before sharing my book dedications, I want to thank two special women in my life: Bobbie Combs, my Web manager, and Linda Weston, my assistant. For years, these two talented and cheerful women have helped me do work I love to do.

¡Gracias, mis amigas!

Publication order: adult: 7 poetry, 3 nonfiction; young adult: 2; children’s books: 37

Adult Books

Poetry: 7

  1. Chants, 1984, Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
    For my children, Billy, Libby, and Cissy, whose love and laughter warm my life
  2. Borders, 1986, Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
    For Vern who believes
  3. Communion, 1991, Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
    For my parents, Estella and Raúl Mora ¡Qué corazones!
  4. Agua Santa: Holy Water, 1995, Beacon Press, Boston, MA
    For Vern, treasured water scholar
  5. Aunt Carmen’s Book of Practical Saints, 1997, Beacon Press, Boston, MA
    For the faith—of my editor, Deborah Chasman, my friend, Murray Bodo, and my early heroines, the Sisters of Loretto
  6. Adobe Odes: 2006, The University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ
    For my children, Bill, Libby, and Cissy, whose praises I will always sing
  7. Encantado: Desert Monologues, 2018, The University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ
    For my granddaughter Bonny and my loving family

Nonfiction: 3

  1. Nepantla: Essays from the Land in the Middle, 1993, University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, NM
    For my fine editor, Andrea Otañez, who believed in this book, a woman who listens, thinks, cares
  2. House of Houses (family memoir), 1997, Beacon Press, Boston, MA
    For Bill, Libby, Cissy, Niki, Gil, and Christopher; my children, niece, and nephews, who continue the story
  3. Zing: Seven Creativity Practices for Educators & Students, 2010, Corwin, Thousand Oaks, CA
    To the authors whose books have taught and delighted me through the years and to the bold, creative educators who inspire me by their commitment to the underserved

Young Adult, Poetry: 2

  1. My Own True Name: New and Selected Poems for Young Adults, 2000, Piñata Books, Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
    For young writers of all shapes, colors, and sizes: may you write many wonderful poems; and for the staff of Arte Público Press who have treated me so kindly through the years
  2. Dizzy in Your Eyes: Poems about Love, 2010, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY
    With gratitude, to my editor, Nancy Hinkel

Children’s Books/Picture Books: 37 (in alphabetical order)

  1. Abuelos, 2008, Groundwood Books, Toronto, ON
    For my Uncle Lalo, a grand storyteller, and for my friend, Arturo Madrid who loves New Mexico
    Abuelos, Spanish edition
  2. The Bakery Lady/La señora de la panadería (bilingual), 2001, Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
    For my niece Niki (Monica) and my nephew, Gil, who value traditions, and to panaderos and panaderas who preserve traditions in delicious ways
  3. The Beautiful Lady: Our Lady of Guadalupe, 2012, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY
    In memory of my father Raúl Antonio Mora, who loved Our Lady of Guadalupe; and for my friend, Rose Treviño, a fine librarian and literacy advocate
    La hermosa Señora: Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Spanish edition
  4. A Birthday Basket for Tía, 1992, Simon & Schuster, New York, NY
    In memory of my dear tía, Ygnacia Delgado, and for all aunts and great-aunts who surprise us with their love
    Una canasta de cumpleaños para Tía, Spanish edition
  5. Book Fiesta! Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day, Celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros (bilingual, also Arabic edition), 2009, HarperCollins, New York, NY
    For the children, for my editor Adriana Dominquez, a Día champion, and for the members of REFORMA and ALSC, who connect children and books
  6. Bookjoy, Wordjoy, 2018, Lee & Low Books, New York, NY
    For Bonny, our treasure
  7. ¡Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo! (with Libby Martinez), 2014, Groundwood Books, Toronto, ON
    To my friend, Patsy Aldana, respected publisher, editor, and international literacy advocate
    ¡Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo!, Spanish edition
  8. Confetti: Poems for Children, 1996, Lee & Low Books, New York, NY
    For my daughter, Libby, a sun song
    Confeti: Poemas para Niños, Spanish edition
  9. Delicious Hullabaloo/Pachanga deliciosa (bilingual), 1998, Piñata Books/Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
    For my nephew, Christopher Mora Henry who savors family
  10. The Desert Is My Mother/El Desierto Es Mi Madre (bilingual), 1994, Piñata Books/Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
    For my mother’s other children, Cissy, Stella, and Anthony
  11. Dona Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart, 2005, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY
    For my daughter, Dr. Cissy Burnside, a veterinarian who’s the cat’s meow
    Doña Flor: Un Cuento de una Mujer Gigante con un Grande Corazón, Spanish edition
  12. The Gift of the Poinsettia/El Regalo de La Flor de Nochebuena (bilingual), with Charles Ramírez Berg, 1995, Piñata Books/Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
    For Dan Moore and Father Murray Bodo, who listen and care
  13. Gracias*Thanks (bilingual), 2009, Lee & Low Books, New York, NY
    For my siblings for whom I’m so grateful—Cissy, Stella and Anthony
  14. I Pledge Allegiance (with Libby Martinez), 2014, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY
    In loving memory of our aunt, Lobo, and for all new citizens of these United States
    Yo prometo lealtad, Spanish edition
  15. Join Hands: The Ways We Celebrate Life, 2008, Charlesbridge, Watertown, MA
    For my agent, Elizabeth Harding, and her assistant, Anna Webman
  16. A Library for Juana: The World of Sor Juana Inés, 2002, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY
    For my book-loving children: Bill, Libby and Cissy
    Una biblioteca para Juana: el mundo de Sor Juana Inés, Spanish edition
  17. Listen to the Desert: Oye al desierto (bilingual),1994, Clarion Books, Boston, MA
    To my son, Bill, who helped me see the desert anew
  18. Maria Paints the Hills, 2002, Museum of New Mexico Press, Santa Fe, NM
    To my friends Carolyn Trela and Gie van den Pol
  19. ¡Marimba! Animales from A to Z, 2006, Clarion Books, Boston, MA
    For my son Bill, and his infectious humor and wonder at the natural world

    20. My Family * Mi familia, 4 bilingual books, 2008, HarperCollins, New York, NY

  20. Here, Kitty, Kitty! ¡Ven, gatita, ven!
    To Joseph Rodriquez, Patricia Armendariz and Sara Howrey, friends and literacy champions
  21. Let’s Eat! ¡A comer!
    To Becky Brumley who encouraged me to write these books and to Oralia Garza de Cortés, literacy advocate
  22. Sweet Dreams/Dulces sueños
    To my gentle and supportive editor, Rosemary Brosnan
  23. Wiggling Pockets/Los bolsillos saltarines
    To my son-in-law Roger Martinez, once the boy with the wiggling pockets, and to his lovely wife, Libby

  24. My Magic Wand, 2021, Lee & Low Books, New York, NY
    With love to my spunky granddaughter, Bonny
  25. My Singing Nana, 2019, Magination Press, Washington, DC
    For my treasured sister, Stella Mora Henry, who wisely assisted thousands of families with the challenges of aging
  26. The Night the Moon Fell, 2000, Groundwood Books, Toronto, ON
    For Elizabeth Mills who journeys within
    La noche que se cayó la luna, Spanish edition
  27. Pablo’s Tree, 1994, Simon & Schuster, New York, NY
    In memory of my father, Raúl Antonio Mora, and for a special boy
  28. A Piñata in a Pine Tree, 2009, Clarion Books, Boston, MA
    For my children, who love celebrations, and for Stella, Terry, and Christopher who join us
  29. The Race of Toad and Deer, 1995, Orchard Books, New York, NY
    For Teresa McKenna and Tey Diana Rebolledo, my friends in the race
    La carrera del sapo y el venado, Spanish edition
  30. The Rainbow Tulip, 1999, Viking, New York, NY
    For my first editor, my wonderful mother, Estela Mora
  31. The Remembering Day: El día de los muertos (bilingual), 2015, Piñata Books/Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
    For my Teo, my great-nephew, and Maya, my great-niece, who will remember us
  32. The Song of Francis and the Animals, 2005, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, MI
    For my dear friend, Murray Bodo, O.F.M., a follower of St. Francis
  33. This Big Sky, 1998, Scholastic Press, New York, NY
    For my daughter Cissy who loves animals and deserts
  34. Tomás and the Library Lady, 1997, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY
    In memory of Tomás Rivera and for librarians who lure us in
    Tomás y la señora de la biblioteca , Spanish edition
  35. Uno, Dos, Tres; One, Two, Three, 1996, Clarion Books, Boston, MA
    For my daughters, Libby and Cissy, who give me so many wonderful surprises
  36. Water Rolls, Water Rises/El agua rueda, El agua sube (bilingual), 2014, Children’s Book Press, New York, NY
    For my husband, Vern Scarborough, a water scholar,
  37. Yum! MmMm! Qué Rico! America’s Sproutings, 2007, Lee & Low Books, New York,NY
    To Chris Hazard, a wonderful cook, friend, and fellow food lover
    Yum! ¡Mmm! ¡Qué Rico! Brotes de las Américas, Spanish edition

 

Edited:
Love to Mamá: A Tribute to Mothers, 2001, Lee & Low Books, New York, NY
Introduction and “Song to Mothers.”
For my mother, Estela Delgado Mora, and in memory of my grandmother, Amelia Landavazo Delgado and my aunt, Ignacia
Delgado; and for all who mother us