Pat Mora

"Five-year-old Pablo can hardly wait to see how Abuelito, his grandfather, has decorated Pablo’s tree for his birthday. When Mamá first told her father that she was going to adopt a baby…Lito went out and bought the tree for his grandson…A lovely and resonant picture book that, like the tree that Pablo discovers decked with bells and wind chimes, rings with happiness and family love."—Booklist

Activities for sharing Pablo’s Tree in the classroom:

• Using branches, have students create their own tree for a special person or to remember a specific birthday of their own. Teaching origami or making clay wind chimes are possibilities.
• A number of Pat’s books describe relationships between children and an older relative. Invite students to share traditions from their families. Invite grandparents or older relatives and friends to visit the class and perhaps to share a memory, game, tradition, or song in their native language.
• Students can make items for Pablo’s sixth birthday.
• Using “dress-up props,” children can stage a scene about an event with an older relative or friend.

October 15, 2019 is the official publication date for My Singing Nana, published by Magination Press.

Billy is close with his Nana. But Nana is starting to forget things and Billy is worried. When Billy’s sister is too sick to sing in their family summer show, Billy and Nana work together to come up with an act that saves the performance! Billy learns that no matter what happens, he and Nana are “always amigos!”

This story celebrates the ideals of family, heritage, and happy memories, showing kids that no matter how their loved one might change they always have ways to maintain their special connection.

"A winning story that also serves as a useful family resource."—Publishers Weekly

"A tender tribute to families who have loved ones suffering from dementia."—Kirkus Reviews

Read Pat’s Author Note
Families savor happy memories. A number of the women in my family were wonderful cooks, and I enjoyed having my three children help me bake. Soon, my granddaughter will be my helper. Baking memories and family gatherings are happy memories for us. All families, of course, confront challenging realities too including aging.

How do children respond to grandparents or other seniors who may begin to experience memory loss, and where do children have opportunities to share and discuss their confusion, worries, and feelings?

In their eighties, both of my parents suffered from dementia. Alzheimer’s, named for the German physician, Dr. Alois Alzheimer, who first identified the brain disorder that now bears his name, is the most common form of dementia. Not a normal part of aging, Alzheimer’s is regularly in the news, since an estimated 5.8 million Americans are confronting this disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

I was encouraged to write this book by my sister, Stella Henry, who cared for our parents at the end of their lives. For over thirty years, as a nurse, administrator, and co-owner of a nursing home, she helped thousands of families deal with challenging health issues.

Caring adults know that children are capable of compassion and thoughtfulness. A few reminders:

• Be truthful with children. Share age-appropriate information.
• Encourage children to share their worries with parents and trusted family members or teachers. Children’s questions provide clues about appropriate issues to address with a child and her or his level of understanding.
• Remind children to be polite and patient with their family member or friend.
• Model loving, thoughtful behavior that strengthens family bonds.

I often smile at many happy memories of my parents and think of my teasing dad and my mom’s fabulous laugh.
Pat

“Water fascinates me, pehaps because I’ve spent most of my life in the Southwest desert region of the United States. The sound of rain is welcome music on a dry and thirsty landscape. Creeks and rivers refresh desert dwellers, and lakes—so much water—seem a surprise. Lighting and downpours startle. Snow softens mountains, hills, cactuses, rocks.
—Pat, from the Author’s Note in Water Rolls, Water Rises/El agua rueda, el agua sube.

The last week in August is World Water Week, the annual focal point for the globe’s water issues. It is organized by SIWI, the Stockholm International Water Institute. The theme for 2019 is “Water for society–Including all.” Each of us can conserve water day by day.

Illustration by Meilo So from Water Rolls, Water Rises.