Awards
- Texas Institute of Letters Denton Record-Chronicle Award, 2015
- International Latino Book Award, Best Children’s Fiction Picture Book, 2015
- CCBC Choices (Cooperative Children’s Book Center), 2015
- Denver Public Library’s Best & Brightest Children’s Books, 2014
- Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, NCSS/CBC, 2015
- Kentucky Bluegrass Award Master List, 2016
- Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominee, Picture Book, 2016
- Maine State Library Cream of the Crop for Children’s and Young Adult Literature, 2015
- Greenburgh NY Public Library, Best Picture Books list, 2014
 Libby with Aunt Lobo.  Pat & Pledge illustrator Patrice Barton.  Students at Ortega School in Austin Texas created self-portraits after studying the art in I Pledge Allegiance. |
 Pat and her daughter, Libby Martinez.  I Pledge Allegiance
By Pat Mora and Libby Martinez
Illustrated by Patrice Barton
Knopf Books for Young Readers
Download the Educator Guide, aligned with CCSS
Download a hi-res jpeg of the book jacket.
Available as an e-book: For Kindle For Nook
Read the press release
A Spanish edition, Yo prometo lealtad, is now available.
Libby’s great aunt, Lobo, is from Mexico, but the United States has been her home for many years, and she wants to become a U.S. citizen. At the end of the week, Lobo will say the Pledge of Allegiance at a special ceremony. Libby is also learning the Pledge this week, at school—at the end of the week, she will stand up in front of everyone and lead the class in the Pledge. Libby and Lobo practice together—asking questions and sharing stories and memories—until they both stand tall and proud, with their hands over their hearts.
Patrice Barton’s illustrations from the book were chosen for Original Art, the Society of Illustrators’ annual juried exhibition celebrating the fine art of children’s book illustration.
Read a thoughtful opinion essay inspired by I Pledge Allegiance in The Monitor (Texas).
Highlighted Reviews
“Libby and her Great Aunt Lobo are learning the Pledge of Allegiance at the same time–but for different reasons…Sprinkled with Spanish words, this gentle book explores what it means to be an American from the perspective of both a child and new citizen.”—School Library Journal
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“Libby and her Great Aunt Lobo are learning the Pledge of Allegiance at the same time—but for different reasons. Lobo is practicing it in order to become a citizen of the United States. She is proud of her Mexican heritage but is also grateful to be in America. In school, Libby has been chosen to lead her class in saying the pledge. Lobo and Libby decide to practice together at home and talk about what it means to both of them. The pencil and digitally painted illustrations have a watercolor softness that shows the deep warmth and closeness between niece and aunt. The characters are endearing, rendered primarily in shades of blue. The story will help young children become more thoughtful about this common daily recitation. Sprinkled with Spanish words, this gentle book explores what it means to be an American from the perspective of both a child and new citizen.”—School Library Journal
“On Friday, Mom and I will go with…great-aunt [Lobo] to a special place…[where] she will say the Pledge of Allegiance and…become a citizen of the United States,” exclaims Libby, the young narrator of this family story. Libby vows to practice saying the pledge with Lobo in the week leading up to the ceremony, providing an easy opportunity for the authors to integrate both lines of the pledge and discussions of its meaning into the text.”—Booklist
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“On Friday, Mom and I will go with…great-aunt [Lobo] to a special place…[where] she will say the Pledge of Allegiance and…become a citizen of the United States,” exclaims Libby, the young narrator of this family story. Libby vows to practice saying the pledge with Lobo in the week leading up to the ceremony, providing an easy opportunity for the authors to integrate both lines of the pledge and discussions of its meaning into the text. Likewise, the inclusion of Spanish text not only introduces readers to potentially new vocabulary words but it also helps them understand the importance of Lobo’s Mexican heritage as well as her American citizenship. Barton’s warm, mixed-media illustrations echo the warmth in Lobo’s words: “This country is like one big family…that works together to take care of the people who need help.” An authors’ note adds more personal connections as well as a few lines of historical background about the pledge.”—Booklist
“This book succeeds in not only explaining the Pledge of Allegiance but also the reasons that [Libby’s] great-aunt chose to immigrate to the U. S. This is an essential purchase.”—School Library Journal
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“It goes without saying that immigration is a hot-button political issue at the moment. Mora’s new book sidesteps the politics in this story of a girl named Libby and her great-aunt Lobo. The older woman has passed her citizenship exam and is about to attend a naturalization ceremony. Libby is studying the Pledge of Allegiance in her class, and is both excited and slightly nervous to lead the class in the pledge prior to her great-aunt’s big day. This book succeeds in not only explaining the Pledge of Allegiance but also the reasons that her great-aunt chose to immigrate to the U. S. An author’s note reveals that Lobo is a real person—Mora’s aunt, who became a U. S. citizen in the 1970s. This title encapsulates what all the books in this column are about when Lobo says, “I am proud to be from Mexico and to speak Spanish and English.” This is an essential purchase.”—School Library Journal
“An intergenerational ode to a positive United States immigration experience. Libby is proud of her great-aunt Lobo (which means “wolf” in Spanish), who has just passed the United States citizenship test. On Thursday, Libby will lead her class in saying the Pledge of Allegiance, and on Friday, Lobo will recite the pledge to officially become a U.S. citizen…Intertextual historical facts make this book a shoo-in for social-studies units on the United States. “—Kirkus Reviews
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“An intergenerational ode to a positive United States immigration experience. Libby is proud of her great-aunt Lobo (which means “wolf” in Spanish), who has just passed the United States citizenship test. On Thursday, Libby will lead her class in saying the Pledge of Allegiance, and on Friday, Lobo will recite the pledge to officially become a U.S. citizen. Lobo and Libby practice together, and Lobo shares her story…Lobo’s nostalgic recounting of her immigration experience pairs well with Barton’s soft pencil sketches…Intertextual historical facts make this book a shoo-in for social-studies units on the United States. “—Kirkus Reviews
“Drawing from family history, Mora and her daughter Martinez tell the story of a girl named Libby, whose 80-year-old Mexican-born great-aunt, Lobo, becomes a U.S. citizen. Libby proudly announces to her class that Lobo passed her citizenship test and will soon recite the Pledge of Allegiance at her swearing-in ceremony…Libby and Lobo practice the pledge together…Barton’s art easily conveys Libby and Lobo’s loving rapport.”—Publishers Weekly
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“Drawing from family history, Mora (The Beautiful Lady) and her daughter Martinez tell the story of a girl named Libby, whose 80-year-old Mexican-born great-aunt, Lobo, becomes a U.S. citizen. Libby proudly announces to her class that Lobo passed her citizenship test and will soon recite the Pledge of Allegiance at her swearing-in ceremony. Since Libby’s class is also learning the pledge, her teacher offers a bit of background information, noting that its author, Francis Bellamy, “hoped that girls and boys would promise to be good citizens.” Libby and Lobo practice the pledge together, and Lobo offers a poetic response to Libby’s question about why she wants to become a citizen; after she arrived in the U.S. as a child, “the American flag—red, white, and blue—wrapped itself around me to protect me.” Barton’s (The Invisible Boy) digitally painted pencil sketches have a soft, smudgy quality with a pink-and-pale-blue palette that echoes the colors of the American flag. Spanish words appear occasionally, in keeping with the melting-pot theme, and Barton’s art easily conveys Libby and Lobo’s loving rapport.”—Publishers Weekly
“Inspired by their own aunt’s immigration story (described in a note at the back), authors Mora and Martinez craft a wonderful story that will encourage children to learn this pledge of patriotism and understand what it means to arrive from another country and become an American–like so many Americans have. This book is practical and inspirational.”—NAEYC’s Young Children
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“A red, white and blue must-read.”—emissourian.com
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“…shows the importance of patriotism and family bonds…this little book reminds parents and kids alike how fortunate we are to live in this country.”—Booking Mama blog
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Authors’ Note
Our aunt Ygnacia Delgado was a very special lady. A young woman during the Mexican Revolution of 1910, she came to El Paso, Texas, with her sisters and father, who had been a circuit judge in northern Mexico. She never married and often lived with our family. When she’d arrive in the evening after work, she’d call out, “¿Dónde están mis lobitos?” (“Where are my little wolves?”) We all began calling her Lobo and not tia, which means “aunt” in Spanish.
Lobo learned English when she arrived in the United States. She liked books and read encyclopedias, newspapers, and prayer books in Spanish and English. Lobo always wore dresses. She was very devout, very proper.
Lobo became a U.S. citizen in her late seventies and did give the wonderful answer about why she became a citizen that we refer to in the book. Although she had studied hard for her citizenship test, the judge only asked her one question. “Miss Delgado, who is the president of the United States?”
Lobo was everything a citizen should be–hardworking, honest, brave, respectful, responsible. And even in her nineties, Lobo was fun. She read to us and played games with us. We all remember her smile.
This book is our first collaboration. It’s an honor to share the story of our intelligent and loving aunt.
–Pat Mora and Libby Martinez
 Autumn in Northern New Mexico.
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