Mora Award Presentation at ALA Midwinter

Pat Mora

Laurina, the blog manager writes:

I happily attended the presentation of the Mora Award at the Noche de Cuentos event, sponsored by REFORMA, Saturday night, January 26, during ALA Midwinter conference. It was a grand, festive event and I was touched by the acceptance remarks by the winners, Tina Bixby and Amelia Martinez of the Lynden Public Library (WA). For the first time, Mora Honors were also given. The receipients were Mount Pleasant branch of the District of Columbia Public Library, King County Library System (WA) and the Sacramento Public Library (CA).

Unfortunately, my phone photos were poor quality but REFORMA (National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking) members posted a wonderful album on their Facebook page and I’ve included a few of those photos here.

L to R: Denice Adkins/President REFORMA, Beatriz Pascual-Wallace/Chair Mora
Award Committee, Amelia Martinez and Tina Bixby/ Lyndon Public Library
L to R: Chelsea Couillard-Smith/ Sacramento PL,

José M. Garcia/ King County Library System, Robin Imperial/ DCPL,
Tina Bixby & Amelia Martinez/ Lyndon PL

Read an interview with the Mora Award winners.
Read comments by the Mora Award Honors.

My Family/Mi Familia Series: Thoughts about Bilingual Books

Pat Mora

I was encouraged to write this four-book series of easy-read bilingual books by a friend in Texas who is not bilingual but who generously and creatively fosters literacy by putting bilingual books in the hands of children who need them.

In this series, readers meet the Rosas family: Isabel, Tina, Danny, Mom, Dad, and Abuelita. They meet the familiy’s dog, Tico, and the family’s new kitty too. The books depict children’s daily activities: a family meal, chasing a kitten, bedtime, and a boy’s mischief.

“How do you honestly feel about bilingual books?” I asked a group of teachers. A woman raised her hand and answered, “They intimidate me.” I remain grateful for that teacher’s candor. Others chimed in saying that they shared her reluctance to use such books. “I’m the teacher,” one said. “I’m supposed to be the expert. I wish I knew Spanish, but I can’t read half the book.” The group then discussed how our monolingual-Spanish students also can feel embarrassed and wish they spoke and could read and write English.

Indeed, in our linguistically-rich country, it isn’t only Spanish-speaking children and families who have those longings.

The attendees shared the following ideas:

Since we believe that books are powerful and shape attitudes, we can affirm our Latino and Spanish-speaking students by incorporating bilingual books into our school and library collections and by using the books for read-alouds and activities.

Since we teach by example, when we leave our linguistic comfort zone and risk beginning to explore and maybe even learn another language, we teach our students, whether monolingual or bilingual, to do likewise.

Instead of avoiding bilingual books, we can partner with bilingual parents, older students or colleagues and illustrate the wonder and fun of languages through collaboration. We can also listen to and use audio books.

Our students, all our diverse students, need brave teachers.

How sad I feel when I hear educators state that their ideal students are white, European-American children. All student’s need their teacher’s attention and faith. Celebrate and creatively educate all of America’s diverse and beautiful children. Remember my Texas friend who spreads bookjoy and puts bilingual books in the hands of children who need them? Join her.