Lee & Low Interview with Pat and Raul Colón

Pat Mora

To coincide with the release of Bookjoy, Wordjoy this month, Lee & Low Books featured an interview with Pat and illustrator Raul Colón on their blog:

As a children’s book publisher, we know how powerful and influential words are, which is why we’re so excited to have announced the release of our new title, Bookjoy, Wordjoy this month! Whether we are collecting words, reading favorite books in the library, celebrating holidays, writing poems, sharing secrets, or singing a jazzy duet, words and books can take us on wonderful adventures and bring us joy. Poet Pat Mora and illustrator Raul Colón, two of the biggest names in the Latinx children’s book world, have teamed up to bring bookjoy, the fun of reading, and wordjoy, the fun of listening to words, combining words, and playing with words, to readers everywhere. In a starred review from Booklist, this title was called a “joyous invitation to put pen (or paintbrush) to paper.” Read the whole interview.
Bookjoy, Wordjoy by Pat Mora

July 26 is National Aunt and Uncle’s Day

Pat Mora

My books A Birthday Basket for Tía and I Pledge Allegiance star my beloved aunt, whom we called, Lobo, who was like a second maternal grandmother. I’ve also written about her in my poetry collections for adults. All my special aunts and my uncle appear in my family memoir House of Houses.
Pat

A Birthday Basket for Tía
Cecilia has many happy memories of special times with her great-aunt, her Tía, baking cookies, having tea, or playing outside. So what can she give her on this truly special occasion, Tía’s ninetieth birthday?
A Birthday Basket for Tia

I Pledge Allegiance
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.
I Pledge Allegiance by Pat Mora and Libby Martinez

Introducing Pat’s Book of Poetry for Children: Bookjoy, Wordjoy

Pat Mora

On July 10, Lee and Low Books will publish Pat’s fourth children’s poetry collection, Bookjoy, Wordjoy, illustrated by Raul Colón.

In a starred review, Booklist called it “a marvelous collection of poems that extol the fun, adventure, and emotion that come with using one’s words…A joyous invitation to put pen (or paintbrush) to paper.” School Library Journal said “Mora’s love for language and wordplay is infectious; rhyme, alliteration, and onomatopoeia all make their way into the poems and will ensure lively group reading.”

Here’s hoping that Bookjoy, Wordjoy will find a place in your homes, libraries and schools!

Summer Reading for Children and Families

Pat Mora

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.