The New Mexico State Library interview

Pat Mora

Deanne Dekle

Deanne Dekle

I’m grateful to Deanne Dekle, Youth Services & Outreach Consultant, New Mexico State Library, for this interview. How happy it has made me to be working with Deanne and the staff at NMSL this year! A clarification for those not familiar with New Mexico’s official question, Deanne’s final question to me: red or green? New Mexicans and visitors eat plenty of enchiladas, and New Mexicans pride themselves on their delicious (and hot!) chile. When you order New Mexican/Mexican food at a restaurant, waitresses and waiters routinely ask: red or green? I am a wimp both in terms of weather and chile, so when I’m asked the above question, “Christmas on the side” is my answer, meaning a bit of both in a separate dish.

The Circle of Thanks

Pat Mora

GraciasIn the author note of my book Gracias~Thanks, I wrote, “Listing what I’m thankful for always makes me happy.” Advertisers spend billions at this time of year tempting us to think about what we don’t have. Hardly the Thanksgiving spirit, is it? I end the author note, “Keep the circle of thanks, growing.” Let’s do that. Let’s inspire our family and friends to join the circle, no cash or credit card required.

I am deeply grateful for my dear family, for my health and faith, and for all of you who share my bookjoy habit and the desire to share that pleasure with all of this country’s children and families.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pat

Illustration by Raphael Lopez from Yum! ¡Mmm! ¡Qué Rico! America's Sproutings

Illustration by Raphael López from Yum! ¡Mmm! ¡Qué Rico! America’s Sproutings

Introducing the 2016 Mora Award!

Pat Mora

First BookSo pleased to pass on this message from First Book:

As part of our ongoing commitment to promote literacy and celebrate cultural diversity, First Book is proud to announce that we are working with author and poet Pat Mora to present the annual Estela and Raúl Mora Award in 2016!

Established by Pat and her siblings in honor of their parents, this esteemed award recognizes programs that embrace the spirit of Children’s Day/Book Day, El día de los niños/El día de los libros, (known as “Día”.)

Día is a nationally recognized initiative that emphasizes the importance of literacy for all children, from all backgrounds, and creatively links them to the gift of reading. In honor of Día’s 20th anniversary in April 2016, the Mora Award will be open for the first time to school-based and school-led partnerships that adopt Día as a way of connecting all children to bookjoy and promoting literacy all year round, culminating with Children’s Day/Book Day celebrations in April.

We are excited to seek nominations for the Mora Award from within the First Book community in 2016, but we just couldn’t wait to share the news! In the meantime, share bookjoy with all of the children you serve by exploring the variety of fun, culturally relevant, and engaging titles available on the First Book Marketplace.

To learn more, email Mora Award coordinator Roxana Barillas.

Happy Reading!

Your friends at First Book

dia mora parents

Pat’s parents, Estela and Raúl Mora, her sister Cissy and Pat