I hope you enjoy sharing A Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas

Pat Mora

pinata-visual-dec-2015Some ideas for sharing:

  • Have students draw the book, or a few pages, as you read it aloud.
  • Ask the students when and where they hear languages other than English. Do they like to learn new words in other languages? What new words did they learn in this book?
  • Help students make their favorite gift in the book and give it to their amiga/o.
  • Learn to sing the song and perform it for another class or group.

December 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Pat Mora

Our Lady is a symbol of Mexican independence and pride, and a symbol for social justice groups throughout the Americas. People from diverse backgrounds are drawn to this image and story that are so central to the history and culture of Mexico and Mexican-Americans. I hope you’ll share this story with your family with The Beautiful Lady: Our Lady of Guadalupe (Spanish edition, La hermosa Señora: Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.)
Pat

The Beautiful Lady: Our Lady of GuadalupeLa hermosa Señora: Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

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.