Pat Mora

This April, mother-and-daughter writing partners Pat Mora and Libby Martinez will see their first two collaborative children’s books published. I Pledge Allegiance is a family story featuring Libby’s great aunt, Lobo, who is learning the Pledge of Allegiance so that she can become a U.S. citizen. Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo! is a sweetly funny picture book about a tiny mouse, Chico Canta, who saves his entire family from the clever kitten, Little Gato-Gato, when he uses his quick wits and ability to speak another language. Read the full press release.

I Pledge Allegiance
Illustrated by Patrice Barton
Random House Books for Young Readers
Hardcover ISBN 978-0307931818, $16.99
Also available as an e-book
More about the book

Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo!
Illustrated by Amelia Lau Carling
Hardcover ISBN 978-1554983438, $17.95
Paperback Spanish edition ISBN 978-1554983438, $8.95
More about the book

Praise for I Pledge Allegiance
"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

"…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…"—Booklist

"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

Praise for Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo!
"Carling’s illustrations capture the well-told story’s sweetly spirited tone, with views of tiny mice in colorful costume scampering about and away from a much larger but obviously young ginger kitten…Food for thought for monolingual mouselings—not to mention their parents and teachers."—Kirkus Reviews