Dedications
Welcome! Before sharing my book dedications, I want to thank two special women in my life: Bobbie Combs, my Web manager, and Linda Weston, my assistant. For years, these two talented and cheerful women have helped me do work I love to do.
¡Gracias, mis amigas!
Publication order: adult: 7 poetry, 3 nonfiction; young adult: 2; children’s books: 37
Adult Books
Poetry: 7
- Chants, 1984, Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
For my children, Billy, Libby, and Cissy, whose love and laughter warm my life - Borders, 1986, Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
For Vern who believes - Communion, 1991, Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
For my parents, Estella and Raúl Mora ¡Qué corazones! - Agua Santa: Holy Water, 1995, Beacon Press, Boston, MA
For Vern, treasured water scholar - Aunt Carmen’s Book of Practical Saints, 1997, Beacon Press, Boston, MA
For the faith—of my editor, Deborah Chasman, my friend, Murray Bodo, and my early heroines, the Sisters of Loretto - Adobe Odes: 2006, The University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ
For my children, Bill, Libby, and Cissy, whose praises I will always sing - Encantado: Desert Monologues, 2018, The University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ
For my granddaughter Bonny and my loving family
Nonfiction: 3
- Nepantla: Essays from the Land in the Middle, 1993, University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, NM
For my fine editor, Andrea Otañez, who believed in this book, a woman who listens, thinks, cares - House of Houses (family memoir), 1997, Beacon Press, Boston, MA
For Bill, Libby, Cissy, Niki, Gil, and Christopher; my children, niece, and nephews, who continue the story - Zing: Seven Creativity Practices for Educators & Students, 2010, Corwin, Thousand Oaks, CA
To the authors whose books have taught and delighted me through the years and to the bold, creative educators who inspire me by their commitment to the underserved
Young Adult, Poetry: 2
- My Own True Name: New and Selected Poems for Young Adults, 2000, Piñata Books, Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
For young writers of all shapes, colors, and sizes: may you write many wonderful poems; and for the staff of Arte Público Press who have treated me so kindly through the years - Dizzy in Your Eyes: Poems about Love, 2010, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY
With gratitude, to my editor, Nancy Hinkel
Children’s Books/Picture Books: 37 (in alphabetical order)
- Abuelos, 2008, Groundwood Books, Toronto, ON
For my Uncle Lalo, a grand storyteller, and for my friend, Arturo Madrid who loves New Mexico
Abuelos, Spanish edition - The Bakery Lady/La señora de la panadería (bilingual), 2001, Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
For my niece Niki (Monica) and my nephew, Gil, who value traditions, and to panaderos and panaderas who preserve traditions in delicious ways - The Beautiful Lady: Our Lady of Guadalupe, 2012, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY
In memory of my father Raúl Antonio Mora, who loved Our Lady of Guadalupe; and for my friend, Rose Treviño, a fine librarian and literacy advocate
La hermosa Señora: Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Spanish edition - A Birthday Basket for Tía, 1992, Simon & Schuster, New York, NY
In memory of my dear tía, Ygnacia Delgado, and for all aunts and great-aunts who surprise us with their love
Una canasta de cumpleaños para Tía, Spanish edition - Book Fiesta! Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day, Celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros (bilingual, also Arabic edition), 2009, HarperCollins, New York, NY
For the children, for my editor Adriana Dominquez, a Día champion, and for the members of REFORMA and ALSC, who connect children and books - Bookjoy, Wordjoy, 2018, Lee & Low Books, New York, NY
For Bonny, our treasure - ¡Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo! (with Libby Martinez), 2014, Groundwood Books, Toronto, ON
To my friend, Patsy Aldana, respected publisher, editor, and international literacy advocate
¡Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo!, Spanish edition - Confetti: Poems for Children, 1996, Lee & Low Books, New York, NY
For my daughter, Libby, a sun song
Confeti: Poemas para Niños, Spanish edition - Delicious Hullabaloo/Pachanga deliciosa (bilingual), 1998, Piñata Books/Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
For my nephew, Christopher Mora Henry who savors family - The Desert Is My Mother/El Desierto Es Mi Madre (bilingual), 1994, Piñata Books/Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
For my mother’s other children, Cissy, Stella, and Anthony - Dona Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart, 2005, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY
For my daughter, Dr. Cissy Burnside, a veterinarian who’s the cat’s meow
Doña Flor: Un Cuento de una Mujer Gigante con un Grande Corazón, Spanish edition - The Gift of the Poinsettia/El Regalo de La Flor de Nochebuena (bilingual), with Charles Ramírez Berg, 1995, Piñata Books/Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
For Dan Moore and Father Murray Bodo, who listen and care - Gracias*Thanks (bilingual), 2009, Lee & Low Books, New York, NY
For my siblings for whom I’m so grateful—Cissy, Stella and Anthony - I Pledge Allegiance (with Libby Martinez), 2014, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY
In loving memory of our aunt, Lobo, and for all new citizens of these United States
Yo prometo lealtad, Spanish edition - Join Hands: The Ways We Celebrate Life, 2008, Charlesbridge, Watertown, MA
For my agent, Elizabeth Harding, and her assistant, Anna Webman - A Library for Juana: The World of Sor Juana Inés, 2002, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY
For my book-loving children: Bill, Libby and Cissy
Una biblioteca para Juana: el mundo de Sor Juana Inés, Spanish edition - Listen to the Desert: Oye al desierto (bilingual),1994, Clarion Books, Boston, MA
To my son, Bill, who helped me see the desert anew - Maria Paints the Hills, 2002, Museum of New Mexico Press, Santa Fe, NM
To my friends Carolyn Trela and Gie van den Pol - ¡Marimba! Animales from A to Z, 2006, Clarion Books, Boston, MA
For my son Bill, and his infectious humor and wonder at the natural world - Here, Kitty, Kitty! ¡Ven, gatita, ven!
To Joseph Rodriquez, Patricia Armendariz and Sara Howrey, friends and literacy champions - Let’s Eat! ¡A comer!
To Becky Brumley who encouraged me to write these books and to Oralia Garza de Cortés, literacy advocate - Sweet Dreams/Dulces sueños
To my gentle and supportive editor, Rosemary Brosnan - Wiggling Pockets/Los bolsillos saltarines
To my son-in-law Roger Martinez, once the boy with the wiggling pockets, and to his lovely wife, Libby - My Magic Wand, 2021, Lee & Low Books, New York, NY
With love to my spunky granddaughter, Bonny - My Singing Nana, 2019, Magination Press, Washington, DC
For my treasured sister, Stella Mora Henry, who wisely assisted thousands of families with the challenges of aging - The Night the Moon Fell, 2000, Groundwood Books, Toronto, ON
For Elizabeth Mills who journeys within
La noche que se cayó la luna, Spanish edition - Pablo’s Tree, 1994, Simon & Schuster, New York, NY
In memory of my father, Raúl Antonio Mora, and for a special boy - A Piñata in a Pine Tree, 2009, Clarion Books, Boston, MA
For my children, who love celebrations, and for Stella, Terry, and Christopher who join us - The Race of Toad and Deer, 1995, Orchard Books, New York, NY
For Teresa McKenna and Tey Diana Rebolledo, my friends in the race
La carrera del sapo y el venado, Spanish edition - The Rainbow Tulip, 1999, Viking, New York, NY
For my first editor, my wonderful mother, Estela Mora - The Remembering Day: El día de los muertos (bilingual), 2015, Piñata Books/Arte Público Press, Houston, TX
For my Teo, my great-nephew, and Maya, my great-niece, who will remember us - The Song of Francis and the Animals, 2005, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, MI
For my dear friend, Murray Bodo, O.F.M., a follower of St. Francis - This Big Sky, 1998, Scholastic Press, New York, NY
For my daughter Cissy who loves animals and deserts - Tomás and the Library Lady, 1997, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY
In memory of Tomás Rivera and for librarians who lure us in
Tomás y la señora de la biblioteca , Spanish edition - Uno, Dos, Tres; One, Two, Three, 1996, Clarion Books, Boston, MA
For my daughters, Libby and Cissy, who give me so many wonderful surprises - Water Rolls, Water Rises/El agua rueda, El agua sube (bilingual), 2014, Children’s Book Press, New York, NY
For my husband, Vern Scarborough, a water scholar, - Yum! MmMm! Qué Rico! America’s Sproutings, 2007, Lee & Low Books, New York,NY
To Chris Hazard, a wonderful cook, friend, and fellow food lover
Yum! ¡Mmm! ¡Qué Rico! Brotes de las Américas, Spanish edition
My Family * Mi familia, 4 bilingual books, 2008, HarperCollins, New York, NY
Edited:
Love to Mamá: A Tribute to Mothers, 2001, Lee & Low Books, New York, NY
Introduction and “Song to Mothers.”
For my mother, Estela Delgado Mora, and in memory of my grandmother, Amelia Landavazo Delgado and my aunt, Ignacia
Delgado; and for all who mother us