A poem and a picture to celebrate the first day of autumn!
Poem & picture from Water Rolls, Water Rises/El agua rueda, el agua sube, by Pat Mora
and illustrated by Meilo So. Click for larger image.
Inviting Autumn to Swirl In
Share Bookjoy for Hispanic Heritage Month!
September is Library Card Sign-up Month
To celebrate, here’s a poem about Tomás Rivera, the subject of Pat’s book Tomás and the Library Lady.
Library Magic
“¡Vámos! Let’s go to the library!”
Tomás says to his family.
He shows them his favorite books
and his cozy reading nooks.
“¡Vámos! Let’s go to the library!”
Tomás says to his friends. “Hurry!”
They see libros in stacks and rows.
They laugh at funny puppet shows.
“¡Vámos! Let’s all go to the library!”
Join the fun, a treasure house that’s free.
Bring your friends and family.
Stories, computers, maps and more.
Like Tomás, open books and soar.
Be a reader. Explore galore.
In memory of the leader, educator and author, Tomás Rivera
© 2005 by Pat Mora. This poem appears in Bookjoy, Wordjoy.
Share a Story for Grandparents Day!
In 2018, September 9 is Grandparents Day. Why not share some bookjoy with your grandchildren?
Mackin Community Interview: Bookjoy, Wordjoy
Thanks to all at Mackin for featuring this interview with Pat about Bookjoy, Wordjoy, her newest book: Celebrating Bookjoy and Wordjoy With Award-Winning Poet and Literacy Advocate Pat Mora.
Mackin: You are a well-known literacy advocate who is highly sought after for presentations. In your presentations and publications, you regularly promote “bookjoy.” In fact, your newest book of children’s poetry is even called Bookjoy, Wordjoy (Lee and Low Books, 2018). What is “bookjoy” and how does one not only experience it, but also teach it and share it?
Pat: I tease that those of us who know bookjoy, who experience it daily, don’t need to have it defined. I enjoy the smiles from educators when I use the word. Good teaching, as we know, is an extremely complex talent. I am certainly indebted to the teachers who loved language and through their enthusiasm taught me to love words (wordjoy) and their possibilities too.
Primarily, we share by example and by understanding our students and audiences, their realities and their needs. We have different personalities and styles. Students of all ages quickly know when we care about them and want to help them learn and thrive.
Mackin: Surely your childhood must have been spent near books and reading. Did your parents prioritize literacy in your home? How did the adults in your life encourage you in your literacy development?
Childhood has many happy memories. Mom was always a reader. My parents had books for us including the Childcraft set and the World Book Encyclopedia. Mom also took us (I’m the oldest of four) to the El Paso Public Library. I loved the summer reading club, and my teachers were readers who shared that pleasure–bookjoy!
