Tomas and the Library Lady - Tapa blanda

"Spanish words slip in naturally throughout Mora's text as she focuses on the snug library and the books that fire Tomas's imagination .... While young readers will find this an inspiring tale, the endnote gives it a real kick: the story is based on an actual migrant worker [Tomas Rivera]".

-- Publishers Weekly

A gentle text and innovative artwork depict a pivotal summer in a boy's life when he and his family leave their Texas home for farm work in Iowa. One morning, while his parents pick corn, Toma s visits the imposing town library and meets a kindly librarian who gently coaxes him inside. Throughout the hot days thereafter, she offers Toma s cool drinks of water and adventurous escapes into books; on slow days he teaches her Spanish until it's time to return home to Texas: 'I have a sad word to teach you today. The word is adio s. It means good-bye.' . . . While young readers and future librarians will find this an inspiring tale, the end note gives it a real kick: the story is based on an actual migrant worker [Toma s Rivera] who became chancellor of a university--where the library now bears his name. --Publishers Weekly