Tomas and the Library Lady

Summary: Tomas travels from Texas to Iowa with his parents, who are farm workers. He expresses his interest in stories that his grandfather tells. His grandfather shares that Tomas is old enough to read and tells him that there are books in the library. This was a scary adventure for Tomas to take. The librarian in Iowa makes him feel welcome and helps him find books of interest, which forms a bond between the librarian and the new lifelong reader.

Bib Info: Mora, P. (1997). Tomas and the library lady. New York, NY: Random House.

Interest Level:K-3

Impression: This story shares how Tomas was encouraged by a librarian to read. I like that it explores the escape that can take place when one reads a book. This book includes culture, as well, and exposes its readers to some Spanish.

Reviews and Awards: Book Links 01/01/09, L.A. Recommended Foreign Language 02/01/99, Booklist 08/01/97, Publishers Weekly 07/21/97, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 10/01/97, School Library Journal 10/01/97, Elementary School Library Collection 06/01/00, Wilson's Children 10/01/10, Kirkus Reviews 08/01/97

Reviews: In a story inspired by the life of Tomás Rivera, a migrant worker who became a nationally known educator, young Tomás and his family, migrant farm workers, leave Texas for work in Iowa, where Tomás discovers the wonder of books at the local library. Colón's scratchboard illustrations convey the magic of reading and of telling stories, but give little sense of the time period or poverty of Tomás's life. [Review of the book Tomas and the library lady, by P. Mora]. (1998, March). Horn Book. Retrieved from: http://www.hbook.com/

A charming, true story about the encounter between the boy who would become chancellor at the University of California at Riverside and a librarian in Iowa. Tomás Rivera, child of migrant laborers, picks crops in Iowa in the summer and Texas in the winter, traveling from place to place in a worn old car. When he is not helping in the fields, Tomás likes to hear Papa Grande's stories, which he knows by heart. Papa Grande sends him to the library downtown for new stories, but Tomás finds the building intimidating. The librarian welcomes him, inviting him in for a cool drink of water and a book. Tomás reads until the library closes, and leaves with books checked out on the librarian's own card. For the rest of the summer, he shares books and stories with his family, and teaches the librarian some Spanish. At the end of the season, there are big hugs and a girl exchange: sweet bread from Tomás's mother and a shiny new book from the librarian--to keep. Coldón's dreamy illustrations capture the brief friendship and its life-altering effects in soft earth tones, using round sculptured shapes that often depict the boy right in the middle of whatever story realm he's entered. [Review of the book Tomas and the library lady, by P. Mora]. (1997). Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from: http://www.kirkusreviews.com/

Use in library setting: This multicultural book can be used to introduce storytelling to students.