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About the Author
The acclaimed author of more than 30 books for children, Pat Mora has been recognized with numerous awards, including a 2006 Pura Belpré Honor for Doña Flor, and Américas Children's Book Award commendations for Tomás and the Library Lady and Confetti. She is also the founder of the family literacy initiative Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros (Children's Day/Book Day). This celebration, also known as "Día," brings together children, books, languages and cultures. It is both a daily commitment and an annual celebration of the joys and wonders of childhood and the importance of family literacy. The goal of Día is to honor children, their languages and culture; to encourage reading and literacy; and to promote library collections and programs that reflect our plurality.
Pat Mora grew up in a bilingual community, but Spanish was never mentioned at her English-speaking school. The border experience shared by families in her neighborhood was not reflected in the classroom. It wasn't until Pat started writing that she realized such a big part of her community's heritage had not been welcomed in the educational system. When she discovered that this experience was rife with story opportunities, she says, "It was like opening that treasure chest. My whole Mexican heritage was something that I could write about." Her stories have allowed many Hispanic children to see themselves reflected in American books.
As an adult, Pat Mora has worked as a teacher, a university administrator, and a consultant on U.S.-Mexico cultural exchanges. A National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship allowed her to shift her primary focus to writing. Pat enjoys her travels as an author and literacy advocate, speaking at conferences and in classrooms. The proud mom of three grown children, Pat lives in New Mexico with her husband.
For more information about Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros (Children's Day/Book Day) visit Pat's website.