Tomas and the Library Lady

"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, Tomas visits the imposing town library and meets a kindly librarian who gently coaxes him inside. Throughout the hot days thereafter, she offers Tomas 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 adios. 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 [Tomas Rivera] who became chancellor of a university--where the library now bears his name."--Publishers Weekly

Pat Mora, a Chicana educator, is a published poet and the author of several books for children.<br><br>Raul Colón was awarded the Silver Medal by the Society of Illustrators for Always My Dad, his first children's book.