Module 10: Tomas and the Library Lady

Summary: Tomas leaves his home in Texas to travel with his migrant worker parents to a new job in Iowa. Thanks to a helpful librarian, Tomas begins to learn about the world around him through books and the library becomes his second home. He begins sharing his stories with his family and the other workers in the camp and becomes a storyteller like his grandfather. When they must leave for another job, he bids farewell to the library lady but his love of books travels with him.

Citation:

Mora, P., & Colón, R. (1997). Tomás and the library lady. New York: Knopf.

Impressions: Much like a lot of the books in this unit, this book left me with tears in my eyes. I need to buy a copy for myself so that when I am having a rough library day, I can bring it out, read it, and remind myself that what we do at the library is important. Tomas Rivera was a real person whose achievements in life were attributed to his early experiences in the library.

The artwork for the book is also extraordinary. The lithographs are done with crosshatching in warm colors that convenes the heartwarming nature of the book.

Reviews:

Gr 1-4-- Mora's slice-of-life account tells of the son of migrant workers (inspired by the boyhood of Hispanic author and educator Tomás Rivera) whose horizons and linguistic skills are thrown wide open by the guidance of a friendly librarian. The hardships of migrant life and the dreams that books and learning provide are carefully delineated in both text and muted illustrations. (Spanish edition: Tomás y la Señora de la Biblioteca)

Renner, C. (2005, July). Tomás and the Library Lady. School Library Journal, 51(7), 44-44. Retrieved  April 2, 2016, from Academic Search Complete. 

Library Use: The book is an wonderful way to demonstrate how libraries can affect your life and open up discussions about how reading can transport you to another place.