Review: Multicultural Poetry

Title: Love to Mamá: A Tribute to Mothers

Edited By: Pat Mora

Illustrator: Paula S. Barragán M.

Citation: Mora, Pat. Love to Mamá: A Tribute to Mothers. New York: Lee & Low Books Inc., 2001.

ISBN: 1-58430-019-1

Awards: ALA Notable Children's Book, Children's Books of the Year for Outstanding Merit by Bank Street College Children's Book Committee, "Starred Review" by School Library Journal

Review: Love to Mamá: A Tribute to Mothers celebrates the bond between mothers, grandmothers, and children. A collection of poetry from a variety of well- and lesser-known Latino poets, this book represents a variety of perspectives and writing styles. Each poem is filled with beautiful figurative language that begs to be read aloud. The heavy Spanish-language influence throughout the book provides a flowing rhythm that is pleasing to the ear of native English and Spanish speakers alike. The large, colorful illustrations covering each page add life to the vibrant words; readers will enjoy examining the uniquely created pictures as much as reading the poems. In Love to Mamá: A Tribute to Mothers, Pat Mora has created an excellent compilation of poems that show just how important maternal figures are in the Latino culture.

Potential Use: Love to Mamá: A Tribute to Mothers would be an excellent tool in teaching elementary-aged students beginning Spanish. Many elementary schools are incorporating Spanish language lessons into the general curriculum; this book would complement this instruction perfectly. Many of the poems allow students to discover the meaning of Spanish words through the use of context clues, just as they decode unfamiliar English vocabulary in the same manner. The poem My Tongue is Like a Map by Rane Arroyo lends itself well to this type of lesson. Give students a printed copy of the poem or have it posted in the room where it can be seen. Ask students to listen carefully to the English and Spanish words in the poem, then share it aloud:

My Tongue is Like a Map

Mami said yes, Abuelita sang sí.

They said, Two languages make you a rich man,

But words never paid for my penny candy.

Agua, water. Arroz, rice. Niño, me!

Arroz con leche, sang Abuelita

As my mami said, A is for Apple.

My ears were like a radio, so many stations.

Sometimes I would dream in English and Spanish.

I was a millionaire each time I said yes and sí.

After reading the poem several times, highlight all the Spanish words on the printed copy of the poem. Allow students to volunteer guesses about what each word means using the context clues in the poem as a base for their guesses. Once all words have been identified, re-read the poem. As an extension, discuss what it would be like to live in a bilingual home. Allow any bilingual students to share their experiences.