The Desert Is My Mother/El desierto es mi madre is a bilingual book written by Pat Mora and illustrated by Daniel Lechón. It is a beautiful poetic and artistic rendition of the relationship between nature and Hispanics and Native American peoples. Rather than being an expanse empty of life and value, the desert is lovingly presented as the provider of comfort, food, spirit and life. The book, the first picture book published by Arte Público Press’ Piñata Books, introduces the partnership of an award-winning poet and a prize-winning painter.
Recipient of the 1995 Skipping Stones Honor Award
Included in the 1999-2000 Houston Area Independent School Library Network Recommended Reading List
Included in the 1998-1999 Houston Independent School District’s Annual Recommended Reading List
“With a playful poetic text, this bilingual picture book celebrates a child’s connection with her desert home. On each double-page spread the child makes a demand and the picture demonstrates how the desert satisfies her. The feelings are universal, the words are precise and physical. This child is fostered by the joy and awe of lonely places.”—Booklist
PAT MORA is a renowned writer of poetry, stories for children and nonfiction. Among her many works are the poetry collections Chants (1984), Borders (1986) and Communion (1994). Mora is also the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of over 30 books for children and young adults, including The Bakery Lady/La señora de la panadería (2001), My Own True Name (2000), The Gift of the Poinsettia/El regalo de la flor de nochebuena (1995), Tomás and the Library Lady, Pablo’s Tree, A Birthday Basket for Tía, The Desert Is My Mother/El desierto es mi madre (1994), Delicious Hullabaloo/Pachanga deliciosa (1998) and Confetti. In 1999, she was the Garrey Carruthers Chair Visiting Distinguished Professor in Honors at the University of New Mexico. An El Paso native and the mother of three grown children, she divides her time between the Southwest and the Cincinnati area where her husband teaches anthropology.
Learn more at patmora.com.
DANIEL LECHÓN is an internationally respected painter whose works have been collected by both museums and individuals in both the United States and Mexico. His paintings have been included in the “Coors Expresiones Hispanas,” (1987-1989), an exhibition of fifty of the nation’s finest Hispanic artists selected by jury from 3,000 entries.
ATOS Interest Level: Lower Grades
Category: Picture Book
ATOS English: 1.5
ATOS Spanish: 1.8
LEXILE: AD360L
LEXILE Spanish: AD440L
Accelerated Reader Quiz #: 18305