Read, Write, Repeat.

Books tell stories.

That seems pretty simple.

Sometimes, those stories are wild flights of fancy that take readers someplace they never dreamed could exist.

Other times, those stories are based on the lives of real people who did something interesting or extraordinary. That’s where today’s book, Tomás and the Library Lady (Dragonfly Books, 2000), fits in.

It tells the story of a boy named Tomás who is part of a family of migrant workers. They travel the country picking crops. While his parents work one summer in Iowa, Tomás visits the town library and becomes friends with the librarian. She finds books he’ll like. He teaches her some Spanish.

It’s a sweet story. And then, at the very end, we find it’s based on the life of Tomás Rivera, a man who started out as a migrant worker and ended up being an author and chancellor at the University of California at Riverside. Mr. Rivera died in 1984, but the library at the college he led now bears his name.

Publishers Weekly described the book saying, “A gentle text and innovative artwork depict a pivotal summer in a boy’s life.”

What did today’s guest reviewer think? Let’s find out.

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Today’s reviewer: Gwen

Age: 7

This book was about: This kid named Tomás and the library teacher. He spent a lot of time in the library and they became friends. Then he had to leave. It was sad.

The best part was when: When they met, because it felt like they were going to be friends.

I smiled when: Tomás was imagining the dinosaurs and stuff.

This book taught me: About dinosaurs and stuff. I like science books.

Three words that best describe this book: “Cool.” “Arty.” “Fun.”

My favorite picture in this book is: When he imagined all the dinosaurs.

Other kids reading this book should watch for: The author who made it.

You should read this book because: It’s fun to learn from.

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Thank you, Gwen!

If you’d like to learn more about author Pat Mora, you can visit her website or watch this video interview with her where she discusses her Mexican culture and how it’s influenced her writing.

If you’d like to learn more about illustrator Raul Colon, visit this website to see examples of his marvelous work. Or, listen to this podcast interview with him on Just One More Book.

And, if you’d like to learn more about Tomás Rivera, the man this book was based on, read this biography.

You also can learn more about the library named for him, which is pictured at the left.