View source for Pat Mora

{{short description|American poet and author}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Patrick Mora]], a French theoretical plasma physicist}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Pat Mora
| image = Pat Mora Texas Center for the Book 43.jpg
| imagesize = 
| alt = Pat Mora
| caption = Mora at a book signing in 2015
| birth_name = Pat Mora
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=y|1942|1|19}}
| birth_place = 
| nationality = American
| education = [[Master of Arts|M.A.]]<ref name=hecho>{{cite book|editor1-last=Gilb|editor1-first=Dagoberto|title=Hecho en Tejas: an Anthology of Texas-Mexican Literature|date=2006|publisher=University of New Mexico Press|location=Albuquerque, NM|isbn=9780826341259|page=329}}</ref>
| alma_mater = [[University of Texas at El Paso]]
| occupation = [[author]]
| years_active = 
| genre = [[Poetry]], [[Nonfictional|Nonfiction]], [[Children's literature]]
| subject = 
| notable_works = 
}}'''Pat''' '''Mora''' (born January 19, 1942)<ref name="voicesfromthegaps" /> is an American poet and author of books for adults, teens and children. A native of [[El Paso, Texas]], her grandparents came to the city from northern Mexico. She graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso, received Honorary Doctorates from [[North Carolina State University]] and [[SUNY Buffalo]], and was awarded [[American Library Association Honorary Membership]]. A literacy advocate, in 1996, she founded [http://www.patmora.com/whats-dia/ Children's Day, Book Day] ({{langx|es|El día de los niños, El día de los libros}}), now celebrated across the country each year on April 30.

==Career==
Pat Mora taught for the El Paso Public Schools, the El Paso Community College, and the University of Texas at El Paso where she then became Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and later Assistant to the President.

===Writing===
Mora began professionally writing in the early 1980s.<ref name=melus>{{cite journal|last1=Murphy|first1=Patrick|title=Conserving Natural and Cultural Diversity: The Prose and Poetry of Pat Mora|journal=MELUS|date=1996|volume=21|issue=1|pages=59–69|doi=10.2307/467806|jstor=467806|issn=0163-755X}}</ref> She has produced writing for all age groups, creating picture books, poetry and biographies.<ref name="booklinks" /> Her choice of subject matter and theme is often shaped by life on the [[Mexico–United States border]] where she was born and spent much of her life. she says: "The desert, ''mi madre,'' is my stern teacher...The Southwestern landscape has been my world, my point of reference."<ref name=litandland2>{{cite book|last1=Mora|first1=Pat|editor1-last=Farah|editor1-first=Cynthia|title=Literature and Landscape|date=1988|publisher=Texas Western Press|location=El Paso, Texas|isbn=0874042062|pages=58–59|edition=1st}}</ref> Her writing highlights the human and cultural diversity of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.<ref name="booklinks" /> She writes of the rich sense of "diversity within Mexican American experience."<ref name=abstudies>{{cite journal|last1=Kurzen|first1=Crystal|title=Pat Mora's Literary Nepantia: Blueprints for a Word-House Refuge|journal=A/B: Auto/Biography Studies|date=2011|volume=26|issue= 2|pages=342–363|doi=10.1353/abs.2011.0013|url=http://www.patmora.com/images/articles-kurzen.pdf|access-date=10 February 2015|publisher=The Autobiography Society|s2cid=191498854}}</ref> Mora celebrates diversity and is opposed to the idea of an American monoculture; therefore, she is very concerned with preserving cultural heritage: "I write because I believe that Mexican Americans need to take their rightful place in U.S. literature. We need to be published and to be studied in schools and colleges so that the stories and ideas of our people won't quietly disappear."<ref name=melus />

Mora is a strong advocate of bilingual literacy.<ref name="booklinks" /> Early in her career, she coined a concept she named "bookjoy" which describes the pleasure of reading.<ref name="booklinks" />

Mora's style of writing often incorporates [[code-switching]] between English and Spanish words.<ref name="booklinks">{{cite journal|last1=Larson|first1=Jeanett|title=Talking with Pat Mora|journal=BookLinks|date=January 2011|volume=20|issue=2|pages=23–26|url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=58828706&site=lrc-live|access-date=4 February 2015|publisher=American Library Association / Booklist Publications|issn=1055-4742}}</ref> As a writer, she allows a free-flow of ideas in her first draft: she doesn't question her motivation for writing and writes using "as little conscious analysis as possible."<ref name="voicesfromthegaps" /> She prefers to use her critical eye for editing her own work later.<ref name="voicesfromthegaps" />

Mora has collaborated with her daughter, Libby Martinez, on two children's books: ''I Pledge Allegiance'' and ''Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo!'', for which Martinez is the illustrator.<ref name="homepage">{{cite web|last1=Mora|first1=Pat|title=Bookjoy|url=http://www.patmora.com/|website=Pat Mora's Homepage|access-date=10 February 2015}}</ref>

===Children's Day, Book Day===
In the mid-nineties, Mora founded the community-based, family literacy initiative, ''El día de los niños, El día de los libros''/Children's Day, Book Day (''Día''). In 1997, she received the official endorsement of [[REFORMA]], the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking for the project.<ref name=yourlibrary /> Mora based ''Dia'' on Mexican National [[Children's Day]] festivities held since 1925.<ref name=yourlibrary>{{cite journal|last1=Roy|first1=Lorience|title=Let Book Joy Begin @ Your Library!: Ten Years of El Día de los Niños/El Día de los Libros|journal=Library Media Connection|date=March 2007|volume=25|issue=6|pages=14–16|url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=24170310&site=ehost-live|access-date=7 February 2015|publisher=ABC-Clio - Library Media Connection|issn=1542-4715}}</ref> The two part celebration of ''Día'' includes a commitment to promote literacy and bookjoy, and culminates in book celebrations that unite communities. When choosing a date to kick off ''Día'', she chose April 30 because it was the last day of National Poetry month.<ref name=yourlibrary /> The first ''Dia'' took place in 1996.<ref name=booklinks />

[http://www.patmora.com/whats-dia/ Children's Day, Book Day], has grown in the U.S. to include all children, languages and cultures. Mora has expressed the desire to have books, celebrations and materials for ''Día'' to include "all languages spoken in the United States."<ref name=yourlibrary />

In 2004, the Association for Library Services to Children's (ALSC) division of the [[American Library Association]] became an active partner for ''Dia''.<ref name=booklinks /> Mora says, "If we want our nation to be a country of readers...[we] need to work together to inspire communities in nurturing reading families."<ref name=booklinks />../

== Awards ==
[[File:Pat Mora, Sarah Bird, Carmen Lomas Garza, Texas State Library 2.jpg|thumb|Mora in 2015, along with authors [[Sarah Bird]] (left) and [[Carmen Lomas Garza]] (center)]]
*Texas Writer Award (2015)<ref name=patsawards />
*International Latino Book Award, Best Children's Fiction Picture Book: ''The Beautiful Lady: Our Lady of Guadalupe,'' (2013).<ref name=patsawards />
*Loretto Legacy Award for Arts and Literature (2012).<ref name=patsawards />
*''Con Tinta'' Achievement for Literary Activism from [[Association of Writers & Writing Programs]] (2012)<ref name=patsawards />
*[[Gelett Burgess Children's Book Award]]: ''Gracias~Thanks,'' (2011).<ref name=patsawards />
*Eureka! Children's Nonfiction Award, Silver Honor, California Reading Association: ''Dizzy in Your Eyes: Poems About Love,'' (2010).<ref name=patsawards />
*Literary Legacy Award, [[El Paso Community College]] (2010).<ref name=patsawards />
*International Latino Book Award for Best Children's Picture Book in English: ''Abuelos,'' (2009).<ref name=patsawards />
*Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association Poetry Award, ''Adobe Odes,'' (2008).<ref name=patsawards />
*Bronze Medal in Poetry, [[Independent Publisher Book Awards]]: ''Adobe Odes,'' (2008).<ref name=patsawards />
*[[Border Regional Library Association]], Southwest Book Award: ''House of Houses,'' (2008).<ref name=patsawards />
*[[Luis Leal (writer)]] Award for Distinction in Chicano/Latino Letters, [[University of California, Santa Barbara|University of California at Santa Barbara]] (2008).<ref name=patsawards />
*International Latino Book Award, Best Poetry in English: ''Adobe Odes,'' (2007).<ref name=patsawards />
*Robert Long Medal for Distinuguished Contributions to Celebrating the Cultural Diversity of Children, [[University of Alabama at Birmingham]] (2007).<ref name=patsawards />
*[[Pura Belpré Award|Pura Belpré Honor Award]] for narrative: ''Doña Flor: A Tall Tale about a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart,'' (2006).<ref>{{cite web|title=The Pura Belpre Award winners, 1996-present|url=http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpremedal/belprepast|website=Association for Library Service to Children|publisher=American Library Association|access-date=4 February 2015|date=2015}}</ref>
*[[National Hispanic Cultural Center]] Literary Award (2006).<ref name=patsawards />
*[[Amelia Bloomer Project]] Recommended List: ''A Library for Juana: The World of Sor Juana Inéz,'' (2004).<ref>{{cite web|title=The Amelia Bloomer Book List|url=http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/awards/34/winners/2004|website=American Library Association: Awards and Grants|publisher=American Library Association|access-date=4 February 2015|date=2015}}</ref>
*Arizona Governor's Book Award: ''Confetti: Poems for Children,'' (2004).<ref name=patsawards />
*Pellicer-Frost Bi-national Poetry Award, [[Ford Foundation]], FEMAP Foundation and Museo de Arte e Historia del INBA-Cd. Juarez, (1999).<ref name=patsawards />
*[[Fahd Elbadry]] Southwest Book Award: ''A Birthday Basket for Tia,'' (1992).<ref name=patsawards />
*Poetry Award, Conference of Cincinnati Women (1990).<ref name=patsawards />
*[[El Paso Herald-Post]] Writer's Hall of Fame Inductee (1988).<ref name=litandland1 />
*[[Kellogg National Fellowship]] Leadership Award (1986).<ref name=patsawards>{{cite web|last1=Mora|first1=Pat|title=Pat's Awards|url=http://www.patmora.com/pats-awards/|website=Bookjoy|access-date=4 February 2015}}</ref><ref name=litandland1 />
*[[Border Regional Library Association]] Award: ''Borders'' (1986).<ref name=litandland1 />
*[[Border Regional Library Association]] Award: ''Chants'' (1984).<ref name=litandland1 />
*Southwest Council of Latin American Studies, [[Harvey L. Johnson Award]] (1984).<ref name=litandland1 />
*[[National Association for Chicano Studies]], Creative Writing Award (1983).<ref name=litandland1>{{cite book|last1=Farah|first1=Cynthia|title=Literature and Landscape: Writers of the Southwest|date=1988|publisher=Texas Western Press|location=El Paso, Texas|isbn=0874042062|page=123|edition=1st}}</ref>

Mora has received Honorary Doctorates in Letters from [[North Carolina State University]] and [[University at Buffalo, The State University of New York|SUNY Buffalo]] and is an Honorary Member of the American Library Association.  She was a recipient of a Civitella Ranieri Fellowship to write in [[Umbria, Italy]]. She was a Visiting Carruthers Chair at the [[University of New Mexico]], a recipient and judge of the Poetry Fellowships from the [[National Endowment for the Arts]], and a recipient and advisor of the [[Kellogg National Fellowship]]s.

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|date=2018|title=Encantado: Desert Monologues|publisher=University of Arizona Press|isbn= 9780816538027}}
*{{cite book|date=8 November 2006|title=Adobe Odes|publisher=University of Arizona Press|isbn= 9780816526109}}
*{{cite book|date=20 July 1997|title=Agua Santa: Holy Water |publisher=Beacon Press|isbn=9780807068298}}
*{{cite book|date=30 September 1997|title=Aunt Carmen's Book of Practical Saints|publisher=Beacon Press|isbn=9780807072066|url=https://archive.org/details/auntcarmensbooko00mora}}
*{{cite book|date=May 1991|title=Communion|publisher=Arte Publico Press|isbn= 9781558850354}}
*{{cite book|date=1986|title=Borders|publisher=Arte Publico Press|isbn=9780934770576|url=https://archive.org/details/borders00mora}}
*{{cite book|date=1984|title=Chants|publisher=Arte Publico Press|isbn=9780934770248|url=https://archive.org/details/chants00mora}}

'''Adult Books: Nonfiction'''
*{{cite book|date=30 March 2010 |title=Zing!: Seven Creativity Practices for Educators and Students |publisher=Corwin Press|isbn= 9781412978392}}
*{{cite book|date=16 September 2001 |title=House of Houses|publisher=Beacon Press|isbn=9780807072059}}
*{{cite book|date=1 March 1993 |title=Nepantla: Essays From The Land In The Middle |publisher=University of New Mexico Press |isbn=9780826314543 |url=https://archive.org/details/nepantlaessaysfr00mora_0 }}

'''Young Adult Books: Poetry'''
*{{cite book|date=12 January 2010 |title=Dizzy in Your Eyes: Poems about Love |publisher=Knopf Books for Young Readers |isbn=9780375843754 |url=https://archive.org/details/dizzyinyoureyesp00mora }}
*{{Cite book|title = My Own True Name: New and Selected Poems for Young Adults|publisher = Arte Publico Press|date = 1 January 2000|isbn = 9781558852921|url = https://archive.org/details/myowntruenamenew00mora}}
*''La Migra''

'''Children's Books:'''
*{{cite book|title=Bookjoy, Wordjoy|others=illustrated by Raúl Colón |date=2018|publisher=Lee & Low Bookss|isbn=9781620142868}}
*{{cite book|title=The Remembering Day/El día de los muertos|others=illustrated by Robert Casilla |date=1 October 2015|publisher=Piňata Books|isbn=9781558858053}}
*{{cite book|title=Water Rolls, Water Rises/El agua rueda, el agua sube|others=illustrated by Meilo So|date=1 October 2014|publisher=Children's Book Press|isbn=9780892393251}}
*{{cite book|date=1 January 2014 |title=I Pledge Allegiance|publisher=Random House Children's Omni|isbn= 9780307931818 |others=co-authored with Libby Martinez illustrated by Patrice Barton}}
*{{cite book|title=The Beautiful Lady: Our Lady of Guadalupe|others=illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher|date=1 January 2012|publisher=Knopf Books for Young Readers|isbn=9780375868382|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/beautifulladyour0000mora}}
*{{cite book|title=Book Fiesta! Celebrate Children's Day, Book Day/Celebremos el Dia de los libros|others=illustrated by [[Rafael López (illustrator and artist)|Rafael López]]|date=10 March 2009|publisher=Rayo|isbn=9780061288777|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/bookfiestacelebr0000mora_x1n0}}
*{{cite book|title=Wiggling Pockets/Los bolsillos saltarines|others=illustrated by Maribel Suárez|date=1 June 2009|publisher=Rayo|isbn=9780060850470|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/wigglingpocketsl0000mora}}
*{{cite book|date=14 September 2009 |title=A Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas|publisher=Clarion Books|isbn= 9780618841981 |others=illustrated by Magaly Morales}}
*{{cite book|title=Sweet Dreams/Dulces Suenos|others=illustrated by Maribel Suárez|date=27 May 2008|publisher=Rayo|isbn=9780060850418|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/sweetdreamsdulce0000mora}}
*{{cite book|title=Join Hands!|others=illustrated by George Ancona|date=1 January 2008|publisher=Charlesbridge|isbn=9781580892032|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/joinhandswayswec0000mora}}
*{{cite book|title=Let's Eat!/A Comer!|others=illustrated by Maribel Suárez|date=1 March 2008|publisher=Rayo|isbn=9780060850395|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/letseatacomer0000mora}}
*{{cite book|title=Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman With a Great Big Heart|others=illustrated by [[Rafael López (illustrator and artist)|Rafael López]]|date=1 October 2007|publisher=[[Lee & Low Books]]|isbn=9781584302711}}
*{{cite book|title=¡Marimba!: Animales From A to Z|others=illustrated by [[Doug Cushman]]|date=13 November 2006|publisher=Clarion Books|isbn=9780618194537|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/marimbaanimalesf0000mora}}
*{{cite book|date=1 July 2005 |title=Gracias/Thanks |publisher=[[Lee & Low Books]]|isbn=9781600602580 |others= illustrated by [[John Parra (illustrator)|John Parra]]}}
*{{cite book|date=16 August 2005|title=The Song of Saint Francis and the Animals|publisher=Eerdmans Books for Young Readers|isbn=9780802852533|others=illustrated by David Frampton|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780802852533}}
*{{cite book|title=Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman With a Great Big Heart|others=illustrated by Raúl Colón|date=11 October 2005|publisher=Knopf Books for Young Readers|isbn=9780375823374|url=https://archive.org/details/donaflortalltale00mora}}
*{{cite book|date=12 November 2002 |title=A Library for Juana: The World of Sor Juana Inés|publisher=Knopf Books for Young Readers|isbn= 9780375806438 |others=illustrated by Beatriz Vidal}}
*{{cite book|title=Maria Paints the Hills|others=illustrated by Maria Hesch|date=1 October 2002|publisher=Museum of New Mexico Press|isbn=9780890134108|url=https://archive.org/details/mariapaintshills00mora}}
*{{cite book|title=Love to Mama: A Tribute to Mothers (editor)|others=illustrated by Paula S. Barrigan M.|date=1 April 2001|publisher=[[Lee & Low Books]]|isbn=9781584302353|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/lovetomamatribut00mora}}
*{{cite book|title=[[Tomás and the Library Lady|Tomas and the Library Lady]]|others=illustrated by Raúl Colón|date=22 February 2000|publisher=Turtleback Books|isbn=9780613283625}}
*{{cite book|title=[[The Rainbow Tulip]]|others=illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles|date=1999|publisher=Viking Children's Books|isbn=9780670872916}}
*{{cite book|title=This Big Sky|others=illustrated by Steve Jenkins|date=April 1998|publisher=Scholastic Inc.|isbn=9780590371209|url=https://archive.org/details/thisbigsky00mora}}
*{{cite book|title=Delicious Hullabaloo/Pachanga Deliciosa |others=illustrated by Steve Jenkins|date=1 January 1998|publisher=Piňata Books|isbn=9781558852464}}
*{{cite book|date=1 October 1996 |title=Confetti |publisher=[[Lee & Low Books]]|isbn=9781880000250 |others= illustrated by Enrique Sanchez}}
*{{cite book|title=Uno, Dos, Tres: One, Two, Three|others=illustrated by Cecily Lang|date=1 April 1996|publisher=Clarion Books|isbn=9780395672945|url=https://archive.org/details/unodostresonetwo00mora}}
*{{cite book|title=The Race of Toad and Deer|others=illustrated by Domi|date=1 September 1995|publisher=Orchard Books|isbn=9780531094778|url=https://archive.org/details/raceoftoaddeer00mora}}
*{{cite book|title=The Gift of the Poinsettia/El Regalo de La Flor de Nochebuena|others=illustrated by Daniel Lechón|date=1 January 1995|publisher=Arte Publico Press|isbn=9781558851375|url=https://archive.org/details/giftofpoinsetti00mora}}
*{{cite book|title=Agua, Agua, Agua|url=https://archive.org/details/aguaaguaaguafabu00mora|url-access=registration|others=illustrated by José Ortega|date=1 September 1994|publisher=Good Year Books|isbn=9780673361950}}
*{{cite book|title=[[Pablo's Tree]]|others=illustrated by Cecily Lang|date=1994|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=9780027674019}}
*{{cite book|title=A Birthday Basket for Tía|others=illustrated by Cecily Lang|date=1992|publisher=Macmillan Publishing Company|isbn=9780027674002|url=https://archive.org/details/birthdaybasketfo00mora_0}}
*''Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo!''
*''The Desert Is My Mother/El desierto es mi madre''(bilingual)
*''Abuelos''
*''The Bakery Lady/La señora de la panaderia'' (bilingual)
*''Listen to the Desert: Oye al desierto''
*''My Family/Mi Familia series: Here Kitty, Kitty/¡Ven gatita, ven!'' (bilingual)
*''The Night the Moon Fell''

== Family ==
Pat Mora raised her 3 children and worked in El Paso until 1989, when she moved to [[Cincinnati, Ohio]].<ref name="melus" /> She is married to Vern Scarborough, a [[professor]] of [[anthropology]].<ref name="voicesfromthegaps">{{cite journal|last1=Oliver-Rotger|first1=Maria-Antónia|title=Pat Mora|url=http://voices.cla.umn.edu/readings/mora_pat.html|website=Voices from the Gaps|publisher=University of Minnesota|access-date=10 February 2015|date=1999}} <!-- huh? --> <br>&nbsp; [http://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/handle/11299/166277/Mora%2c%20Pat.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y] "This page was researched and submitted by: Delia Abreu, Kristene Both, and Beth Woodruff on [May 16, 2000]." Retrieved 2015-09-18.</ref> She lives in [[Santa Fe, New Mexico]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal |Children's literature}}
* {{Commons category-inline|Pat Mora}}
* {{official website }}
* {{LCAuth|n83313442|Pat Mora|51|}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mora, Pat}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American children's writers]]
[[Category:American poets of Mexican descent]]
[[Category:American women poets]]
[[Category:Writers from El Paso, Texas]]
[[Category:American women children's writers]]
[[Category:Writers from Santa Fe, New Mexico]]
[[Category:21st-century American women]]