A charming, true story about the encounter between the boy who
would become chancellor at the University of California at
Riverside and a librarian in Iowa. Tomas Rivera, child of migrant
laborers, picks crops in Iowa in the summer and Texas in the
winter, traveling from place to place in a worn old car. When he is
not helping in the fields, Tomas likes to hear Papa Grande's
stories, which he knows by heart. Papa Grande sends him to the
library downtown for new stories, but Tomas finds the building
intimidating. The librarian welcomes him, inviting him in for a
cool drink of water and a book. Tomas reads until the library
closes, and leaves with books checked out on the librarian's own
card. For the rest of the summer, he shares books and stories with
his family, and teaches the librarian some Spanish. At the end of
the season, there are big hugs and a girl exchange: sweet bread
from Tomas's mother and a shiny new book from the librarian - to
keep. Coldon's dreamy illustrations capture the brief friendship
and its life-altering effects in soft earth tones, using round
sculptured shapes that often depict the boy right in the middle of
whatever story realm he's entered. (Kirkus Reviews)
"A gentle text and innovative artwork depict a pivotal summer in a boy's life when he and his family leave their Texas home for farm work in Iowa. One morning, while his parents pick corn, Tomás visits the imposing town library and meets a kindly librarian who gently coaxes him inside. Throughout the hot days thereafter, she offers Tomás cool drinks of water and adventurous escapes into books; on slow days he teaches her Spanish until it's time to return home to Texas: 'I have a sad word to teach you today. The word is adiós. It means good-bye.' . . . While young readers and future librarians will find this an inspiring tale, the end note gives it a real kick: the story is based on an actual migrant worker [Tomás Rivera] who became chancellor of a university--where the library now bears his name."--Publishers Weekly
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
