Toms and the library lady - Pat Mora

A Common Core Exemplar Text by an award-winning author-illustrator team

Toms is a son of migrant workers. Every summer he and his family follow the crops north from Texas to Iowa, spending long, arduous days in the fields. At night they gather around to hear Grandfather's wonderful stories. But before long, Toms knows all the stories by heart. "There are more stories in the library,"Papa Grande tells him.
The very next day, Toms meets the library lady and a whole new world opens up for him.

Based on the true story of the Mexican-American author and educator Toms Rivera, a child of migrant workers who went on to become the first minority Chancellor in the University of California system, this inspirational story suggests what libraries--and education--can make possible.
Raul Coln's warm, expressive paintings perfectly interweave the harsh realities of Toms's life, the joyful imaginings he finds in books, and his special relationships with a wise grandfather and a caring librarian.


"A gentle text and innovative artwork. . . . 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 [Toms Rivera] who became chancellor of a university--where the library now bears his name."--Publishers Weekly