Confetti Poems for children By Pat Mora

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mora, Pat. 1996. Confetti: Poems for Children. New York; NY: Lee and Low Books. ISBN: 9780329112806

PLOT SUMMARY
Mora creates this wonderful book of poems about a little girls experience. She draws upon her own experience as a child with each poem. Each poem touches upon the happy Hispanic life of child. Some of the poems reflect the colors of the poem. These poems enrich a child’s imagination through its beautiful colors and words. Small pieces of confetti are seen throughout the book as a way of reinforcing her title. All the colors reinforce the plethora of beauty the culture represents.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In each poem Mora creates a strong rhythm that helps a child build fluency through repetition.  Her poems create mental pictures which is important in helping children build abstract concepts. These free verse poems are written for kids but any adult who has experienced a similar childhood cannot help but reflect on their own life as a child. Mora nicely mixes Spanish and English words creatively. The reader immediately knows the meaning of the Spanish words used. The poem Castanet Clicks  is a perfect example:
Castanet Clicks
Uno, dos
one, two
Baskets blue

Tres, cuatro
three, four
one more bell.

Mora cleverly has them in italics to help indicate which are the spanish words.The acrylic illustrations created by Sanchez captures the feel of the southwest hispanic culture. As a proud Latina woman who resides in the southwest part of Texas I can easily relate to the little girl portayed in her poems. Mexican Magician is a poem that stands out to me. Her choice of words builds a strong mental picture of a bakery and the smell of fresh bread baking where she states,”With cinnamon and anise”. It resonates a proud, rich, colorful culture filled with joy and beautiful memories (Orgullo por mi cultura y gente) Proud of my culture and people.
 
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
“This collection of poems is as much fun to look at as it is to read”- Booklist

“Warmly evokes familiar touchtones of Mexican-American life.”- Kirkus Review

“Narrative poems in free verse capture the rhythms and uniquieness of Southwest and its culture as seen through the eyes of a Mexican-American girl...”-School Lbrary Journal

CONNECTIONS
*more books by Pat Mora
      Mora, Pat. 1997. Tomás and the library lady. Ill. by Raúl Colón. New York: Knopf
        Distributed by Random House. ISBN 0152054979
      Mora, Pat. 2009. Book fiesta! : Celebrate children's day/book day. Ill. by Rafael López. New           York, NY: Rayo. ISBN 978006128877

 *Create free verse poems in Writers Workshop

*Choose poems from Confetti to use during April as part of the celebration of National Poetry       Month.