The Desert Is My Mother/El Desierto Es Mi Madre

What I liked from the book is that the author includes the bright flowers found in the desert, the tunas as a delicious fruit, the medical plants used from the natives such as chamomile, oregano and peppermint, the different weathers found in the desert. I have been in the desert, I have eaten tunas and other fruits found in the cactus and other desert plants. I think kids who like the typical green areas (woods and jungles) will also find in the desert a beautiful place to visit and enjoy. This book deserves five stars. This is a beautiful, yet playful and exquisite poetic book, celebrating the richness of the desert written in both English and Spanish.

The Desert Is My Mother is a simple to read, yet richly written poem celebrating the majesty of the desert by those who understand and love it. The verses are written in both Spanish and English by Pat Mora who also understands and loves both languages. For a classroom teacher, this book makes a perfect reader's theater for including both bilingual Spanish and English students and also creates a natural springboard for discussions of language, culture, and ecology. The beautiful illustrations support the text perfectly, giving important clues for readers to unlock the graceful language. If you are studying the desert, no matter what age, I highly recommend this book. If you are a parent who loves to read with your child this is a must have and if you are a bi-lingual Spanish-English parent, lucky is the child to have your two voices to bring this book to life.