Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The Beautiful Lady by Pat Mora



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Paul Samuelson, Random House Children's Books, 212.782.8875



Pat Mora's works reflect the cultural heritage of Mexican-American and U.S. Latinas and Latinos through her children's books, poetry, and nonfiction. Her writing, and the art that is found in her picture books, reflects the beauty and cultural diversity of the Hispanic-American experience, and nowhere is this more evident than in her forthcoming picture book. Read the full press release.

The Beautiful Lady: Our Lady of Guadalupe
Illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
Knopf Books for Young Readers/ Random House
Hardcover ISBN 978-0375868382, $16.99
Library Binding ISBN 978-0375968389, $19.99

La hermosa Señora: Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Spanish edition
Library Binding ISBN 978-0375968402, $19.99
Dragonfly Books Paperback ISBN 978-0375868405, $8.99



Every December, Grandma Lupita tells Rose the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. As they make paper flowers together to put around her statue, Grandma begins: Long ago, on a cold December morning near what is now Mexico City, a man named Juan Diego put on his cloak and started down the road to church.

On his way, Juan Diego sees a beautiful Lady at the top of a hill. She tells Juan Diego to go to the bishop and ask him to build a special church for her. But the bishop doesn't believe that Juan Diego has seen the Lady; he asks for a sign. Again the Lady sends Juan Diego, and again the bishop asks for a sign. Until finally, she provides one: her shining image on Juan Diego's cloak for everyone to see.

Advance Praise
"Regardless of your beliefs, the tale of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a fascinating one, and Mora gives it a warm treatment befitting the beloved material. A framing device aims the story at young readers: two little girls look at a small statue of the Virgin Mary and ask Grandma Lupita, "Who's that pretty lady?" So begins the tale: Juan Diego, the humble Aztec villager who, in December 1531, encountered a beautiful, floating woman who asked him to get the local bishop to build her a church. After the bishop demanded proof, the woman revealed to Diego a field of roses blooming despite the snow. When Diego unfolded his cloak to show the bishop the flowers, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was miraculously imprinted upon the cactus-fiber cloth. Mora approaches the story without tricks, using simple, delicate language, while Johnson and Fancher employ aged-looking earth-toned paintings and surround them with patterned borders when depicting the past. A two-page author's note fleshes out the tale and describes Our Lady's continuing influence."—Booklist




Bilingual author René Colato Laínez arrived in the U.S. from El Salvador with few possessions, but many dreams for his future. During this program he will talk about his successful journey from his childhood as an immigrant lost in a strange new world, to his life as a teacher and a published author. His presentation is full of music, dreams, and roots, in English and Spanish—and is of course full of stories. Learn his three rules to success: never give up, study hard, and believe in yourself.

Colato Laínez is the Salvadoran award-winning author of I Am René, the Boy; Waiting for Papá; and many other books that feature Latin American children learning about cultural identity. His picture books have been finalists for the Tejas Star Book Award, given special recognition by the Paterson Prize, and earned the International Latino Book Award. He was named as one of the “Top Ten New Latino Authors to Watch (and Read)” by latinostories.com.

When: Friday, December 21, 2012, 11 AM

Time Detail: 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. Dec. 21 - 23

Categories: Gallery Talks &Tours, Kids & Families, Webcasts & Webinars

Venue: Washington DC: American Indian Museum

Event Location: ImagiNATIONS Activity Center, 3rd Level

Webcast: nmai.si.edu…

Cost: Free

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