Confetti: Poems for Children

Mora, Pat. 1996. Confetti: poems for children. Ill. by Enrique O. Sanchez. New York: Lee & Low Books Inc. ISBN 1880000253

Plot Summary

A collection of poems showing a young Mexican-American girl celebrating the sights, sounds, and the culture of the Southwest.

Critical Analysis (Including Cultural Markers)

The sights and sounds of the Southwest are expressed through free verse poetry with colorful illustrations providing visual support for the concepts presented. Spanish words are peppered throughout many of the poems, wherever poetically and thematically appropriate.  Most of the Spanish words are not translated within the poem, but they are made clear through context, including the context of the corresponding illustrations.  From the poem Sun Song, “Ranitas in the rocks hear the sun’s first song… Ranitas in the rocks croak their morning song.”, the meaning of the word ranita is suggested through the illustration of a little frog and the croaking of their morning song. A glossary is included for further clarification of the Spanish words.

Review Excerpts

School Library Journal: “Narrative poems in free verse capture the rhythms and uniqueness of the Southwest and its culture as seen through the eyes of a Mexican-American girl… The beauty of the natural world is captured in Sanchez’s acrylic illustrations.”

Connections

More books by Pat Mora:
Mora, Pat. 2005. Doña flor : A tall tale about a giant woman with a great big heart. Ill. by Raúl Colón. New York: Knopf. ISBN 9780375823374
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 9780061288777

Mora, Pat. 2009. Gracias. Ill. by John Parra. New York: Lee & Low Books. ISBN 9781600602580