SYNOPSIS OF TOMÁS AND THE LIBRARY LADY

Please share this synopsis with your students before the performance. Often, students will get far
more out of the production if they have a chance to hear the story beforehand.

Tomás and his close-knit family are migrant workers who leave their Texas home to pick fruits and
vegetables in Iowa every summer. Moving back and forth year after year is difficult. On the long trip
from Texas, he listens to grandpa tell stories in Spanish. Tomás loves the stories and remembers them
all. Later that summer, Grandpa, or Papa Grande, tells Tomás he is old enough to go to the library by
himself.

So, during this pivotal summer in Tomás’ life, while his parents are out picking corn, Tomás visits the
imposing town library and meets a kindly librarian who gently coaxes him inside with cool drinks and
friendship.

The librarian turned mentor offers Tomás an escape into the world of books and adventure; on slow
days, he teaches her Spanish. She introduces him to stories about tigers, dinosaurs, horses, and
American Indians and allows him to take books home where he shares them with his parents,
grandfather, and brother. He is transported to magical places when he opens a book and loses himself
in stories of all kinds.

When it’s time for Tomás’ family to return to Texas, the librarian gives him the greatest gift of all, a
book of his own to keep. He, in turn, tells her, “I have a sad word to teach you today. The word is
adiós. It means goodbye.” Tomás returns to his Texas home with a newfound love of books and
reading.

This inspiring adventure is based on the true-life story of Tomás Rivera, who became a writer and
professor and at the time of his death in 1984 was chancellor of the University of California at
Riverside, where the library bears his name. The story dispels myths about migrant workers and
shows unity and tradition within the family unit. The characters are helpful, kind, hard working people
who enjoy the little things in life. The children are eager to learn and anxious to make the most of the
opportunities learning brings to the entire family. The contributions of Mexican Americans and their
positive influences on our culture are emphasized.

What an enjoyable realistic fiction story that certainly encourages students to discover the joy of
reading. Pat Mora has done a fine job of showing the life and work of immigrant families without
portraying these Spanish speaking people as poor, helpless citizens. This is an excellent story when
studying immigration and migrant workers, which is certainly a subject of interest in our current
political landscape. The story puts a real face on the people at the center of a sometimes mean-spirited
and abstract debate.

Source: www.cedu.niu.edu