Estela mora biography of william

Her books for children, in particular, work to instill in young Latinos pride in their heritage. Characteristically, Mora's are set in the southwestern United Statesoften in her birthplace of El Paso, Texas, and the surrounding desert. Celebrating the Mexican-American experience while also encouraging unity among all cultures, her children's books include picture books, biographies, concept books, and retellings of Mayan folktales.

Estela mora biography of william

A poet for adults, Mora has also compiled verse anthologies for both children and young adults and has edited or contributed to poetry collections for more general readers. In her children's books, Mora addresses several of the subjects and themes that constitute her books for adults, such as Mexican-American culture, nature especially the desertand the importance of family.

Her estela mora biography of william but evocative prose is filled with descriptions and imagery; she also includes basic Spanish phrases in her works, most of which are published in both English and Spanish. A Dictionary of Hispanic Biography essayist noted that "Mora has been essential to the movement to understand and uphold Mexican-American culture….

She provides an excellent model for young Hispanics who are just beginning to understand the past and are about to experience promising futures…. As a successful Hispanic writer, and a writer who writes about and for Hispanics, Mora is an exemplary role estela mora biography of william for the young people of an increasingly multicultural America.

She often has acknowledged the influence of her maternal grandmother and aunt, who lived with the family. In high school she began writing poetry, mostly religious in focus. Although she enjoyed her family's Mexican traditions, Mora downplayed her ethnicity at school, and did not reveal to her friends that she was bilingual. And I wished that I had seen things about Mexican culture on the bulletin boards and in the library.

One of the reasons that I write children's books is because I want Mexican culture and Mexican-American culture to be a part of our schools and libraries. After graduating from high school, Mora thought about becoming a doctor, then decided to be a teacher. Shortly after graduation, she married William H. Mora began to teach English and Spanish at grade and high schools in El Paso.

She earned her master's degree inthen became a part-time instructor in English and communications at El Paso Community College. Inshe moved into administration. Several years later, after going through a divorce, she turned to her past: in addition to writing, she also began to educate herself about her heritage. Awarded for her early efforts, she published her first adult poetry collection, Chants, inthe same year she married Vernon Lee Scarborough, an archeologist and professor whom she had met at college.

Five years later she left her administrative job to become a full-time writer and speaker. Written in a repetitive text, A Birthday Basket for Tia is both a story and a counting book that helps readers count to ninety. A Publishers Weekly reviewer called the work "poignant" and added that Mora's text "flows smoothly from one event to the next, and clearly presents the careful planning behind Cecilia's gift-gathering mission.

Featuring a multigenerational focus, Pablo's Tree is set on the fifth birthday of its protagonist, a boy who has been adopted and who lives with his single mother. Pablo is excited because he is going to be with his abuelito, or grandfather, for whom he is named. Lito has established a tradition for his grandson: every year, he decorates a special tree in the boy's honor, leaving the decorations as a surprise.

By speaking openly about the obstacles encountered, this resilience and perseverance have inspired many followers to pursue their dreams, regardless of the hurdles that may lie ahead. These collaborations resulted in specific projects, such as clothing lines, events, or joint content, which have enhanced the public image and offered new opportunities for growth and success.

Understanding the importance of guidance and support, Estela Mora often shares valuable insights and experiences with aspiring social media influencers. By offering mentorship and advice, Estela Mora contributes to the growth of the industry and fosters a sense of community among fellow creators. Outside of a thriving social media career, Estela Mora demonstrates a strong commitment to giving back.

Actively participating in various philanthropic endeavors showcases a passion for making a positive impact in the world. I have had many more rejections than people would ever think. Some of us seem to have a knack for living in nepantlathe land in the middle. She recalled, "I was persistent, particularly after my first poem was published in Like Kafka, I hung onto my desk with my teeth.

Evenings and weekends, after dishes were washed and homework questions answered, I wrote. InMora received an award for creative writing from the National Association for Chicano Studies. Her first book, the adult poetry collection Chantswas published in She published her second poetry collection for adults, Bordersinand received a Kellogg national fellowship to study national and international issues of cultural conservation.

InMora became the director of the museum at the University of Texas—El Paso and also became the assistant to the president of the school. InMora decided to become a full-time writer and speaker. She left El Paso for Cincinnati, Ohio, after her husband, an expert on Mayan culture, was hired to teach anthropology at the University of Cincinnati.

InMora produced her third adult poetry collection, Communiona work that features the author's reflections about her travels to such places as Cuba, India, Pakistan, and New York City. That same year, Mora's father retired. Mora profiled her father shortly before his death in House of Houses: "'How are you doing, honey,' he asks when I visit, fighting tears every minute I'm with him.

It's like baseball. One throws this way and one throws that. Written in a repetitive text, A Birthday Basket for Tia is both a story and a counting book it allows children to count to ninety. A Publishers Weekly reviewer called the work "poignant" before stating that Mora's text "flows smoothly from one event to the next, and clearly presents the careful planning behind Cecilia's gift-gathering mission.

An honest, child-centered story. Pablo's Tree is another of the author's popular picture books with a strong intergenerational relationship at its core. The story is set on the fifth birthday of its protagonist, a boy who has been adopted and who lives with his single mother. Pablo is excited because he is going to be with his grandfather, for whom he is named.

The elder Pablo—called Lito, short for abuelito —has established a tradition for his grandson: every year, he has decorated a special tree in his honor, leaving the decorations as a surprise. In past years, the tree has been festooned with balloons, colored streamers, paper lanterns, and bird cages; this year, Lito has chosen bells and wind chimes as his theme.

Pablo and Lito celebrate the day by eating apples and listening to the music coming from the tree; Lito also tells Pablo the story of the tree, which was planted when Pablo's mother adopted him. Writing in Bulletin of the Center for Children's BooksDeborah Stevenson commented, "A tale of love and welcome and neat ornamentsthis volume has a celebratory aspect that makes it appealing not just to adoptees but to kids generally.

The Rainbow Tulip is often considered among Mora's best books. Based on a childhood experience of her mother, Estela, this picture book, which is set in El Paso during the s, features Estelita, a first grader who is caught between two cultures. Estelita realizes that her heritage sets her apart: she sees her mother, who speaks no English and dresses in dark clothes, as old-fashioned.

The girls in Estelita's class are dressing as tulips for the upcoming May Day parade, and she wants her costume to be different from the others. When the big day arrives, Estelita comes dressed in all the colors of the rainbow, as opposed to the other children, who are dressed in single hues. Although Estelita is disconcerted at first, she successfully executes a maypole dance and wins her teacher's approval.

Her mother, who understands how tough it is to find her place in a new country, tells her that being different is a condition that is both sweet and sour, much like the lime sherbet that is their favorite dessert. Estelita realizes that being different is both hard and exciting, and she recognizes her mother's quiet love for her. Writing in Children's LiteratureJoan Carris commented, "This is a gentle story, nice for reading at bedtime.

And awfully necessary, it seems to me. This tale of family love and support crosses cultural boundaries and may remind youngsters of times when their families made all the difference. Writing in Skipping StonesElke Richers commented, "I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story or who wants to know how reading can make a real difference in someone's life.

Don't miss it! However, it was not published for several years due to the difficulty in finding an appropriate illustrator. Mora's first collection for a juvenile audience is Confetti: Poems for Children. In this work, which is directed to primary graders, narrative poems in free verse describe the American Southwest as seen through the eyes of a young Mexican-American girl.

The child, who lives in the desert, views it and its inhabitants through the space of a whole day, from early morning to nightfall. Mora uses the sun, clouds, leaves, and wind as the subjects of several of her poems; in addition, she profiles a wood sculptor, a grandmother, and a baker. A critic in Kirkus Reviews noted that the "best of these poems that mix English and Spanish … warmly evokes familiar touchstones of Mexican-American life.

Dow called Confetti a "welcome addition" and stated that the poems "capture the rhythms and uniqueness of the Southwest and its culture. She explores such subjects as the sky, a grandmother, a huge mountain, an old snake, a horned lizardand coyotes. A Publishers Weekly reviewer predicted that the poems in The Big Sky "will delight readers of all ages with their playfully evocative imagery.

Mora's My Own True Name: New and Selected Poems for Young Adults, — is a collection of sixty poems the author selected from her adult books; she also wrote several new poems for this collection. Mora uses the metaphor of a cactus, which represents human existence, to join the poems thematically. Also a model and television presenter, she has been known for acting on the show Rica Famosa.

She has also appeared in Among Us on She has been known for her exquisite beauty and acting skills and has also been acclaimed due to her modeling credits. Estela has been divorced twice. She has previously been married and has a child from her first marriage.