I Pledge Allegiance - Softcover

Award-winning PAT MORA's books include Tomás and the Library Lady and Doña Flor. She is an honorary member of the ALA, the highest honor the association bestows on non-librarian members.

LIBBY MARTINEZ has worked in the Texas political arena, has served as the Director of School and Community Partnerships at the Philadelphia Zoo, and is the founder of a strategy consulting practice. She lives with her husband in Colorado Springs.

“On Friday, Mom and I will go with . . . great-aunt Lobo to a special place . . . where she will say the Pledge of Allegiance and . . . become a citizen of the United States,” exclaims Libby, the young narrator of this family story. Libby vows to practice saying the pledge with Lobo in the week leading up to the ceremony, providing an easy opportunity for the authors to integrate both lines of the pledge and discussions of its meaning into the text. Likewise, the inclusion of Spanish text not only introduces readers to potentially new vocabulary words but it also helps them understand the importance of Lobo’s Mexican heritage as well as her American citizenship. Barton’s warm, mixed-media illustrations echo the warmth in Lobo’s words: “This country is like one big family . . . that works together to take care of the people who need help.” An authors’ note adds more personal connections as well as a few lines of historical background about the pledge. Preschool-Grade 2. --Annie Miller