Part III

Love to Mama
Edited By: Pat Mora

Love to Mama is a beautiful story that includes descriptive poems and illustrations by authors of diverse Hispanic backgrounds, ranging from North to South America. The vivid and descriptive illustrations allow the reader to not only experience the written world, but also the visual arts. The poems give the reader an insider perspective of the culture and the environment surrounding each poem, by integrating intimate knowledge of each culture and allowing the reader to create a connection to the writings. As the book progresses, the poems become more detailed and allow the reader to have a first person perspective of the events occurring in the poet’s life. Each poet comes from a different Hispanic background and this allows the reader to gain a diverse understanding of Hispanic culture. The poets range from Mexican to Cuban to Ecuadorian. The illustrator’s choice of color and brushstrokes entices the reader and draws them into the poetry. The Latino color pallet is clearly shown, through the vibrant shades of yellow, orange and blue, and the reader is instantly interested in what the poem has to offer. Although the poems are well written, they lack a Latino rhythm as a result of being translated from their native tongue of Spanish. The poetry often feels as though it has lost some of its magic through the process of translation. Although the authors have tried to remain culturally sensitive in order to appeal to all backgrounds, their culture shows through and definitely demonstrates that they are of Latin descent. Ultimately, the author’s backgrounds enhance the stories and give them authentic background material.