Poetry Book Review: Confetti: Poems for Children by Pat Mora

Confetti: Poems for Children by Pat Mora, illustrated by Enrique O. Sanchez, Lee and Law Books, Inc. New York, 1996.

Pat Mora has drawn upon her experiences of living in the Southwest to give us a delightful book of thirteen poems celebrating the beauty of the area and the Mexican/Spanish culture.
The poems are beautifully illustrated by Enrique O. Sanchez who uses the pastels of the desert and the brighter colors of the Spanish culture.
Interspersed throughout are Spanish words with a list of their English translations at the end of the collection.
All the poems reflect the Mexican-Spanish culture reinforcing the purpose of the book. The poems focus mainly on the happiness of childhood, from greeting the freshness of the new day at dawn in "Sun Song" to watching the wood carver awaken the "...animal asleep in a piece of wood..." in "Purple Snake" to the comfort of a grandmother's lap in "Abuelita's Lap".
Mrs. Mora's poems are written in a style that flows easily- sometimes using rhymes, sometimes using Spanish, but all enriching and appealing to children's imaginations.