The Rainbow Tulip

Bibliography:

Mora, Pat. 1999. THE RAINBOW TULIP.Ill. by Elizabeth Sayles Viking.ISBN 0670872911

Plot Summary:

This is a touching story about the little girl Estelita. Her name is Stella at school, but her parents call her ‘Estelita’. Estelita speaks English at school; at home she speaks Spanish. Her parents don’t speak English at all. Estelita’s family, her parents and two brothers, are so different from everyone else she knows: her neighbors, her classmates, her classmates’ families. Estelita’s mother, her quiet mother, is especially different from the other mothers. She wears no makeup, only long dresses in dim colors, and her hair is always in a tight bun. She doesn’t talk much. Only her smile brightens her features, her warm hands offering comfort.

               Estelita’s class is going to participate in the May parade. All the girls in the class will be tulips. Estelita wants to be a rainbow tulip – yellow and pink and blue and green. On the day of the parade Estelita is a little nervous. What if her friends and teacher laugh at her?

               When it is time to weave the maypole she feels how different she is, but she doesn’t lose control, remembers every step of the dance, and helps her friends who forgot what to do. She knows that everyone watches: her teachers, the principal, other children’s parents, and her quiet mother - who stands alone because she cannot talk to the other parents. Estelita knows that her mother is very proud of her.

               At home mother and daughter have a lime sherbet, talk about how it is difficult being different, about their family, and about Estelita’s dreams. And it feels so right.

Critical Analysis:

The plot of this story shows the difference between two contrasting personalities. On the one side: quiet and simple Mother; on the other: bright and vivid Estelita. Estelita’s character is a bridge connecting the Spanish culture of her family to the English culture of their adopted home.

Pat Mora, the author of the story, uses simple sentences, weaving Spanish words into them, helping the reader feel the atmosphere of the Spanish family. The illustrations by Elizabeth Sayles are wonderful reflections of the story. The artist uses soft lines to represent Mother’s character, and warm colors to represent Estelita’s. The words and picture used in the book effectively to depict Mexican culture, and emphasize Estelita’s character being the bridge connecting the two cultures. It is not easy to be different, to carry “newness”, but it is oh, so exciting and refreshing.

Review Experts

Kirkus Reviews (September 1, 1999) “With warmth and directness, Mora celebrates diversity, but provides a balanced view of assimilation as well.”

School Library Journal (1999) “Based on a story from the author’s mother’s childhood, and perfectly extended by soft, warm pastel drawings framed in white, this tale of family love and support crosses cultural boundaries and may remind youngsters of times when their families made all the difference.” 

Awards:

Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award Nominee 1999

Growing Up Latino in the U.S.A. list (ALSC American Library Association) 2004
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Fourth Edition (National Council of Teachers of English) 2003
Texas Reading Club (State of Texas booklist) 2004

Connections:

Extend The Rainbow Tulip by Pat Mora with an exploration of other holidays in May that include dancing. May Day written by Jeffrey Kent (2008)

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the Mexican Hat Dance by F. Isabel Campoy and Alma Flor Ada, illustrated by Marcela Gomez and David Silva, and translated by Joe Hayes