THE RAINBOW TULIP - Pat Mora

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mora, Pat. 1999. The Rainbow Tulip. Ill. by Elizabeth Sayles. New York: Puffin Books. ISBN 9780329326005

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Pat Mora’s The Rainbow Tulip is the story of Estelita, a young girl who bridges two cultures: the American, English-speaking culture of her school, and the Mexican, Spanish-speaking culture of her family. She feels a tension between loving her family and wishing she was like everyone else in her class. In this story, her class is getting ready for the May parade, and her costume is a multi-color tulip dress. At first she is nervous, because her dress is different than everyone else’s. This is a story about finding acceptance for just who you are.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
While this story is based out of the childhood of Pat Mora’s mother, it is a timeless situation. The message is as relevant to children today as it was when the real events took place. Elementary-aged children want to fit in and find friends, and they are at an age where they are starting to perceive similarities and differences. Estelita tells her story as a child, in a way that children will understand and relate to.

She describes both what happens and how she feels. Her shyness is captured in phrases like “my smile is hiding” and “I feel quiet as a snail inside.” Estelita’s excitement and nervousness build up to the May parade, which is a turning point in her understanding of how she fits in her world. At the beginning of the day she is nervous, by the end of the parade, she has found a new confidence. Based on Estelita’s descriptions, the reader will understand why that change takes place. Whether the situation is cultural and linguistic as in The Rainbow Tulip, or something else, readers will see that you don’t have to change who you are to try to fit in.

The Rainbow Tulip is an excellent multicultural book. Woven through the story of Estelita and the May parade, Mora incorporates Spanish phrases with translations of some to aid comprehension. She describes Estelita’s home culture in positive, respectful terms and shows where that differs from the culture of the community. The portrayal of the cultural components should resonate with Hispanic children and offer an interesting introduction to children of other cultures.

Estelita describes her mother as quiet and gentle, and that is the tone of the whole book as well. Elizabeth Sayles’s soft pastel images blend perfectly with the quietness of story. The illustrations are realistic enough to be clear, and colorful enough to hold the reader’s attention. There are instances where Sayles’s illustrations capture a part of the story not specifically described in the text, like Estelita dancing in a rainbow of flowers when she describes what her dress should look like, the dress fitting with her aunt, or what a Maypole dance looks like. This, in particular, may be something that children are not familiar with, so the illustration can help children understand or serve as the basis for additional explanation. The illustrations also convey the emotional reactions of Estelita, adding an additional layer to the story.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S) AND AWARDS
Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award, Texas nominee, 2000

Featured in Kaleidoscope, a Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8 (NCTE, ISBN 0-8141-2539-5)

School Library Journal: “…this tale of family love and support crosses cultural boundaries and may remind youngsters of times when their families made all the difference.”

Kirkus Reviews: “With warmth and directness, Mora celebrates diversity, but provides a balanced view of assimilation as well…”

5. CONNECTIONS

- Pair The Rainbow Tulip with a nonfiction book about Mexican-Americans, like I Am Mexican American by Isobel Seymour (ISBN 0-8239-5004-2).

- Extend the conversation about different cultures by examining other stories where children are acclimating to the United States, for example I Hate English by Ellen Levine (ISBN 0-590-42305-3), or where children talk about their cultural differences, like The Sandwich Swap (Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah and Kelly DiPucchio, ISBN 978-1423124849).

- Discuss reasons why children may feel like they do not fit in. Take care to avoid embarrassing any students. Engage in role playing of how to make other children feel welcome.