THE RAINBOW TULIP by Pat Mora, Ill. by Elizabeth Sayles

Bibliography
Mora, Pat. 1999. The Rainbow Tulip. Ill. by Elizabeth Sayles. New York: The Penguin Group. ISBN 0670872911

Plot Summary
The Rainbow Tulip is a story about the author's mother, Stella, when she was in the first grade. Stella is excited about the May Day parade at her school, in which all the girls get to dress up as tulips. She decides to have her costume made with various spring colors instead of just one. Although all the other kids have single color costumes, Stella wears her costume with pride and dignity.

Critical Analysis
This is a story about being proud of one's individuality. Stella loves colors and wears her colorful tulip costume to the May Day parade although the other children's costumes are monochromatic. The other girls are tulips of all blue or pink, but Stella's costume incorporates all the colors of spring. Although Stella is embarrassed at times when her family's differences stand out, she has the courage to be who she is. Stella expresses how she wishes her mother was more like the other parents, yet she still loves and looks up to her mother. Stella's uneasiness about being different rings true to anyone who knows how it feels to stand out from the majority.

The illustrations are warm and calm. They help set the time period of the 1920s and have a hazy and dreamy feeling to them as if someone is reminiscing. This supports the fact that the story is based off of a real event from Mora's mother's childhood. Although the story is from a historical time period, the theme of being accepted as an individual is timeless.

Mora includes Spanish phrases throughout the story in such a way that any English speaker can understand their meaning. The story is simply told, and the dialog is used to show the loving relationships between the characters. However, it seems that a very accepting picture is painted of how others respond to people who are different from them in some manner. A few boyish giggles is the only teasing that Stella has to worry about in this situation. However, children will be able to relate to Stella's fears of showing her individuality. My seven year old daughter got the message and related it to how she wears her hair in braids despite the fact that most of the kids at her school do not.

Awards and Review Excerpts

• Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award, 2000 - Nominee Texas
• Booklist: "There's not much story: when she goes to the May parade at school in a tulip costume of many colors, she worries that she looks different from everyone else, only to realize that it's fine to be different. What many immigrant kids will enjoy is the bicultural experience."
• Kirkus Reviews: "With warmth and directness, Mora celebrates diversity, but provides a balanced view of assimilation as well, Sayles's softly colored illustrations, by turns wistful and vibrant, capture the times and the tone as a young child finds her place in her parents' new country."
• The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: "...while the story is not prescriptive, it has many layers for discussion and reflection."

Connections

• This story is true and based off of a childhood experience of Pat Mora's mother. In her author's note, Pat Mora mentions a family tree. Invite children to create a family tree.
• Family can have many stories and experiences to share. Have children ask a family member to share a story from their childhood. These stories can then be shared with the group. Do any of these stories reveal a lesson learned?
• Other books about Mexican Americans: 

           Rodríguez, Luis J. América is Her Name. ISBN 1880684403
           Sáenz, Benjamin Alire. A Gift From Papá Diego. ISBN 0938317334
           Elya, Susan Middleton. Home at Last. ISBN 1584300205