A lovely extension of the metaphor expressed in the title, the text of this poem is a soothing recitation of the many ways in which the desert cares for the speaker: "I say feed me. / She serves red prickly pear on a spiked cactus. / I say tease me. / She sprinkles raindrops in my face on a sunny day...." Each double-page spread pairs a single idea stated in English and Spanish on the left page with the artist's full-color visual rendering of the concept on the right. (Ages 4-7)

The first bilingual picture book published under the Pinata Books imprint in 1994, Pat Mora's ode to the desert is finally available in paperback format. The Desert Is My Mother introduces the partnership of an award-winning poet and a prize-winning painter to create a beautiful poetic and artistic rendition of the relationship between people and nature. Rather than being an expanse empty of life and value, the desert is lovingly presented as the provider of comfort, food, spirit, and life.