Character Facts
Character Actions
Character Conversations
Character Emotions
Character Traits
100
Where was Tomas and his family traveling to and from?
From Texas to Iowa
100
Where is Tomas when the story begins?
Tomas is with his family, traveling in a car from Texas to Iowa.
100
Besides English, what language does Tomas speak with his family?
Spanish
100
How does Tomas feel when the story begins in the car?
Hot, tired, and homesick.
100
Choose five adjectives that could be used to describe Tomas.
Possible choices: Curious, imaginative, eager, respectful, inventive, sincere, brown-eyed, brown-haired, tan, short, thin, etc.
200
Why did his family travel each summer?
His parents were migrant farm workers.
200
What does Tomas do some days while his parents work in the field?
He plays with a homemade ball with his brother.
200
What types of conversations does Tomas often have with his grandfather?
Storytelling conversations
200
How does Tomas feel when he first walks to the doors of the library?
Tomas feels nervous and overwhelmed by how large and unfamiliar the library looks.
200
List the various roles Tomas undertakes throughout the story.
Traveller, player, listener, explorer, reader, teacher, dreamer, son, grandson, brother, etc.
300
What culture does Tomas's family come from?
Spanish
300
Where does Tomas decide to go when he walks downtown?
He decides to go to the library.
300
What idea does Tomas's grandfather give him?
He tells him to try going to the library because he has already heard all of his stories.
300
What happens while Tomas is reading his stories about dinosaurs and tigers at the library?
Tomas gets lost in the stories and escapes his everyday life. He forgets about the library lady, Iowa, and Texas.
300
Select 3 antonyms that would describe Tomas's interest in books.
Possible Choices: Boring, plain, forced, disconnected, superficial, etc.
400
From the clues in the story, make an inference as to how old you feel Tomas is.
Tomas is able to walk to the library alone and can read books. The illustrations also show him holding longer chapter books, so you can infer that Tomas is likely in upper elementary school and maybe 10-12 years old.
400
What happens the first day Tomas is in the library?
He stays all day, until the sun is setting, and is the last person in the library.
400
What does the library lady always offer Tomas before reading?
A drink of water
400
How does Tomas feel as he rushes home after the first day at the library?
He is eager to share his new stories with his family and excited to look at the new books the library lady let him check out.
400
What trait does Tomas's grandfather pass on to him?
Storytelling
500
What real-life person inspired Pat Mora to create this character?
Dr. Tomas Rivera
500
What does the library lady do for Tomas that is something special he will now have with him for the rest of his life?
She helps him find books that interest him in a way that encourages him to be a lifelong reader.
500
After spending time at the library, how does Tomas's role in the conversations with his family change?
He becomes the storyteller.
500
At the end of the story, Tomas says he can see and feel the dinosaurs and hear the cry of the snakebird as he reads. How is this possible? What does this mean for Tomas as a reader?
Tomas is so engrossed in the story that he can visualize it; he feels like he is in the story himself. This skill will continue to help him grow his love for reading.
500
What traits of the library lady are important for librarians, teachers, and parents to role model for children as they encourage them to read?
Possible: Interest, patience, passion, encouragement, etc.
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