Pat Mora celebrates her birthday on January 19th. She is the award-winning author of poetry, nonfiction, and children's books.

Mora was born in El Paso, Texas, received a bachelor's degree from Texas Western and a master's degree from the University of Texas. She then pursued a teaching career and hosted a public radio show. She has published over twenty books for young readers and is active in having April 30th celebrated as Dia de los ninos/Dia de los libros, a celebration of children, books, languages and cultures.

Her poems have been described by the New York Times as "proudly bilingual." Maria Paints the Hills is written about Maria Hesch, a painter who lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico. One of her most recent books is Yum! ¡MmMm! ¡Qué Rico!

Pat divides her time between Santa Fe and the Cincinnati area, and loves to do school visits!