Week # Air Date, 5/6/05

We all have memories of our moms, our mamis. She's the woman whose hands wiped your runny noses, whose heart smoothed our cuts and bruises, and whose voice means home. For this special program Latino USA celebrates these mujeres by presenting readings from 'Las Mamis' an anthology in which fourteen Latino authors share personal glimpses of their mothers.

Segment #1 (4:24)

Esmeralda Santiago co-edited the book 'Las Mamis: Favorite Latino Authors Remember their Mothers.' She now shares the story of her mother Ramona.

Segment #2 (3:37)

Dominican born writer Juno Diaz is best known best known for his collection of short stories 'Drown.' Growing up in New York, Diaz recalls overcoming hard times with his mother. His remembrance is entitled 'How I Discovered My Mom and Learned to Live.'

Segment #3 (4:38)

Writer Dagoberto Gilb has written a number of books, including the novel 'The Last Known Residence of Mickey Acuna.' He remembers his mother Elizabeth Yolanda, who worked as a department store runway model.

Segment #4 (10:18)

Latino USA's Mandalit del Barco is familiar to NPR listeners as a longtime reporter. Her father met her mother in Peru while a Fulbright scholar. Now a Fulbright scholar herself, Mandalit shares her memories of her mother.

Back Announce: You've been listening to some of the stories in the book 'Las Mamis: Favorite Latino Authors Remember their Mothers,' edited by Esmeralda Santiago and Joie Davidow. It's published by Knopf.