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Pat and Libby

April Brings Two New Books and Children's Day, Book Day
April is a special month. Día: Children's Day, Book Day celebrates its 18th anniversary this year with culminating book fiestas on or around April 30.

Two books written by Pat and her daughter, Libby Martinez, will be published in April. These are the first two books they have written together!


Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo!
Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo!

In this sweetly funny picture book, a tiny mouse, Chico Canta, saves his entire family from the clever kitten, Little Gato-Gato, when he uses his quick wits and ability to speak another language.

English hardcover and Spanish paperback editions of Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo! will be available April 15, 2014, from Groundwood Books. Pre-order from Amazon.


I Pledge Allegiance

I Pledge Allegiance
Libby and LoboLibby's great aunt, Lobo, is from Mexico, but the United States has been her home for many years, and she wants to become a U.S. citizen. At the end of the week, Lobo will say the Pledge of Allegiance at her citizenship ceremony. Libby is also learning the Pledge this week, at school. At the end of the week, she will stand up in front of everyone and lead the class in the Pledge. Libby and Lobo practice together, asking questions and sharing stories and memories, until they both stand tall and proud, with their hands over their hearts.

Hardcover and library binding editions of I Pledge Allegiance will be available April 22, 2014, from Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers. Pre-order from Amazon.

"This is an essential purchase."—School Library Journal

More reviews

Dia Booklet

April 2014 Book Fiestas for Día: Children's Day, Book Day

Día (El día de los niños, El día de los libros/Children's Day, Book Day) is a daily commitment to link children and books. Every year, hundreds of April culminating book fiestas are held across the country in libraries, schools, parks, and community organizations. A goal for these events is creating April Día literacy celebrations that unite communities. Register your Día events in the National Program Registry, a database for capturing and sharing program information. This registry is not limited to Día programs at libraries.

Día Ideas

  • Explore Pat's Día booklet, Children's Days, Book Days: Planning for a Día Year, updated for 2014.
  • Visit the Día section of Pat's site and review the growing list of partners.
  • Join us for our fourth annual Díapalooza on Pat's blog beginning April 1.
  • Email us your ideas for establishing Día as an annual, national celebration of children and books.
  • Download the 2014 Mora Award guidelines and submit your Día programs.

Chants

30th Anniversary for Chants

My recollection is that in 1984, I was Assistant to the Vice-President of Academic Affairs at UT El Paso when I received the first copy of my first book, Chants, a poetry collection. I'll always be grateful to Dr. Nicolás Kanellos, founder of Arte Público Press.

Thirty years later, I'm delighted to have two children's books published this spring with my talented daughter, Libby Martinez. I'll be interviewing her in April on my creativity blog.

It wasn't until 1996, that the idea for Día came to me. Join us in creating a nation of readers—essential in a democracy. As we celebrate Mother's Day in May and Father's Day in June, join us in celebrating children in April, in annually celebrating Children's Day, Book Day.

Pat