Día in Wylie Texas

Pat Mora

We have a new tradition here at Smith Public Library in Wylie which is to celebrate Día de los ninos with dance! For the last 2 years we have had the pleasure of welcoming Mexico 2000 Ballet Folklorico into our library and they put on a show right in the middle of the children’s area. They come lay down a special floor and we pack in around 100 people to watch. The audience not only learns about the various dances in each region of Mexico, but the different yells and “gritos” that go with them. After the show, kids of all ages can go up and learn a simple dance taught by Mary and Alex Palencia, the directors of the troupe. Imagine going to your local library and experiencing the culture, music and colorful spectacle of traditional Mexican dancing! It’s truly joyful and we look forward to welcoming them again this year.

Thanks to our guest blogger Ofilia Barrera, Youth Services Librarian at the Smith Public Library in Wylie Texas.

Día in Seattle

Pat Mora

Invite a local celebrity to celebrate your Día! Whether it’s a politician, broadcaster, athlete or a popular business owner, he or she can help draw families and enliven your event, as well as underscore the value of reading and culture. Ask your celebrity to read aloud from a childhood favorite or their kids’ favorite bedtime story. Invite them to talk about the importance of reading and libraries in their lives. Create a display of their favorite books, or biographies about them if available. Request a copy of their professional photo and use in your publicity and bulletin boards to generate interest and excitement.

A recent Seattle Public Library Día celebration hosted Jaime Mendez, a highly-respected local radio and TV personality in the Spanish-speaking community. Here he reads aloud from “Book Fiesta” by Pat Mora.”

Many thanks to our guest blogger, Beatriz Pascual Wallace, MLIS Children’s Librarian, The Seattle Public Library.

Share Día with Lee & Low Books

Pat Mora

Happy Día! On Lee and Low’s web site and blog, we celebrate books and kids every day. We have activities to add an extra level of fun and classroom guides to add an extra level of exploration. Our Booktalks bring readers into the processes as we discuss books with their authors and illustrators. Plus, we think books are to be shared—we share the experience of reading in discussions on The Open Book, from favorite covers to favorite puncuation and whatever else strikes our fancy.

NCTE Supports Día

Pat Mora

At its annual business meeting held in November 2005 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) adopted a resolution in support of El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day.) Since then, NCTE has increased awareness and programming to support culturally and linguistically diverse literacy activities at home, in school, and in the community for more successful readers. The photos highlight some of the NCTE supported activities hosted in schools, libraries, and homes across the country to spread “bookjoy.”

“Pat Mora’s efforts with the Día initiative have enriched our schools, libraries, and homes through a reading, book-rich life. Indeed, our literate lives are in bloom. ¡Bravo, Pat!”

               −R. Joseph Rodriguez, educator and researcher

Thank you to our guest blogger R. Joseph Rodriguez, Ph.D. with the Division of Instructional Innovation and Assessment (DIIA) at the University of Texas at Austin.