April Programs for 2022 Children’s Day, Book Day

Pat Mora

El Paso, Pat’s Hometown, Celebrates Their 26th Día de los Niños, Día de los Libros on April 30
The celebration is a partnership between El Paso Public Library and Parks and Recreation. It involves hundreds of local organizations and sponsors and is supported by a broad-based alliance of children, parents, public servants and other citizens as well as commercial and non-commercial interests. It is the largest and most successful literacy celebration of its type in the Southwest. Find out more on their Facebook page.
El Paso Dia

Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature Awards Grant for Día programming
Since 2011, Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature (CSMCL) has awarded a grant for an El Día de los Niños/El Día de los Libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) program with an African America Focus. This year’s winner is Annistown Elementary School Library Media Center in Snellville, GA with their theme of “The Power of Words.” Their event is scheduled to be held on May 6, 2022.

Leanna Hicks Public Library (Inkster, Michigan)

Display from the 2021 winner: Leanna Hicks Public Libraryin Inkster, MI

San Diego County Library’s Story Trails
Story Trails are offered at 15 parks throughout the San Diego County to celebrate El Día de los Niños/El Día de los Libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) in conjunction with activity kits and book giveaways at County branch libraries.

A series of 19 signs with original stories written and designed by library staff has been placed around each park. Each story panel is printed with one side in English and the other in Spanish. For more information about the program and how to get your activity kit, along with a recommended reading list, visit: sdcl.org/dia/.
San DIego Story Trails

April Poetry Celebrations

Pat Mora

Poetry Foundation’s Young People’s Poetry Day
This year, Pat will be an in-person guest at the Poetry Foundation’s Young People’s Poetry Day event on Friday, April 8 from 12-12:45pm Mountain Time. The event will be held at:
The Poetry Foundation
61 W Superior Street
Chicago, Illinois
Find out more or register here.

Lee & Low Webinar: The Power of Poetry with Poet and Storyteller Pat Mora
The webinar featured tips and strategies about how to use poetry with students in various educational settings. Watch it here:

Children’s Day, Book Day: 26 Years

Pat Mora

April 30th 2022 is the 26th Anniversary of the national year-long literacy initiative Children’s Day, Book Day (CDBD). Every child in the U.S. learns English, and this initiative strives to inspire all our children and their families to be readers.

Twenty-six years ago, I first heard of the Mexican tradition of celebrating April 30th as El día del niño, the Day of the Child. I immediately thought: why don’t we celebrate Children’s Day in our country? AND, let’s link that tradition to reading.

Día, which means day, is sometimes used as a nickname, symbolizing the dailiness of our work. The annual triad: April, Children’s Day, Book Day; May, Mother’s Day; June, Father’s Day.

Children’s Day, Book Day is a collaboration of national, state and local library and literacy organizations, educators, publishers and readers creatively promoting the sharing of bookjoy, the private pleasure of reading—and its importance.

Together, let’s grow a nation of readers, essential in our democracy.

Pat Mora

Children's Day Book Day 26th Anniversary

Art by Students

Pat Mora

I am so fortunate to know Teacher Librarian Mackie Fritzmeier at Steck Elementary School, Denver Public Schools. Mackie and I met when she was with the Santa Fe Public Schools and hosted an amazing Children’s Day, Book Day celebration. (Annually, such culminating celebrations of children as readers are held across the country on or near April 30th, or a convenient day near that.)

Recently, Mackie sent me a box of art by her younger students in Denver. Page after page, I enjoyed the students’ art and comments about six of my children’s books. What a gift.

Through the years, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and learning from teachers and librarians. As spring begins, join me in honoring educators who encourage and motivate our young to be readers.

Pat