This April, I was fortunate to participate in three April Día Celebrations. I attended Día at Discovery Green, an urban park in Houston. I’m grateful to Houston Public Library, Houston PBS and Arte Público Press, my first publisher and a steady Día supporter. I read The Desert Is My Mother, and children received free copies of the book. A special treat for me was that, thanks to help from Writers in the Schools, some boys read their poems about their moms. In Houston, as in every city, my hope is that each library and branch that serves children will annually host an exciting culminating Día celebration in April.

I visited two El Paso schools on April 30th, Burnet Elementary and Kohlberg Elementary. Both principals were true literacy advocates. Special thanks to librarian Kara Johnson at Burnet and to the mothers of the dual language program at Kohlberg for their enthusiasm. My hope is that in my home city of El Paso and across this country, every school will embrace the concept that Día—celebrating all children and linking them to books, languages and cultures—is a daily commitment and that annual spring book fiestas are an important and satisfying tradition to foster.


Pat at Burnet Elementary



Pat and readers



Pat and Kara Johnson




Pat and Kohlberg Moms




  

Thanks to all who supported my Día visits. Happy Bookjoy Days!