Last week, I attended my first USBBY Board meeting in NY. What a committed group. If you haven’t joined USBBY (United StatesBoard on Books for Young People), I encourage you to do so. I also encourage you to add April 2, Hans Christian Andersen’s Birthday, celebrated in many countries as International Children’s Book Day, to your literacy planning calendar. We say that every day is Día, an opportunity to celebrate children and linking all children to books. April 2, then, is a good day to focus on international books.

While in NY, my husband and I celebrated Valentine’s Day by seeing the 2008 Tony Award winning musical, “In the Heights.” Frankly, I seldom go to NYC, and it was an absolute thrill to see the talented and energetic Latino cast. Treat yourself to this if you can. You too will be part of an enthusiastic standing ovation.