New Mexico school and public libraries, have you registered for Children’s Day, Book Day, El día de los niños, El día de los libros? Also known as “Dia” and founded by New Mexico author, Pat Mora, meaning day for our daily commitment, this literacy initiative is a collaboration of national and state library and literacy organizations, educators, presses and readers creatively striving to share bookjoy and its importance. Culminating April Children’s Day, Book Day celebrations that unite communities, April book fiestas, are held in libraries, schools, homes, parks, etc., often on or near April 30th. DIA is also used to mean Diversity In Action. Download free materials for your celebrations, book displays and register a New Mexico event at http://dia.ala.org/.
The New Mexico Hispanic Cultural Center will celebrate with the first NHCC Children’s Bilingual Book Festival on Saturday, April 27. The focus on Spanish-English and Native Language-English books and authors makes this festival particularly meaningful and vibrant, reflecting the identities of many children in New Mexico and the Southwest. We want to encourage children to see themselves in contemporary children’s literature as well as introduce a bilingual body of work to a wider audience. The festival will emphasize books for readers in grades K-6, though there will be activities for kids of all ages, including families. For more information, please contact Valerie Martínez, Director of History and Literary Arts, National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 4th St. SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102: valerie.martinez@state.nm.us; 505-383-4724.
Submitted by REFORMA de Nueva Mexico