(Children’s Day/Book Day)
April 30th marks the 15th year of a celebration known as “El día de los niños/El día de los libros,” or “Día” for short. Día emphasizes the importance of advocating literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Author and poet Pat Mora developed Día as a way to celebrate children and books. What better way to spend a day than with a stack of books and a room full of children?
According to the American Library Association (ALA) Día website, “Día isn’t just April 30—it’s every day of the year, and it honors every child. Día’s goals include a daily commitment to honor children and childhood; to promote literacy, the importance of linking all children to books, languages (all languages), and cultures; to honor home languages and cultures; to involve parents as essential members of the literacy team; and to promote library collection development that reflects our plurality.”
Do you want to try it for yourself? The Día website resources show how you can host your own version of Día at home with your family or a group of friends!
- Choose a craft book and make a Mexican paper flower from tissue paper or fold paper into origami cranes.
- Select an international cookbook for kids and make mouthwatering recipes from Brazil, India, Spain or Thailand with your child.
- Check out music from around the world and dance in the kitchen while playing instruments made from pots and pans.
- Read award-winning books written by authors about life in other countries or from cultures different from your own.
- Celebrate holidays like Chinese New Year’s, Thanksgiving, Day of the Dead or Kwanzaa. Talk about how these holidays are the same or different from those celebrated in your home.
Enjoy your celebration of Children’s Day/Book Day on April 30th … and every day!
More Web Resources
- Día resource guide for librarians and teachers
- Resources for parents and children
- Children’s Day/Book Day book list, plus websites for more information
- Celebrating Children and Books (ALA)
