Library celebrates Children's Day—April 29, 2011
Children’s Day / Book Day, also known as Dia de los Ninos / Dia de los Libros, is a celebration of children, families and reading. Dia, as we call it, emphasizes the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Children’s Day began in 1925 as a day to bring attention to the importance and well-being of children. In 1996, children’s author Pat Mora proposed linking the celebration of childhood and children with literacy, and Children’s Day / Book Day was begun. It is promoted in the United States each year by the Association for Library Service for Children, a section of the American Library Association.
Nationally, 2011 marks the 15th anniversary of Dia de los Ninos / Dia de los Libros. Locally, we will be celebrating our 4th annual Dia Festival in Hastings this Sunday, May 1, at the Hastings City Auditorium from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. You are invited to join us for this free family event, featuring games and activities for children as well as cake and snacks.
There are a number of picture books in the children’s department of the library that can be used to introduce young children to Spanish language vocabulary. The stories are written in English with a few Spanish words scattered throughout the text. Most include a glossary with definitions of the Spanish words as well as their pronunciations. In “Fiesta Fiasco” by Ann Whitford Paul, Conejo (Rabbit) shops for Culebra’s (Snake’s) birthday present. He convinces his friends to purchase gifts that Rabbit would like for himself instead of things that would be more appropriate for Snake. Susan Middleton Elya’s “F Is for Fiesta” is a rhyming story that tells of the preparations for a boy’s birthday, with Spanish words for each letter of the alphabet.
The library also has a small collection of books with the text completely in Spanish. Some have the English translation included in the same book, English and Spanish on the same page. Others have the text only in Spanish, and you can pair these with the book in English found in the regular collection. For example, “Lola at the Library” by Anna McQuinn is “Lola en la Biblioteca” in the Spanish collection while “Jorge el Curioso Encuentra Trabajo” by H.A. Rey is the translation of “Curious George Takes a Job.”
Check the library’s children’s department for these and other books that provide children with an introduction to Spanish. And join the celebration of Dia de los Ninos / Dia de los Libros (Children’s Day / Book Day) from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. this Sunday, May 1, at the Hastings City Auditorium!
