What does the city of Willard share with Cincinnati, Cleveland and Cincinnati? All four are official El Día de los Niños (Day of the Child) sites! Libraries and other cities in Ohio can also register their El Día de los Niños celebrations with the National Latino Children’s Institute to help support the adoption of April 30th as a national commemorative day to celebrate children and youth. NLCI will send libraries and city organizers a kit and other resources to help plan their events.

 

Libraries can also find tips on organizing El Día de los Niños celebrations, suggested activities, press materials and other information to help mark 2009 as the 10th anniversary of El Día de los Niños on the NLCI website as part of their focus on the development of Latino children.

 

To further help libraries plan events, programming and outreach links that feature literacy as part of El Día de los Niños/ El Día de los Libros celebrations can be found on WebJunction. Pat Mora’s website includes a downloadable poster from Random House with bookmarks and a papel picado activity. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission El Día de los Niños site includes songs and bookmarks to print and share. ¡Colorín Colorado! features an e-card, activity sheets and other resources.

 

The State Library of Ohio encourages libraries and cities to become official El Día de los Niños sites and to celebrate this commemorative gift to all children from the Latino community.

 

Jan Haines

Library Consultant

State Library of Ohio