They call it a “Day” or “Día” celebration, but it lasts all month. It’s the Children’s Day/Book Day in San Diego County and the 33 branches of the San Diego County Library (SDCL) celebrate the whole month of April.
El día de los niños/El día de los libros or “Día”, as the celebration is known, is traditionally on April 30, but the event became so popular, the library extended the festivities.
“The Día celebration is a national event that recognizes and promotes the value of family, literacy, children, and education,” said Jose Aponte, SDCL director. “We encourage all families to read with their children to open windows and doorways to the world of experience and their future.”
Día emphasizes the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and SDCL features nearly 50 events in a variety of languages such as Japanese and Kumeyaay story time, a bilingual scavenger hunt, puppet shows, performances and crafts.
Even though the events begin today, the official kickoff for the Día celebration is a multicultural family fiesta being held on Saturday, April 14, from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at the El Cajon Library. The fiesta features Ballet Folklorico Dancers, the Arabina Middle Eastern Dancers and magicians Rafael and Katina as well as fire engine tours, a K-9 police demonstrations, storytelling, crafts and prizes.
Each branch of the library is also offering free books, donated in part by First 5 San Diego. Books are available while supplies last at the Día events.
There are also author visits by several children’s authors:
- Mara Price, award-winning author and illustrator, April 25 at 11 a.m., Ramona Library (1275 Main St); April 25 at 3:30 p.m., Fletcher Hills Library (576 Garfield Ave); April 26 at 10:30 a.m., Lemon Grove Library (8073 Broadway); and April 27 at 10 a.m., Lincoln Acres Library (2725 Granger Ave). Price wrote the award-winning bilingual picture book, Grandma’s Chocolate/El chocolate de Abuelita.
- Rene Colate Lainez, Salvadorian award-winning author of The Tooth Fairy Meets El Ratón Pérez will be visiting the Imperial Beach Branch (810 Imperial Beach Blvd) on April 21 at 1p.m.
- Marta Arroyo, author of La Fiesta y el Mariachi and The Story of Senora Tamales will be at the San Marcos Library (2 Civic Center Dr) on April 12 at 6 p.m. and at the Fallbrook Library (124 S Mission Rd) on April 14 at 11:30 a.m.
Complete list of Día events and recommended books
