El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day), commonly known as Día, is a nationally recognized initiative that emphasizes the importance of literacy for all children from all backgrounds. It is a daily commitment to connecting children and their families to diverse books, languages and cultures. The celebration is intended to be year-round, culminating on April 30th .
Día is a nationally recognized initiative that emphasizes the importance of literacy for all children from all backgrounds. Its mission is to connect children and their families to diverse cultures, languages, and books.
The goals of Día programming are to:
Celebrate children and connect them to the world of learning through books, stories and libraries.
Nurture cognitive and literacy development in ways that honor and embrace a child’s home language and culture.
Introduce families to community resources that provide opportunities for learning through multiple literacies.
Recognize and respect culture, heritage and language as powerful tools for strengthening families and communities.
The History of Día
In 1996 author and poet Pat Mora learned about Día Day as it is celebrated in Mexico. She realized the United States didn't have anything like this, and so she proposed linking Children's Day, the celebration of childhood and children, with literacy and bilingualism, and created a new holiday: El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day).
In 1997, the Texas State Library, under the direction of Jeanette Larson, produced a planning booklet to help librarians develop local programs to celebrate El día de los niños/El día de los libros. In 1998, a grant was awarded from the Kellogg Foundation to allow the National Association of Bilingual Education (NABE) to develop a plan for a national campaign to disseminate information on El día de los niños/El día de los libros. By 1999, schools and libraries across the country were hosting their own celebrations and creating a diverse love of reading for children from all backgrounds.
By 2004, El día de los niños/El día de los libros had become a tradition in many schools and libraries and found its permanent home with the Association for Library Service to Children.
Día in the United States
In libraries all over the country, librarians, children, and parents celebrate Día year-round with book clubs, bilingual story times, guest appearances by children’s authors, crafts, music, and more. Libraries register their Día Programs held throughout the year in the national registry, which showcases all types and sizes of Día programs held throughout the country. On the official Día website, librarians and parents have access to book suggestions, tool kits, a resource guide, worksheets, and more great resources to help their Día Celebration. Every year more and more libraries celebrate Día; visit your local library to find out about their celebration!
Special Offer to Celebrate Día Day!
We are excited to offer a special buy-one-get-one-free offer in celebration of Día Day! For a limited time (offer good through 5/1/19) buy one Spanish or bilingual book from our website and get one FREE! Simply enter the code DIABOGO at checkout.
We offer a wide selection of Spanish and bilingual books to choose from, including our popular books Si mi mamá fuera un ornitorrinco: Los bebés mamíferos y sus madres,
Cuddled and Carried / Consentido y cargado, and our Bilingual Science and Math Book Set / Conjunto de libros bilingües.
What are some ways you introduce your children to diverse cultures through reading? Let us know in the comments!