A Day to Cheer for Students and Books
Educators promote literacy year-round but the celebrations bloom in spring with NEA’s Read Across America, National Poetry Month, School Library Month, and next week, El Día de los Niños, El Día de los Libros.
“Children’s Day, Book Day” is a year-long commitment to celebrating all children and to motivating them and their families to be readers. Known widely as Día, the literacy initiative is a collaboration of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), First Book, REFORMA and other literacy organizations. Children’s Day, Book Day celebrations and book fiestas are held in libraries, schools, homes, and community centers on or near April 30th.
Pat Mora, author and former educator, founded Día in 1996. Inspired by the Mexican celebration of El dia del nino and World Book Day, she wanted to create a celebration of both children and books. NEA Today spoke to Pat Mora about Día and how educators can get involved.
How can schools, libraries and educators get started?
First people need to be committed to starting the tradition. Even if it means that on Día you simply say to your classes and students, today is your day! Let’s read some books of your choice – books for you, and about you. It’s exciting when students hear that a day is all about them. This is why we have holidays – we have Mother’s Day, we have the Fourth of July. We have holidays to bring attention to something or someone and to celebrate them. And that is what Día is about. It’s about bringing attention to children and books and celebrating them.
But we always celebrate children, don’t we?
I get that question a lot and my response is yes, some children. It’s a hard truth but A Day to Cheer for Students and Books - NEA Today: