Monday, March 15, 2010

Book Fiesta: Celebrate Children's Day/Book Day; Celebremos el Dia de los Ninos/el Dia de los Libros

Mora, Pat. 2009. BOOK FIESTA!: CELEBRATE CHILDREN’S DAY/BOOK DAY; CELEBREMOS EL DÍA DE LOS NIÑOS/EL DÍA DE LOS LIBROS. Ill. by Rafael López. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780061288777 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK- 5]

REVIEW
Poet and writer Pat Mora has authored an invitational picture book celebrating El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day), encouraging us to invite all children into the world of reading. Also known as Día, it’s a celebration advocating literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds culminating every year on April 30. BOOKLIST reviewer Andrew Medlar wrote, “How very appropriate that the first trade book about Children’s Day/Book Day should be enthusiastically penned by the founder of this holiday, celebrated annually since 1996 on April 30, the same date as Mexico’s Day of the Child. This call to arms for connecting kids and books exhorts everyone to read and have fun in whatever language and locale they choose.” Illustrator Rafael López depicts Latino children parading across the pages in a pageant of vibrant colors splashed against inviting folkart motifs. It’s a terrific read aloud, as well as a visual feast.

CONNECTIONS
The book’s back matter includes ideas and suggestions for celebrating Día. Plus, there are ideas at the Texas Library Association Web site http://www.texasdia.org and at the American Library Association Web site http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/initiatives/diadelosninos/index.cfm
Or look for an amazing collection of “International Nursery Rhymes” organized by continents, Europe. Asia, the Americas, the Pacific and Africa on the Web at
http://itsasmallworld.co.nz/

RELATED BOOKS
Other books celebrating reading, language, and books:
Sierra, Judy. WILD ABOUT BOOKS. ISBN 978-1845076122
Wright, Danielle. IT’S MY VILLAGE; RHYMES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. ISBN 978-1847800862

By Sylvia M. Vardell

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