Bookjoy!

Savor Silence?

2012-01-27T11:56:00.000-07:00

My New Year’s resolutions always include 1) create more writing time and 2) be a more effective advocate. There’s an inherent tension between these two goals. When I avoid e-mail and devote myself to a writing project, ah! I feel a special pleasure since I relish the time to create on the page, to explore the possibilities of an evolving manuscript. I love to write which for me means: I need quiet.

Some authors manage to write in coffee shops and cafes while I’d stop the refrigerator motor if I could. I savor total silence. A professor who teaches my book, Zing! Seven Creativity Practices for Educators and Students to future writing teachers tells me that the students are most uncomfortable with the second suggested practice: Enjoy quiet. “Really?” I ask surprised. It seems that quiet made the students uncomfortable, nervous. Indeed, their world is probably full of noise--radio, iPods, music in restaurants, elevators, bars, malls; and group sessions in all areas of education and the work place.

A recent article in The New York Times, “The Rise of the New Groupthink,” includes Picasso’s words, “Without great solitude, no serious work is possible.” Eek! Again in 2012, I say to myself, “Pat, you’ve got to create more quiet for writing. Stay off e-mail.”

It’s not that I like e-mail (except with family and friends), but it is my connection to the amazing and committed advocates with whom I have the honor to work.

Human creativity is amazing and given our diversity—introverts/extroverts, tidy/messy, sober/silly, Type A/Type B, etc.—we need varying circumstances to produce our unique work. Important as sharing bookjoy is to me, though, I long to write more and better, so: silence in my future.

What do you need to be creative?

(photo credit: Silence by wickednox1)

Philadelphia Zoo Launches $10,000 University UNLESS Prize Challenge to Help Save Orangutans from Extinction

2012-01-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

My daughter Libby Martinez is one of the architects of this exciting project. Please spread the word.

In a groundbreaking initiative, the Philadelphia Zoo, America’s first Zoo, is inviting university students across the United States to join their efforts to save the critically endangered orangutan by competing to win the 2012 University UNLESS Prize. The challenge issued to university students is to develop the most innovative mobile device application to link consumers with palm oil product manufacturers and help increase market demand for certified sustainable palm oil. All students nationwide who are enrolled in a university degree program are eligible to compete. The winning team in the 2012 University UNLESS Prize challenge will be awarded $10,000.

Palm oil is the world’s most widely-produced vegetable oil and is found in a wide array of consumer products including cookies, crackers, breakfast cereals, chips, chocolate and ice cream. According to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, palm oil can be found in almost 50% of packaged food and is an ingredient in many items including shampoo, cosmetics, lipstick and lotion. Palm oil cultivation is currently one of the leading causes of deforestation worldwide and with the rapid destruction of ecologically-complex rainforests in Sumatra and Borneo, numerous species, including orangutans, are facing extinction in the wild. If the nature of palm oil production does not change, it is estimated that wild orangutans will become extinct in as few as 25 years.

The title of the 2012 University UNLESS Prize is inspired by the timeless words of Dr. Seuss in The Lorax - “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” For additional information, please visit http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/universityunlessprize/.

Apply Now for the USBBY Bridge to Understanding Award

2012-01-16T06:00:00.003-07:00

The USBBY (United States Board on Books for Young People) Bridge to Understanding Award Committee seeks to identify and honor innovative programs that use children's literature as a way to promote international understanding.

Schools, libraries, scout troops, clubs and bookstores are all eligible for this award. Does your school or library program or do you know of another organization that "promotes reading as a way to expand a child's world"?

Learn more about the award, view information about past winners, and access entry, criteria, and application forms here. Submission deadline for the next award is January 31, 2012.

Hooray for Walter Dean Myers!

2012-01-11T11:40:00.003-07:00

What wonderful news: esteemed author Walter Dean Myers has been named the third National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. On NPR this week, I heard an interview with Myers who said that his theme would be “Reading is not optional.” He spoke eloquently (as he always does) about how essential family reading is for our young people to have productive futures. Those of us who work on Día and are looking forward to its 16th anniversary in April agree totally.

Some years back, I’d spoken in one of the tents at the National Book Festival and then had the opportunity to stand at the back of a neighboring tent and hear Walter. He said that in many homes the dinner table is a place for families to discuss their days and complex issues and values. He went on to say that many of our young people don’t have such dinner table discussions and that his books are his way of helping young people work through life’s decisions and challenges. Walter Dean Myers is such a honorable man. How fortunate all of us involved in literature for young people are to have him as our ambassador.

Happy Holidays

2011-12-20T14:11:00.000-07:00

Wishing you happy holidays and may 2012 be a year of good health, good work, bookjoy and laughter.
Pat

Celebrating Las Posadas

2011-12-19T17:51:00.000-07:00

Jeanette Larson posted about "Celebrating Las Posadas" on the ALSC blog and mentioned Pat's book Gift of the Poinsettia/ El regalo de la flor de nochebuena. Las Posadas re-enacts Joseph and Mary's journey to Bethlehem and is celebrated throughout Latin America.

Bookjoy at NCTE

2011-12-13T14:30:00.000-07:00

As a former English teacher, there’s always something exciting for me about being invited to speak at NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English). I joked with the Random House team (the press that was kind enough to sponsor me) that many teens might shiver at the thought of the two Chicago hotels full of English teachers.

I had the pleasure of preparing for two programs. I say “pleasure” because I love presenting as much as I love writing and because such preparations are opportunities to think, and we all know that creating thinking time can be a challenge. I joined poet Joyce Sidman and two faculty members in offering a master class on “Poetic Voices: Writing, Reading and Responding to Poetry.” Frankly, I seldom have the opportunity to hear another writer, and I so enjoyed hearing Joyce read her fine poems and explain how a poem evolves for her. For the first time, I prepared a PowerPoint of my books of poems and rhymes in the order the books were published. In addition to reading some poems especially from Dizzy in Your Eyes: Poems About Love, I asked the audience to think about what voices (and languages) are included in our poetry. I was asking: who belongs in poems and what do poets look like?

I was introduced at the Conference on English (CEL) breakfast by my friend Dr. R. Joseph Rodríguez from the University of Texas. Joseph, a dear friend, often knows my work better than I do. I struggle almost daily to find time to continue my own writing and to promote Día and family literacy. I seldom consciously sit and think about leadership, also a topic of great interest to me. My title, “Creatively Practicing Resilience: The Zing of Bookjoy” allowed me to address some of my key themes but also to explore potential: our personal potential as leaders, the potential of the literature and literacy field, and the potential of our collaborators.

May we all be bolder and more creative leaders in 2012! Wishing you health, happiness and bookjoy.

In 1986, I was fortunate to receive a Kellogg National Leadership Fellowship, a three-year experience that greatly enriched my life. In 2001, the W. K. Kellogg Foundation published a book entitled, Leading from the Heart: The Passion to Make a Difference. My essay and its introduction are from that book. It’s interesting how many of the ideas in this piece are part of ZING! published in 2010.

The Gift of Poetry

2011-12-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

Gift Tag is the third poetry e-book compiled and edited by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong. These poetry anthologies feature poems by many well-known contemporary poets and Pat has poems included in Poetry Tag Time and Gift Tag.

Gifts and giving is the theme chosen for Gift Tag. Photos (taken by Sylvia Vardell) served as prompts for each poem and each poet also wrote a “connection” piece explaining how the poem came to be.

Here's Pat's photo:

Here's her "connection:"

"Want to write a gift poem?" Sure, I thought, remembering the Christmas the electricity stopped. "Please, choose from our holiday photos." Oh, no! I sighed. I scrolled and scrolled. Then, there they were. FISH! Curling and furling. Serendipity.

… and here’s the poem she wrote.

Flying Fish
by Pat Mora
"Snow! Snow!" whisper
my sisters. Yea! But, oh!
Did our goldfish fly
over trees and roofs
in Santa's frosted sled?
We run through the cold
house. Our fish swirl
cozy by the fire. Magic.
Two wishes: snow
and fishes.

Visit the Poetry Tag Time website and learn more about each e-book.

Creativity Interview: Father Murray Bodo, OFM

2011-11-28T08:00:00.001-07:00

Father Murray Bodo, a fellow Southwesterner though he has lived in Cincinnati for many years, is a treasured friend. All of us lucky enough to know Murray personally treasure him not only as a fine and prolific writer but as a raconteur who makes us laugh, and as a wise, compassionate and devout man. Welcome to Bookjoy Creativity Salon, dear Murray!

1. Little Louis Bodo who grew up in Gallup, New Mexico, now annually spends time in Italy. How did that happen and how has it affected your life and your writing?

MB: The first time I went to Italy was on a mission from my Franciscan Province to write a book about St. Francis. That was in 1972, and the book was Francis: The Journey and the Dream. A fortieth anniversary edition of that book is now available from St. Anthony Messenger Press. Then in 1976 I began leading pilgrimages as a staff member of Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs. I’ve been going to Italy for a couple of months in the summer or fall for 35 years now; it’s like a second home to me, especially Assisi where I continue to be inspired by the life and times of St. Francis and by the beauty of the Umbrian countryside and the enchanting streets of Assisi.

2. You were a teacher and professor for many years. Now you lead retreats. Do you miss teaching and what is the challenge of leading a retreat well?
MB: I do miss teaching. I taught for 36 years and loved my years in the classroom. But in 2002 I asked to be relieved of that ministry to devote my time to writing and leading pilgrimages. Interestingly, the challenges of a good retreat or pilgrimage are much the same as those of teaching: thorough and ongoing preparation, interesting delivery and lively inter-acting with the group; and, for me, prayer – my own and those supporting me and the retreatants, or pilgrims, with their prayers.

3. I believe I met you in 1989 in Cincinnati. During those 22 years, you have always been writing new poems and working on two to three books at a time. You amaze me. What keeps you writing at such a pace?
MB: I was asking myself that same question lately. For one thing I love writing and don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t write. And secondly, because of my age, I may be writing against time, trying to be an instrument of God’s Spirit while I still have it in me to create. But most of all, it is because writing is something I just have to do to be me. It’s intimately a part of my identity.

4. Have you always thought of yourself as creative? How do you nurture your creative life?
MB: I was the kind of kid who, as far back as I can remember, was always performing improvised skits for whoever could endure my extemporaneous plays. But it wasn’t till I was in high school that I discovered poetry as a creative outlet for me. Poetry, both reading it and writing it, gives me life; and I nurture that creative outlet by reading poets who stimulate my own writing and by walking, observing, meditating on the world around me and within me. I wait for a line, an image, or word to come to me.

5. What are your new writing projects?
MB: At present I’m completing a new book of poetry, Something Like Jasmine, which will be released by Tau Publishing in early 2012. I’m also working on the introductions for a St. Francis Day Book, which I’m co-authoring for St. Anthony Messenger Press with Pat McCloskey, a Franciscan confrere. In addition, I’m writing a small pamphlet on Pilgrimage that will be published by Abbey Press in their Prayer Notes series.

6. What makes Father Murray laugh?
MB: Usually, its human nature and the goofy, inconsistent things we all do, especially when we’re trying to be serious, and instead we tickle someone’s funny bone. But animals and birds make me laugh even more. I love to observe their antics, their play, and their inexhaustible curiosity.

Creativity Interview: Dr. Monica Rosas-Baines

2011-11-21T12:02:00.001-07:00

I’ll begin by saying: I’m the proud aunt of one niece, thus my favorite niece, Dr. Monica Rosas-Baines. Welcome to Bookjoy Creativity Salon, dear Niki! I’ve been so impressed by your work with Latinas Juntas.

1. When and why did you decide to become a psychologist?
NR: I wish I had a romantic answer, like all my life I knew that I wanted to work in mental health but truthfully, it was somewhat by accident. I started off as a biology major, thinking maybe I’d be a vet. I took Abnormal Psychology as an elective and fell in love (well that’s romantic, I suppose). I was completely intrigued by the different disorders and theories of psychopathology. I began taking more courses in psychology and eventually changed my major. I decided to become a psychologist because I enjoy studying people and helping them understand the reasons they think, feel and behave as they do. It’s extremely rewarding to help people. I’m lucky that I can say I really love my job.

2. How did Latinas Juntas begin?

L: Dr. Denna Sanchez; R: Dr. Monica Rosas-Baines

NR: My dear friend and fellow campus psychologist, Dr. Denna Sanchez, and I observed that our Latina patients reported similar cultural pressures that often made their academic journey more challenging… issues like family and gender role conflicts, lack of role models, isolation on campus and personal insecurities. These clinical observations as well as our own identification with these issues inspired us to design a program to offer support and mentorship. We know that not every Latina is interested in personal counseling so we wanted to develop a forum where we could address these issues and help them create a supportive network.

3. What have been the key challenges? The rewards?
NR: Fortunately, our campus administrators, faculty and staff are very supportive of our efforts. However, the budget for these kinds of student support events is shrinking.

I can’t say enough about the rewards. Every year I get to help create a sense of community among our Latina students and staff. Evaluations from student participants invariably include comments about how they are inspired by the faculty, Dr. Sanchez, and me. However, I’m not sure that our students are aware of how much they inspire us. Their perseverance in spite of cultural pressures and personal challenges is remarkable and it is an honor to work with them. By the end of the day, there is a palpable sense of unity, empowerment and cultural pride in the room. It’s a very special day.

4. Do you think of yourself as creative? How has your creativity and that of your colleagues strengthened this initiative?
NR: I would say that I’m creative, and my creativity is enhanced by working with a partner who is enthusiastic and creative as well. Our event is annual, so we try to make it so that students can get a different experience each year. This event has really stretched my creative muscle because we’re always thinking of new and fun activities that will inspire dialogue and sharing. It really helps to work as a team because we can bounce ideas off of each other regarding large and small group activities, guest speakers, art projects, etc.

5. Do you know of any other campuses in your area or in CA who are following your good example?
NR: Yes, in fact it was our participation as small group facilitators at the Latina Connection Conference (offered through California State University, Long Beach) that inspired us to create a similar program on our campus. I am unaware if other college campuses provide similar programming although I have provided consultation to staff members at Washington and Texas campuses that are interested in creating programs for Latinas.

6. I know you’ve always been a reader. What kind of books do you enjoy?
NR: My husband always teases me that I only like tragedies. I will admit that I am drawn to novels, particularly memoirs, about people who have survived difficult challenges, whether it’s abuse, poverty, loss, etc.

Click here to read an article about Latinas Juntas.

Attendees at the Latina Juntas conference listen as a student reads "University Avenue," a favorite poem of Niki's, written by her aunt, Pat Mora.

Creativity Interview: Monica Brown

2011-11-14T06:28:00.000-07:00

I’ll begin by saying: I’ve had the pleasure of occasionally spending time with warm, energetic and talented Monica Brown. Congratulations on your eleven wonderful children’s books, Monica! Welcome to Bookjoy Creativity Salon!

1. You are an author, presenter, professor, friend and inspiration to many, and a family member. Wow! Do you enjoy your academic life?
MB: I do enjoy being a professor—for the decade before I started writing children’s books I had the pleasure of teaching and writing about the most amazing Latino/a literary works and introducing college students to new worlds of literature. I think the best preparation for writing is reading, so I had the best training of all. First, teaching, researching, and talking about Latino/a literature and then I began creating Latino/a literature for children, inspired by the birth of my two daughters, Isabella and Juliana. I wanted them to know who Gabriela Mistral was, who Celia Cruz was.

2. Is there a connection between that life and your work as an author for children? Has being a writer changed your teaching?
MB: The two are intimately connected, in mostly positive ways. For example, when I was researching my book on Gabriel Garcia Marquez, I decided to develop a new class—a comparative literature of the Americas. I taught a senior seminar that compared magical realist texts by U.S. Latino/a authors such as Luis Urrea’s The Hummingbird’s Daughter, Ana Castillo’s So Far from God, and Marie Arana’s Cellophane to South American novels such as Isabel Allende’s House of Spirits and Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s seminal One Hundred Years of Solitude, a book that changed the direction of my life. I first read One Hundred Years of Solitude when I was a senior in high school and it captured me as no other, perhaps before or since. This teaching and writing led me to the publication of my very own magic realist text for children, Chavela and the Magic Bubble.

3. Tell us briefly about your publishing journey and your newest books.

MB: My publishing journey is long in that it started, I think, long before I published my first children’s book, and even before I published my first scholarly book. My mind, even as a child, was never quiet, for better or for worse. In some ways I had a fairy tale journey into children’s books because the first manuscript I ever wrote, on Gabriela Mistral, secured a publisher and the first book I ever published, My Name is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz/Me Llamo Celia: La Vida de Celia Cruz (and the second I wrote), was honored with awards. But I like to say that I spend years honing my craft—first as new graduate working as a journalist in Guadalajara in 1991, and then through my scholarly writing in graduate school and beyond. I was very lucky to meet my agent, Stefanie Von Borstel and her partner, Lilly Ghahremani, who were two amazing women of color just founding Full Circle Literary. So in addition to having a supportive husband and family, I had an amazing Latina agent who had my back and shared my vision.

4. Are you connected to sharing bookjoy through Día?
MB: I am connected and committed to sharing bookjoy through Día! I’m not sure that folks who haven’t been to a Día celebration can fully understand the joy and delight on the faces of children. There are worlds between the pages of books, and when I’m reading and working and playing with children at a Día event, I am bringing them on an adventure to these new worlds.

5. Did you always want to be a writer?
MB: I always wanted to express myself creatively, and that took different forms. Theater was probably my first venue of creative expression, and then books and writing. Believe it or not, being an English major seemed a lot more “practical” than being an actor or director! For this reason, I enjoy the performative aspects of working with children and Día and during presentations, I involve children in the music and dance of my books. I joke that my presentations are up and out of the rocking chair.

6. Have you always thought of yourself as creative? How do you nurture your creative life?
MB: My mother was an amazing artist and she nurtured me and inspired me. I also grew up in a home surrounded by incredible art, which I feel helped me think visually and helped me to better write for artists. The picture book is the meeting place of text and art, after all. My mother also instilled confidence in me, something that any writer needs, because no matter how good you are, rejection becomes a regular presence for writers. But in the present, the way I nurture my own creativity by be open to the magic and sometimes craziness of each and every day. Laughter is a big part of that, and also searching out new experiences. I often find inspiration and renewal in the works of my fellow artists—in writing, film, theater and music.

7. Are you working on other writing projects?
MB: I am working on several projects—in my mind at least. Part of the work will have to wait until I go on sabbatical next year. The hardest part about being an academic as well as a children’s author is simply my lack of time. I want to write, but during the semester, my students need to come first, not to mention my daughters, my family, and my community! With so much negativity going on in my state around issues of immigration there are some things that are politically pressing. Luckily, when I do have the time to write, I can be very focused. My most immediate plans are to finish a middle grade novel based on the character in my new picture book, Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match.

8. What is a favorite time of your day?
MB: I like different times of day for different reasons. Afternoon naps are delicious, but so is sharing a cup of coffee with my husband in in our backyard underneath the ponderosa pines. When my daughters were little, there was no greater joy than Saturday and Sunday mornings when they tumbled into bed with us. Now that I have a teen and a tween, I look forward to picking them up from school and hearing about their days—they usually both talk at once in a jumble. As for writing, it really only ever is the mornings for me, when my energy is up and things are at their most hopeful.

View book trailers.

See teacher resources for Monica's books on her website.

Read a  downloadable bio and brochure.

ALSC's New Dia Website

2011-11-14T06:21:00.000-07:00

Great news! Today the Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC) launches it's new Día website. Congratulations! In addition to information and resources you can view a short welcome video from Pat on the new site.

Meet the 2011 Mora Award Winners

2011-11-07T05:23:00.007-07:00

I'm so pleased that the contact personnel at the two 2011 Mora Award winning libraries agreed to a blog interview. First we'll hear from Sylvia Cisneros, Senior Librarian, Youth Services at the Santa Ana Public Library (CA.)

1. How did you first become interested in Día and how long ago was that?
SC: I had the privilege to live in Mexico for eleven years, between the ages of one and twelve. During that time, I learned and lived everything about the Mexican community like never imagined. Día de los Niños has been one of the most important celebrations within my family and the Mexican community. Schools, businesses and large organizations close every year on this day to dedicate it to the children in Mexico. This was not an exemption in our small town, called El Granjenal in the state of Michoacan. This celebration stayed with me all my life, and therefore, when I started conducting Spanish storytime in 2002, I always had the desire to incorporate Día as part of my themes. It wasn’t until 2007 that I decided to celebrate, and without knowing that Día already existed within libraries, I created my own program. It was a simple program, with games, stories, and cupcakes for the kids.

Sylvia's school

2. When did you begin to plan your 2011 celebration? Did you work with a team and who created the team?
SC: Our planning for our 2011 celebration began in November of 2010. This was going to be our 3rd year celebration and we knew we wanted to have a greater celebration than what we had in our previous years, therefore Lupita Vega (Youth Services Principal Librarian) and I, decided that we were going to have all the youth services staff involved in the project.

Sylvia and her team
Top row, L to R: Michelle Loera, Linda Hanks, Lupita Vega, Olga Gallardo, Rose Navarro
Bottom row, L to R: Elvia Hernandez, Sylvia Cisneros, Kevin Le

3. What do you think made your 2011 celebration special?
SC: The enthusiasm from our team members and the community was great, and this made the entire planning process and the event itself to come out as expected. The invited authors, book sale, and special performances made this celebration especial!

4. How do you and your library feel about winning the Mora Award?
SC: Día has become our most attended event in our library and therefore the most important. Winning the Mora Award is very satisfying; it brings us joy! Most important it lets us know in that we are doing a wonderful job promoting literacy, cultures and celebrating children all at the same time.

5. What did you learn from your celebration this year?

SC: I have learned that Día can really bring families together and that it can be an event that not only promotes the importance of reading but that it informs our community on different services that they probably are not aware of and from which they can benefit from.

6. What three key pieces of advice would you give to those ready to plan their first Día celebration in spring 2012? Advice to those who have celebrated before?
SC: For those libraries that will be planning their first Día, my advice would be:

1) Start planning and promoting early 2) Always work with a team 3) Don’t be afraid to go big and ask organizations for help.

For those who have celebrated before, my advice is to continue with the celebration, and to find ways of making their event larger and better each year.

7. Do you think of yourself as creative?
SC: I believe everyone is creative. As we start imagining, ideas come out. When I plan any events, I think of originality, and look for alternatives and possibilities, but I always think about the audience we will be serving in the program. I focus on the words FUN and EDUCATIONAL and proceed from there.

8. Why are Día and sharing bookjoy important to you?
SC: Día is very important for me and the staff here at Santa Ana because we are not only celebrating with the community an event that they respect and believe in but because we incorporate and make it stronger by promoting the joy of books. We try to promote the pleasure of reading, the outcomes of a good reader, and the importance of sharing books as a family.

My name is Emily Ziglinski and I am the Latino Liaison for the Springfield Public Library (OR.) I have been working in libraries for about 8 years and with the Latino community for over 20. Being a librarian is the best job in the world. I am soooo lucky to do what I do.

1. How did you first become interested in Día and how long ago was that?
EZ: My first library job was with Multnomah Public Library in Portland, Oregon. I was hired as a bilingual clerk and worked at the St Johns branch. I started working for MCL in 2003, the year after they had won the Mora Award. We had a wonderful bilingual Library Assistant who was in charge of organizing our Día event. I learned a lot from her in how she involved our community and really made it a neighborhood celebration. My contribution to the event was helping with the table activities, which were literacy based. My experience helping with and observing the Día events at MCL during my three years working there, definitely helped me be prepared for organizing the event here at Springfield Public Library.

2. When did you begin to plan your 2011 celebration? Did you work with a team and who created the team?
EZ: I had a small, but dedicated team for our Día event; our wonderful library volunteer, Faviola Arceo Garcia and the Latino Liaison for the Girl Scouts in our area, Martha Morales, and myself. We started working on ideas in January. I have already had community members and organizations asking to be involved for Día 2012!

3. What do you think made your 2011 celebration special? EZ: Community involvement

4. How do you and your library feel about winning the Mora Award?
EZ: We are ecstatic! We are pleased as a smaller library to be recognized for our work reflecting and embracing our entire community. The monetary award also triples our program budget for Día, for this we are VERY thankful.

5. What did you learn from your celebration this year?
EZ: I need to schedule more people to help with clean-up! This is true, but seriously, I think that the thing I learned most from Día this year is that once you have your base program plan in place, it is easy for the event to generate excitement and grow on its own. This was my second year planning Día for SPL and so I had a general idea of what the day would look like. I could then concentrate my energy on bringing more people to the table. With each person that gets involved more energy and ideas are generated. It becomes organic – growing and blooming with only a little care. It is fun to watch and to be a part of.

6. What three key pieces of advice would you give to those ready to plan their first Día celebration in spring 2012? Advice to those who have celebrated before?
EZ: First Día – 1) Know your community: who will come, who can help, what languages and cultures do you need to consider when planning, etc. 2) Give away books in the different languages of your community if you can. We did not have enough for every child, but we had a raffle. Kids were so excited to have a new book. I think it also helps tie the whole day together – a fun day dedicated to BOOKJOY! 3) Take good notes to build on your base for the future.

To those who have celebrated before: One of the goals of Día is promoting literacy, be open minded about what can be considered a literacy-based activity. Some parents have a low literacy level, so including crafts & activities that they can participate in with their children is important. For example we had a piñata making workshop as part of our celebration. Parents and children talked about designs and parents shared stories with their children. These narratives are a part of literacy.

7. Do you think of yourself as creative? EZ: Yes, but not when talking about myself. (smile)

8. Why are Día and sharing bookjoy important to you?
EZ: I believe in the power of knowledge and the power of community, I guess that is why I became a public librarian. Día and bookjoy are really about embracing these two concepts. Plus, Día is about celebrating children, and programming for children is one aspect I love about my job.

Wonderful AASL in MN

2011-10-31T12:31:00.002-06:00

I was so excited flying to Minneapolis last week to speak at the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a group I’d not met before. Talk about committed literacy professionals! The librarians at all levels—elementary, middle and high schools, as well as university faculty members—all expressed how much they enjoyed their work and the excitement of their students.

As always, I learned so much from my conversations with these professionals, one of the joys of being a presenter. Not enough of the school librarians were familiar with Día , but many are eager to plan their first culminating Día celebrations for this coming April. I hope that they, and all of you who may be planning your April book fiestas, are finding helpful information on the Día section of my site and on the various links on the site. I welcome your suggestions and ideas.

AASL members ready to promote the Día family literacy concept to their schools and districts, brainstormed about how to increase Día’s impact within their organization and in the national literacy community. Ideas included presentations/sessions about planning Día events at district, state, regional and national meetings.

Join us in linking all children to books, languages, and cultures. Be part of establishing the national tradition of celebrating El día de los niños/El día de los libros, Children’s Day/Book Day just as we annually celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Share bookjoy!

Pat signing books following the Author Banquet

Winners of the 2011 Mora Award Announced!

2011-10-20T11:45:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to the Santa Ana Public Library (CA) and the Springfield Public Library (OR) winners of the 2011 Estela and Raúl Mora Award!

The award was established in 2000 by author Pat Mora and her family to honor their parents and to motivate libraries to celebrate "Día," El día de los niños/El día de los libros, Children's Day/Book Day on April 30th.

Read the full press release in English and in Spanish.

Who won the 2011 Estela and Raúl Mora Award?

2011-10-13T05:00:00.003-06:00

Twelve wonderful applicants. REFORMA will announce the two winners next week. My congratulations and thanks to all who applied and my thanks to the REFORMA Mora Award Committee, especially the chair Beatriz Pascual Wallace. For more information about the award, go here -- http://www.patmora.com/dia/mora_award.htm.

Opportunity Nation

2011-10-05T13:24:00.002-06:00

I’ve joined Opportunity Nation, a campaign to help put promoting opportunity, social mobility and access to the American Dream back on the national, state and local community agendas.The Opportunity Nation campaign officially kicks off at a national summit on Nov 4. Click here to sign up to watch a livestream of the event. You can also participate on the web on Nov 4 to lend your voice to the discussion.

REFORMA in Denver

2011-09-29T06:00:00.009-06:00

Luis Herrera, Ramiro Salazar, Pat Mora, Carmen Peña Abrego

I felt so fortunate attending REFORMA's fourth national conference, also its 40th Anniversary, two weeks ago. REFORMA was founded by Dr. Arnulfo D. Trejo in 1971. An ALA affiliate, REFORMA is the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking. As I said in my luncheon presentation, many groups talk about diversity, but REFORMA lives that commitment so though the focus is “Elevating Services to Latinos,” the members are, like our country, of varying ethnicities.

Dr. Arnulfo D. Trejo

On a personal note, it was so exciting for me to have my wonderful son-in-law, Dr. Roger Martinez, a historian, and my co-author, my older daughter Libby, at the lunch. The librarians were quick to take her photo which made me smile.

How energized I was by library students and experienced librarians so excited about Día. Dr. Jamie Naidoo, a professor at the University of Alabama, organized a Día Showcase and provided a helpful PowerPoint. He and I read Book Fiesta!, I spoke about Día’s history, Linda Mays, from ALSC shared information about the upcoming Día web site, and Beatriz Pascual, chair of the Mora Award, spoke about the award process. Energetic Jamie had organized a poster session and various Día librarians brought posters and information about their events. So inspiring!

Beatriz Pascual

Dr. Jamie Naidoo

Kathleen Barrett Dusenbery

In my remarks, I said that some people immediately “get Día.” They understand that linking all children to books, languages and culture is actually patriotic work since literacy is essential for a true democracy. So many committed librarians bring so much creativity and energy to their Día work. I smiled when one such librarian, Kathleen Barrett Dusenbery from Longmont Public Library in CO, later e-mailed and said , “I do get Día!”

I hope you “get Día” too. Culminating celebrations of the day-by-day commitment to link children and books will be celebrated next April, Día’s Sweet Sixteenth Anniversary. Be part of extending the Mother’s Day/Father’s Day tradition to Children. Join us in sharing bookjoy and annually celebrating Children’s Day/Book Day, El día de los niños/El día de los libros in many languages. We want Día celebrated in homes, libraries, schools, colleges/universities, museums, community centers, etc. For more information about Día including a planning booklet for your Día year, visit http://www.patmora.com/dia/diaplanning.htm.

Inspiring Sweden

2011-09-08T05:00:00.001-06:00

As I mentioned in my September newsletter, last month I spent a week in the beautiful and proudly bilingual country of Sweden. Travel usually includes surprises, and this trip to Stockholm and Uppsala was no exception. At the Stockholm airport, I was pleasantly surprised by photographs of famous Swedish authors—including the children’s book author Astrid Lindgren. The time in Stockholm included a visit to Skansen, an open air museum and zoo. There, in the drizzle, I encountered the geese below as my husband Vern and I visited traditional homes and gardens and chatted with employees dressed in period costumes. Our hosts at each location cheerfully answered questions in Swedish or English giving us a sense of the families that had once lived in the wooden homes with sod roofs.

On the following day, we went back to the island of Djurgarden to visit Junibacken, a fairy tale house that honors the much-loved Astrid Lindgren, author of the Pippi Longstocking books. My youngest is a red-head, so years ago, I gave her some Pippi books. The building was full of children and parents enjoying rooms from Lindgren’s books. Lots of chaos! When Vern and I boarded the “story train,” considered the highlight of a visit, we were asked in what language we would like to hear the audio. No, the sets weren’t slick as U.S. theme parks can be, but I loved the way an entire building was dedicated to connecting children with books through fun, one of our Día goals.

Luckily for me, my husband’s conference hotel in Uppsala was right by Carl Linnaeus' garden. Remember Linnaeus, the father of taxonomy? I vaguely remembered him, and since I love gardens, I became excited about a visit. What a day I had visiting the museum in what was once his home and wandering the garden rows reading the Latin names he had assigned and that I’ve been learning such as helianthus anus for the annual sunflower variety. What odd comfort to see the familiar Latin names used by gardeners and botanists all over the world. I bought books about Linnaeus whose life and journey now fascinate me. Bookjoy: through print being connected with those in the past whose passions affect our world.

Early Literacy Project

2011-09-01T09:09:00.000-06:00

Sandra Lamm, Early Childhood Coordinator with the Library Department in Fort Worth, Texas, shared a project created by a family at one of the city's Early Childhod Resource Centers. Sandra wrote "Erica Rodrigues said that Let’s Eat! ¡A Comer! is the favorite book of her daughters, Julianna and Brianna, ages 2 and 3. Mrs. Rodrigues said they read the book over and over, and she said, 'What I like about this book is that to be happy you only need simple things.'

So for their project they covered a piece of Styrofoam with construction paper to make a table, and then replicated the food that the family shared in the book with items they found around the house. We took a couple of pictures – So creative!"

Sandra also wrote a description of her library's program. "Early Childhood Matters (EMC) is a program of the Fort Worth Library, launched in 2006 in response to the number of children entering kindergarten without the skills they needed to be successful in school. ECM is a neighborhood-based free program that helps parents and other caregivers of children from birth to age five learn how to prepare their children for kindergarten and beyond. Parenting sessions, resource materials, and high quality children’s books are offered in English and Spanish in six high-need neighborhoods in Fort Worth. The program is supported by the City of Fort Worth, a grant through the US Department of Health and Human Services, and collaboration with many community partners.

ECM focuses on early literacy and pre-reading skills. Pat Mora’s beautiful bi-lingual books capture the interest of adults and children alike, support early language and pre-reading development, and reflect family and cultural values. Our participants are delighted with them."

New Translation

2011-08-26T09:11:00.003-06:00

An Arabic edition of Book Fiesta! Celebrate Children’s Day/ Book Day • Celebremos El día de los niños/ El día de los libros is now available. It’s published by Kalimat Publishing and Distribution and the ISBN is 978-9948-16-075-5.

Did you know that several of Pat's titles are available in languages other than Spanish? Try these:

The Night the Moon Fell -- also available in Korean, Bluebirdchild Publishing, ISBN 89-7057-645-2

Race of Toad and Deer -- also available in Korean, Glendoman, ISBN 89-517-2093-4

Song of Francis and the Animals -- also available in Korean, Nexus Junior

Tomás and the Library Lady -- also available in Japanese, Hiroyuki Fujiwara

Creativity Interview: Guadalupe Garcia McCall

2011-08-18T07:47:00.003-06:00

I’ll begin by saying: Who has her first book coming out this fall? My guest Guadalupe Garcia McCall. Her verse novel, Under the Mesquite, will be published in September. I met Guadalupe through e-mail, and we soon discovered our many connections including a love of nature. Congratulations on your verse novel, Guadalupe and welcome to Bookjoy Creativity Salon!

1. So how does it feel to have your first book published?
GGM: This is an amazing feeling, indescribable. When the ARCs first came in, I walked around the house holding it like a baby, carrying it everywhere. I would stand it on the counter and look at it while I cooked. I stood it next to me on my desk and watched it while I worked on novel number 2. I think I read it in ARC form like 20 times because it was such a dream come true.

2. Tell us about your publishing journey.

Under the Mesquite (Sept. 2011)

GGM: It has really been quite a journey. Under the Mesquite started as a collection of poems I wrote over many years when I wanted to "show" my students how easy writing poetry can be. They would say, "This is hard," and I would show them how easy it was by just taking a memory and turning it into a poem in class. Of course, I had to rewrite it for every class, so by the end of the day, the poem was usually revised several times. I started collecting these "little poems" and when I had about 35 of them, I sent them out. Emily Hazel, my editor at Lee & Low, saw the potential for a novel in verse in them, and the rest is history.

3. Did you always want to be a writer?
GGM: Oh, yes, always. My first memories of writing are special. My father taught me to write so that I would be "prepared" for school in the United States. I loved listening to the pencil "whisper the words" as it travelled on the paper with his hand guiding mine. But the one who really put the idea in my head was my third grade teacher, Mr. Hernandez. After he read one of my stories (I was in a bilingual classroom, so I wrote it in Spanish) he asked me if I had written the story by myself. I said I had, and he said, "Someday, you're going to be a writer." Of course, hearing him say it cemented it in my head. It's amazing the profound effect a good teacher can have on us. If Mr. Hernandez hadn't said it quite like that, I might not have grown up believing it.

4. Have you always thought of yourself as creative? How do you nurture your creative life?
GGM: I have always loved the arts. My father, who was a carpenter, was very creative. He used to play the guitar, sing, and draw. One day, I came home from school crying because my teacher had given me a zero on a drawing of the earth. He sat down and taught me how "easy" drawing could be. It opened up the world of art for me.

My mother too was instrumental in helping me find my creativity. She recognized that I was "artistic" before I did and enrolled me in singing, dancing, and acting classes in Mexico when I was in elementary. I love to sing (although, I am not good at it) and still draw. I nurture my creative side by staying close to nature. I find nature is the most artistic entity of all. The movement of the elements as they interact is dance, the sounds of water and fire and air is music, and everything that happens on our planet is performance, and it's all out there, a feast for the senses, if we just open our eyes and feel and look with our hearts.

5. You are an experienced and committed teacher. What are your key challenges as a teacher? As a writer?
GGM: As a teacher and as a writer and as a mother and also as a person, I find that my biggest challenge in life is patience. I am not as patient as I'd like to be with myself or others. I like to finish things fast. I love movement and productivity. It comes from having two very hard working parents and also being somewhat of a perfectionist. So, every day I pray for patience and force myself to wait for perfection to come at its own pace and dressed in its own favorite outfit, not mine.

6. Are you working on other writing projects?
GGM: Oh yes. Absolutely. I am always writing. I finished revising Six Little Sisters last month. It is a multicultural novel (prose) with lots of magic realism, and I hope to find it a home someday soon. And now I am finishing up another novel-in-verse tentatively titled I Am Joaquin. It is a multicultural YA historical piece based on the conflicts in South Texas resulting from the Plan de San Diego in 1915. I have to say I am really taken by the voice of Joaquin and the story he has to tell. I Am Joaquin deals with rebellion and social injustice, but, at the heart of it, is a story about a boy, his family, and the girl he loves.

7. What do you do to relax?
GGM: Believe it or not, I write to relax. To sit in front of the computer means that I have time away from everything else that is ordinary and average. To sit in front of the computer means that I am on "vacation" from my life. I love to sit and daydream and think profoundly about life. Don't get me wrong, I am a social person. I have many friends and I love to talk, but to be able to sit and think, that is special. That's having time for myself. Time to do what I want.

More information:
Read an interview with Guadalupe at BookTalk on the Lee & Low website.
Visit Guadalupe's website.

Creativity Interview: Margarita Engle

2011-07-28T08:07:00.000-06:00

I've had the pleasure of visiting with Margarita Engle, reading her books and savoring the Colorín Colorado interview below. I strongly recommend that you watch the interview for many reasons including to hear Margarita's eloquent response to why she writes in free verse.

Margarita, welcome to this Bookjoy Creativity Salon.

Photo by Marshall W. Johnson

Hello, my name is Margarita Engle, and I write young adult novels in free verse, primarily about Cuban history. Although I was born in Los Angeles, my mother is from Cuba. When I was a child, we spent summers on the island, and I developed the deep attachment that inspires my writing.

1. You've said you were a book worm as a child and connected that to then becoming a writer. Many readers, though they may love reading, do not become writers. How/why, then, do you think your writing life began?
ME: I loved The Black Stallion, and Island of the Blue Dolphins. Both were books about children stranded on islands, trying to survive. Looking back, I think I must have related to those stories because of the Missile Crisis, travel restrictions, and my own sense of isolation from Cuba. Growing up in the hectic city of Los Angeles, I craved the peace of nature. Writing was an exploration, and an escape. I started writing lyrical nature poems when I was very young. The only one I vaguely remember was about dry hills that looked like brown lizards. I do remember that writing felt comforting, and it still does.

2. Your books have appropriately received many awards. You are the first Latina (o) to receive a Newbery Honor Award, yes? What is your reaction to that fact?
ME: I walked through the Newbery ceremony in a daze. To this day, I still suspect that I might have been dreaming. I didn't realize how much it meant to the Latino community, until I was included in articles and books about women who changed America. It's humbling too, because all I did was daydream on paper. I feel like I'm standing on the shoulders of Latino earlier Latino authors who were not honored.

3. What is your personal writing challenge?
ME: There are so many tempting stories, and so many fascinating subplots. It's easy to get sidetracked. Each time I start a book, I have to write a note to myself about the theme. Later, when I feel confused, I can read the note and remember what I'm really trying to say. When I finish the book, the note becomes my "Author's Note."

4. Have you always thought of yourself as creative? How do you nurture your creative life?
ME: I have always been a daydreamer. My mother must have mistaken my daydreams for philosophy, because when I gazed into space, she would tell people not to bother me while I was thinking! She understood the key to creativity: quiet time. In the modern world, that means turning off noisy gadgets and electronic interruptions. I need time alone in a hammock, or out in the woods, walking... Many great poets (Antonio Machado!) have been avid walkers. The rhythm of footsteps turns into the music of verse.

5. Would you like to tell us about the projects you're working on or topics that intrigue you, those, to use your words, that now "haunt" you?

ME: My next novel in verse is The Wild Book, scheduled by Harcourt for March, 2012. Unlike my historical books, this one is completely personal. It was inspired by stories my grandmother told me about her childhood. She grew up on a farm during the chaos following the U.S. occupation of Cuba after the "Spanish-American" War. She also had dyslexia, so the book is dedicated to reluctant readers. Exploring my grandmother's childhood, and taking on her voice, was an emotional experience!

My next picture book is about search and rescue dogs, it's scheduled by Holt/Macmillan for 2013. This topic comes from my husband's volunteer work, training our two dogs in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I am a volunteer "victim." I hide in the forest, so the dogs can practice finding a lost hiker.

6. You've talked about writing about people who made "hopeful choices." In what ways is writing a "hopeful" choice for you?
ME: I won't write a story for young people unless it has a hopeful ending, so every time I start exploring some complex historical situation, I'm forced to choose the optimistic aspects. I can only go ahead with the project if I discover that there were people who were kind while surrounded by cruelty, or fair while surrounded by injustice. If I don't find documented examples of admirable qualities, I drop that project, and move on to something else.

7. To end on a lighter note, what makes Margarita really laugh?
ME: Animals and folklore! In my daily life, our dogs make me laugh. They help me remember how to be silly. In my literary life, the exaggeration found in Cuban folktales is hilarious. I am trying to include some of that folklore in my writing.

Visit Margarita Engle's website.

Día’s 15th Anniversary Celebration at ALA

2011-07-21T07:43:00.000-06:00

How I wish that the many Día supporters across the country could have been with us for the Día celebration session at ALA’s annual conference in New Orleans last month. Below you’ll see the delicious cake. My thanks to ALSC, and particularly Linda Mays, for arranging for the cake and music. The group cutting the cake -- Lucia Gonzalez, Jeanette Larson, Pat Mora, Cynthia Richey, and Oralia Garza de Cortes -- were all part of the panel. It was such a pleasure to hear each contribute so eloquently to describing Día’s journey.

L to R: Lucia Gonzalez, Jeanette Larson, Pat Mora,
Cynthia Richey, Oralia Garza de Cortes

Celebrations can allow us to reflect on past successes and to unite in our vision for the future. I spoke of the sunflower, indigenous to Mexico and filling the air with its yellow exuberance, as a good symbol for Día. I hope you’ll print this booklet that includes my vision for Día’s future, many Nuggets or hints for planning your Día year, and 30 reflections on Día’s important work.

I wish our literacy challenges received the kind of attention that sports events and celebrities receive. They don’t. Our children are this nation’s future, though, and thousands of children need literacy advocates to creatively link all children to books, languages and cultures. Join us!

Pat and her friend and web manager Laurina Cashin at
Dia's 15th Anniversary Celebration, ALA New Orleans, 2011.

First Graders Talk about Pat's Books

2011-07-14T10:19:00.000-06:00

I'm so grateful to Martha Rico, librarian at Hawkins School in my home city of El Paso, Texas. Martha was kind enough to send me the video of her first grade students responding to my books by sending me their messages in Spanish. Isn't that creative and generous of Martha? I asked her the following questions.

1. How long have you been a librarian?

MR: I have been a librarian 10 years.

2. What do you enjoy about the work?
MR: I enjoy being in the library because I work with the whole student body! I enjoy watching the students grow from kindergarten to fifth grade: to watch their likes and dislikes change as well as their personalities. It is especially momentous when a former student who is now in high school or older comes by and says, "I remember when you used to ....". That lets me know I have made a small impact on their lives. I also get to work with the entire faculty on various projects.

3. How do you select the books?
MR: Books are selected through reviews, student/teacher interest and award-winning books.

4. Do you think of yourself as creative?
MR: I wouldn't say I am creative at all. Sometimes I have a really good idea for a project or bulletin board or even for a lesson, but overall I don't consider myself creative.

5. Do you celebrate Día at your library? If not, will you next year? If yes, how do you plan and what happens?
MR: Honestly, I promote Día because our city hosts a big fair, but in the library I haven't done all that much. We usually get an email with all the info about it with a printable flyer that I post outside the library. It usually falls so close to state testing that it gets put on the back burner at my library. I will try to be a better advocate next year.

Hawkins Elementary School

Creativity Interview: Maria Melendez

2011-06-23T14:20:00.000-06:00

I have so enjoyed preparing for this interview with my friend, the poet and editor Maria Melendez, who presently lives with her family in Pueblo, CO. Welcome to this Bookjoy Creativity Salon, Maria.

Thank you, Pat! I’m honored to be part of the lively work you foster here. BTW, I loved seeing the photos of the mural for The Desert Is My Mother that you included in your last post. I’m thrilled when the arts can be wellsprings for each other.

I've just finished re-reading your two poetry collections. Bravo! Such variety you offer readers.

PM: When did your deep attention and connection to nature begin?

MM: Thanks to some good urban and suburban planning, and to my parents’ motivation for picnics or hikes outdoors, I experienced wonder in wild nature throughout my childhood in the East Bay area of Northern California. Sunol Regional Wilderness, Del Valle Reservoir and Sycamore Grove Park inhabit me “deep in the brain, far back” (as Roethke says).

PM: Why poetry? I have a friend who teases me that he wonders why I don’t just write in sentences and paragraphs, why don’t I just write prose?

MM: That is such a loaded question for me; I feel I have to answer it every time I sit down to create new work. There are so many anti-poetry forces swirling around us/me, that I’m always having to talk myself into poetry. Well. I undergo something, in the process of working on poetry, that I don’t undergo at any other time—a suite of sensations. I tried to write about this in an early poem called “Poeta Falsa,” which appeared in the Swan Scythe Press chapbook Base Pairs. It ends with this answer to the persistent “Why poetry?” question: “because at no other time / am I as half-assed and ragged / as the early draft, / or as mammoth, as orchestral, / as the near-end.” Ooh, I really get the willies when poets quote themselves, and here I’ve gone and done it.

PM: I was struck by the boldness of your work from incorporating scientific terminology to juxtaposing Our Lady with web lingo. In “Catamite,” you write, “Where do you get the strength to be you?” Where do you get the strength to be the poet you are?

MM: When the writing process is hot and cookin’, I’m surrendering to the interests and concerns I’ve been given. More than in everyday life and conversation, in poetry I’m free to link them together, as they always are in my emotional life. I’ve been really enjoying the idea of writing as surrender, rather than as an exertion of strength or will.

PM: You are the editor of Pilgrimage: Story • Spirit • Witness • Place. How long have you been the editor and what intrigued you about doing this work? In my experience, editors don’t edit my poetry. They may make suggestions on my prose and copyeditors made plenty of suggestions on the definitions of poetic forms in Dizzy in Your Eyes, for example. How do you see your role as an editor?

MM: My family and I became Quakers, and that’s occasioned my renewed attention to “spirit/Spirit” in contemporary writing. The areas of emphasis outgoing editor Peter Anderson brought to Pilgrimage (story, spirit, witness, place) appealed to me as a Chicana writer interested in the environment and as a po’ biz playah who had grown tired of the purely secular efforts of professional striving I saw in so many literary magazines. While the s/S-word rarely appears in work I select, presences or processes bigger and greater than a human individual are implied throughout the essays and poetry I publish. I’ve usually done some “hands-on” editing for about 30-50% of the contents in any given issue. My suggestions involve condensing, expanding, or re-wording sections that don’t hold up to an individual work’s best moments. I so enjoy this dynamic engagement with literature that I’ve begun my own individual editorial consulting practice. I work one-on-one with writers preparing nonfiction or poetry manuscripts, and I try to help these clients make their work as artistically viable, moment to moment, as they want it to be.

PM: In your poem “Ars Poetica: Platanus Racemosa,” you write “listen/for what’s asking to be written.” So, what’s “asking to be written” in your life now, María?

MM: I have a new book of poetry that’s in the sludgy, murky, chaotic phase—I’ve fished about a book’s worth of drafts from my stream of notes, journals, fits and starts. Knowing I have to intuit some sense of artistic coherence from this heap feels daunting—but as a friend reminded me today, at least by now I know enough to know this phase will pass. The murk, though it returns with regularity, always yields something new.

PM: What do you, a busy mom, wife, editor, poet—what else am I missing?—do to refresh your spirit and to nudge you back to the page?

MM: Reading and re-reading literature I love helps refill the well. Moving around also helps. I walk on the bluffs along the Arkansas river at the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo—alone, with family, or with doggie—and I’ve also become very reliant on some Tai Chi classes and practices to shut off the anxiety-generating crawl that runs across the screen of my consciousness. This shut-off allows my awareness to return to physical experience and to my sub-conscious, two muses with more clarity and vision than my intellect can usually offer.

Pat Visits Tuscon AZ for Día's Anniversary

2011-06-09T04:00:00.001-06:00

My thanks to the Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC) for sending me to Tucson for Día’s 15th Anniversary. It was special to be back in the city where the Día idea arrived from above. Librarian and loyal Día supporter Donie Gignac hosted me and was kind enough to take me to the spot at the University of Arizona where the Día notion came to me in 1996. An interviewer at the campus public radio station had introduced me to the annual Mexican celebration of El día del niño, The Day of the Child. I walked outside into the wonderful Arizona spring sun and thought: Why don’t we have a special day annually for celebrating children in this country—and we can link the celebration to literacy. What fun: children and books! Here I am remembering being “zapped” by Día.

Pat returns to the spot where she was "zapped" by
the Día idea at the University of Arizona, 1996.

Pat and Donie Gignac

I spent April 30th at the Valencia Library that has a wonderful mural of my book, THE DESERT IS MY MOTHER. During the enjoyable neighborhood Día celebration complete with crafts and snacks, I had the pleasure of seeing a delightful puppet show of this book with a young library associate, Thania Mayorga-Shull, as a lovely earth mother symbolizing the desert. I smiled and smiled.

Pat by mural of "The Desert is My Mother," by Susan Gamble (1997)
at the Valencia Branch of the Pima County Public Library, Tucson, AZ.

Puppet show of The Desert is My Mother at
Valencia Library in Tucson, AZ, April 30, 2011.

Creativity Interview: Steve Schecter

2011-05-24T07:49:00.000-06:00

My first guest on this virtual salon (wouldn’t it be nice to be enjoying wine or tea or coffee and “assorted sweets” as my daughters say) is Steve Schecter, an independent director, producer, writer and editor. This man of many talents lives in northern California. Thanks to friends here in Santa Fe, I met Steve a few months back and am grateful that he agreed to come to our salon. I think you'll find his work with at-risk youth and his thoughtful answers inspiring.

1) Steve, after we met, you e-mailed me and wrote that we “share the same values about the importance of creativity and children.” I’m curious first about your personal creativity. Where did you grow up and do you think your childhood is connected to your creative work?
SS: I grew up all over the world, in Japan, Hong Kong, and Moscow, USSR. I always had to meet new people, and learn new languages growing up; become accustomed to new cultures. I think the flexibility and resilience that I learned as a child dealing with this adaptation to new people and places, are definitely a help with my creative life.

2) How did you become interested in creating documentaries and how do you choose your projects?
SS: I started making documentaries of my own when I was 13, after my uncle gave me a super 8 movie camera for my birthday. Before that I had taken pictures since I was about 9 with cameras my Dad gave me. I loved the magic of capturing images and sounds of the world around me, especially people; and telling stories of people’s lives. I attended an ethnographic film conference at the Smithsonian when I was in high school, and that led to my first job for the Smithsonian’s National Anthropological Film Center filming indigenous people around the world, beginning the summer after my freshman year at college. I started my own company to make documentaries soon after I graduated from college a few years later.

Projects often come to me, as subjects that people want a film made about. Usually, if they find me, it’s because it is a subject I will be interested in. Other times there are stories that I see around me that my kids might be involved in or that are part of my community that spark my interest, because the people involved are searching for a better life or are trying to help others lift themselves up.

3) What are a few of the significant challenges of the work you do?
SS: I would say the most significant challenge is finding the funds to make the films. I do not have a formula or a constant source I go to. I look to the people who would have the most interest in seeing the film made, and try to get them involved in finding the funds in their midst.

4) One of the young people in the video links below says, “When I’m in the zone ….” When are you in the zone?
SS: I am in the zone, when I am filming people and events, and my picture flows with the action. I am not thinking, but I am more like a calm lake reflecting the flow of activity and ideas. I like to shoot hand-held and move with the camera. I also get into a zone while editing, when my hands move over the keys, sewing images and sounds together in a burst of energy, creating a quilt of motion that unfolds the story as I would like.

5) I so liked the pace of your videos/films, how you steadily held my interest. Is that a skill you’ve always had?
SS: Thank you, Pat. I’m glad you liked the pace. That is always a tricky issue, because tastes and styles change with the times. I listen to my body and my mind as I watch what I am editing to see if there is something there that captivates me and moves me. Showing the rough cut to people is an important part of the process to see how they are responding. Whenever I watch my work with others, I always have a different response than if I watch it alone.

6) Now let’s return to our shared interest and commitment to children and creativity. How do you nurture creativity in your own children and how could we as a country foster creativity in our young people?
SS: I think that children are a lot smarter and more creative than adults generally give them credit for. I try to listen to my kids and learn from what they have to say in their words and their art-work or writing. I think I can learn a lot about myself that way. So, as far as fostering creativity in young people, I think we just have to give them the time, the tools, and the encouragement to tell their stories in words or images. It is all there within them. Clearly it is a critically important part of their growth as human beings to tell those stories.

Watch Steve's documentary of the Niroga Institute's work with students, incarcerated youth, cancer survivors and other underserved populations. Niroga TLS students and teachers talk about how their lives have changed since discovering yoga, meditation, and Transformative Life Skills.

Mindful Kids is a documentary about the introduction of 'mindfulness' in six schools in Oakland, California, to help students overcome very difficult personal, academic, and athletic challenges. Watch the trailer.

Welcome to My New Bookjoy Creativity Salon

2011-05-09T09:30:00.004-06:00

First, let me wish moms and the many who mother (aunts, teachers, friends) a Happy Week for all the caring and support you give. I had a fabulous mom—bright, funny, bilingually articulate, lovely to look at—I could go on and on. To a great extent I’m a writer because of her, her love of reading and books. Lots of bookjoy in our home in El Paso when I was growing up, and I hope lots of bookjoy in the home my three children grew up in, also in El Paso.

Those of you who know my work may be familiar with the aunt we all called, Lobo. All the children in the family called her that, and our friends did too. Though she never had biological children, my siblings and I and our kids were hers. The lady knew how to love and give, give, give—candies, hugs, presents, trips on the train to California, shiny shoes. And, she loved books and knowledge. My first children’s book, A Birthday Basket for Tía is about her, and …. Oh yes, sh,sh, that’s still a secret. Lobo died years ago, but I can still tear up talking about her. She sneaks into book after book, and …. sh,sh. Oh yes, that’s still a secret. A good secret.

Good Books

At the beginning of the year, I received a book from my dear friend Elizabeth Mills, Prospect: The Journal of an Artist by Anne Truitt. I loved this book for so many reasons including the rich and precise vocabulary. I also appreciated how Truitt candidly spoke about her life as an artist and as a mother. I’m reading the two books that preceded Prospect, the final piece of a three volume memoir. I smile that Truitt did become a better writer as she wrote. Gives us all hope, doesn’t it?

Soon, I’m diving into a new book, writing not reading. More on that (and the secret) later.

In my family memoir, House of Houses, I quote the Provencal chanson or French song, “It must have been May morning when the world was made.” Isn’t that how we feel on these soft May days? Wishing you good health and laughter and bookjoy this month.

Click here for photo credit.

Grijalva Will Receive ALA 2011 Public Service Award for Support of Libraries in Public Education

2011-05-06T05:34:00.000-06:00

Warm congratulations from Pat to Representative Raúl Grijalva, a Library Champion.

" The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has announced it will award the 2011 Public Service Award to Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva May 9 as part of National Library Legislative Day in Washington, D.C. In 2009 and in several previous Congresses, Grijalva introduced the Strengthening Kids’ Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLs) Act, which seeks to place at least one highly qualified school library media specialist in each public school."

Read the full press release.

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-30T06:47:00.000-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s unite our energies, knowledge, and diverse skills, unleashing our creativity, adding our individual zing to sharing bookjoy and creating a nation of readers.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

Happy Birthday Dia!

2011-04-30T06:41:00.000-06:00

Today I am at the Valencia Library in Tucson. My thanks to ALSC that sponsored my visit to the city in which the Día idea came to me. I remember the moment at the University of Arizona campus so clearly and remember the support of my Latino University of Arizona friends, many members of REFORMA, who quickly supported the idea.

Deep thanks to all the Día supporters around the country who have worked so hard this month to share bookjoy with America's diverse families and children. A special thanks to my web team, Laurina Cashin and Bobbie Combs, Día Dynamos who have worked tirelessly on our blog Díapalooza and who have helped produce Idea Booklet for a Día Year. We hope you will print and read this pdf and put it in your Día file to assist you in your Día planning for next year.

Let's celebrate niños y libros, children and books, throughout the year!

Click here for the full Visual History of Día

Send Us Your Photos!

2011-04-30T06:28:00.000-06:00

We welcome a photo or two of your 2011 Día event to use in a video of national 15^th Anniversary Celebrations on http://www.patmora.com/. We’re gathering photos that focus on the literacy-related aspects of your Día event – author readings, story-hours, book parades, book making, etc. Please send jpegs only.

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-29T05:55:00.000-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s boldly plan together for Día’s 20th Anniversary expanding Día’s impact and thus uniting our too-often divided country, uniting for the well-being of all our children.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

15 Día Nuggets: #15 Bookjoy Quotes

2011-04-29T05:54:00.001-06:00

Our last Día Nugget -- enjoy!

15 Día Nuggets for Día’s 15th Anniversary

#15 Bookjoy Quotes

1. I think its fun to read a dog story to my dog. Katelyn, 8

2. I love reading because it is so relaxing. Kyra, 7

3. I love to read because I enjoy getting lost in stories. It takes me away from reality for a while, and that is truly a blessing! Jean, 45

4. My books are portable and can go anywhere - the biggest benefit of all is you can read them as many times as you like! Kermit, 72

5. I am happy when the story isn’t scary. Julia, 3

6. Bookjoy (or the pleasure of reading) means turning off the outside world and escaping into a universe that I choose. Karen, 45

7. I like reading cause you get to read cool books and learn cool things. Paige, 9

8. MY favorite time to read is after everyone has gone to bed -- a good book can take me to places of adventure - of peace - of beauty - I'm only limited by my own imagination. What a great way to end the day! Diana, 50

9. I like to read because I get smart. Keane, 5

10. Well, reading is how you hear about interesting stuff. Gavin, 7

11. Reading is fun because it brings me to a whole new world. John, 10

12. I love (she drew a heart) books because there are adventures and magic and fantasy and I feel like it is happening right in front of me! Lucie, 9

13. I like books because you get captured in the book. Sam, 9

14. I love reading because if helps me with my writing and gets my imagination flowing. Drew, 16

15. Because I like to pretend I'm a librarian. Lauren, 5

All 15 Nuggets are archived and also available as a downloadable pdf.

Día at Spanglish Baby and Arizona State University

2011-04-29T05:51:00.000-06:00

So many places to celebrate Día!

Roxanne Soto at Spanglish Baby is sponsoring a Bilingual School Library Contest in honor of Día's 15th Anniversary. The winning library will receive $500 worth of bilingual and Spanish language books donated by publishers. Entries close May 8, 2011; read more details here.

On April 30 Arizona State University will host its first Día de los Niños/Día de Los Libros Literacy Celebration for students from across Arizona. “A variety of reading/writing activities are planned for our student guests, such as book making, bookmark making, poetry writing, oral storytelling workshops and much more,” said Tracey Flores, a teacher consultant with ASU’s Central Arizona Writing Project, sponsor of the event. Several authors are joining the event. Read more here.

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-28T04:05:00.002-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s rejoice that Día, this family literacy initiative that works to honor children and to connect them to books, languages and cultures, has grown for 15 years and continues to grow and flourish.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

Thank You!

2011-04-28T04:00:00.001-06:00

In these final days of celebrating Día's 15th Anniversary, I wish to thank particular organizations and publishers who helped Spread the Día Word this year. Gracias to those listed below and special thanks to my Día partners REFORMA: the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking and the Association of Library Service to Children, (ALSC) a division of the American Library Association (ALA.)

I hope that the list of organizations that promote Día keeps growing and growing. Spread the Día Word!

photo by Michelle Brea

In alphabetical order:

Arte Público Press
California State Library
Charlesbridge Publishing
Children’s Book Press
Cinco Punto Press
HarperCollins Children’s Books
National Association for the Education of Young Children
National Council of Teachers of English
New Mexico Governor’s Office
State Library of North Carolina
Paper Tigers
Random House Children’s Books
Reading is Fundamental (RIF)
Southeast REFORMA Chapter
Texas State Library and Archives
United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY)
University of Arizona Press
WETA (Colorin Colorado and Reading Rockets)

Día Poster Artist Maya Gonzalez

2011-04-28T03:55:00.001-06:00

My thanks to Maya Gonzalez for her enthusiasm about Día and for creating this wonderful Día poster.

Maya writes about creativity, the Dia poster and her work:

"My name is Maya Gonzalez. I am an artist, author and educator. I’ve made art for 20 multi-cultural children’s books and written two of those. I’ve also created Claiming Face/Self-Empowerment Through Self-Portraiture: An Educator’s Guide to Building the Powerful Link Between Creativity and A Sense of Self and Gender Now Coloring Book/A Learning Adventure for Children and Adults for Reflection Press. I’ve taught and played and lectured in schools, universities, libraries and conferences. I also make a lot of my own art!

For as long as I can remember I have been a creative beast. Creativity is my life. My blood. A way of being and perceiving the world. I have come to know that we are all artists. It is our birthright and our greatest resource in all of life and it connects us to the power of nature. This is why I am so committed to working with educators to bring creativity as a tool into the classroom for all of our children, but especially our children of color. Over my many years of going into the classroom as an artist working with children, my curriculum called Claiming Face evolved.

I tell kids how I remember being 4 and drawing my round Chicana face on the blank pages in the backs of books. I didn’t find my face in books as a child, but I knew in my heart that we belonged there and that we need to see ourselves. That’s why I teach kids to create images of their selves. I co-founded a press with my husband called Reflection Press to further this work. Our motto is “a people should not long for their own image.” Something happens deep inside of us where there are not always words, when we hold a book or a piece of art in our hands and we can see ourselves reflected back. When I was asked to do the ALA poster for El Dia, I portrayed a grandmother sharing a special moment with many important aspects of life that support and sustain us. These include reading, nature and community with children from many different cultural backgrounds to reflect all the different ways we are.

I began making books in 1995, just in time for El Dia de los Ninos/El Dia de los Libros to take hold in this country in 1997. (Thank you for rooting this perfect tree here Pat Mora!) What a great event. I have celebrated it in schools and libraries for so many years I cannot remember the first. In my imagination it has always existed. I can say though that I would have LOVED this as a child. I was just in Sacramento this month celebrating, telling tales and making art with generous and brilliant children creating portraits of themselves as owls! So wise, so able to see in the dark! And for a moment, surrounded by the big library, the books and owl art and kids and all of life, I felt completely at home. "

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-27T06:10:00.000-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s gather together when possible to re-excite one another about Día’s potential to enrich lives and strengthen families and communities.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

15 Día Nuggets: #13 Pat's Vision for Día's Future

2011-04-27T06:07:00.000-06:00

15 Día Nuggets for Día’s 15th Anniversary

#13 Pat’s Vision for Día’s Future

In April 2016, the 20th Anniversary of El día de los niños / El día de los libros, Children’s Day / Book Day (Día), literacy advocates committed to sharing bookjoy will celebrate reaching these 15 goals.

1. Like Mother’s Day (May) and Father’s Day (June), Children’s Day/Book Day (April), becomes a national tradition.

2. Día is included on annual library, school and literacy calendars.

3. Educators (teachers, librarians, professors, administrators, those involved in informal education at museums, community agencies) partner enthusiastically with diverse families as literacy advocates throughout the year.

4. Educators and families diversify their library collections to reflect America’s rich cultural reality.

5. State library associations, state libraries, school districts, teacher and librarian preparation programs, and community agencies promote and support Día’s development on an annual basis.

6. The number of Día celebrations in schools, libraries and community centers grows steadily, celebrations that are truly culminating literacy celebrations of a daily commitment to link all children to books, languages and cultures.

7. Distributing free books to build home libraries is a popular component of community-based Día celebrations.

8. Middle schools celebrate El día de los jovenes, Teen or Young People’s Day, which can include middle schoolers as literacy mentors.

9. Realizing the relevance of Día to their educational mission, colleges and universities create service projects with Día, a literacy tradition, as a theme.

10. Publishers join the Día parade by designing Día materials and supporting Día’s goal of promoting reading.

11. ALA/ALSC, Día’s home, creatively increases Día’s national visibility and secures national funding for Día.

12. To ensure Día’s growth, influence and effectiveness, ALA/ALSC creates a strategic National Día Advisory Committee that includes ALSC, other youth and family-serving ALA divisions, REFORMA, Día’s founder, NCTE and other national literacy partner organizations, and media and corporate representatives.

13. Día increases the visibility and membership of REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, Pat’s first organizational partner.

14. All who believe in Día’s goals of celebrating children and sharing bookjoy become bold advocates in the National Día Community creating partnerships and networks to increase Día’s impact.

15. Día strengthens and unifies America’s communities by growing a nation of reading families, essential in a democracy.

One Nugget remains! At the end of this week all 15 Nuggets and 30 Reflections will be available as a single pdf for downloading.

Día Celebration at Zavala Elementary

2011-04-27T05:15:00.000-06:00

School Librarian, Lisa Lopez, sent news about her library's Día celebration.

Snow White in New York

As a campus, we have been celebrating Día’s culminating event by implementing a two-week thematic unit on folk and fairy tales, which commenced with my performance of “Little Red Riding Hood” in both English and Spanish at our school library. Students in grades 3 through 5 have been composing and acting out their own folk and fairy tales of their choice, but with a twist. We have enjoyed plays titled: “Snow White in New York”, “Goldilocks and the Three Donkeys”, “Aladdin and the Magic Lamp”, “Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett”, “La Llorona”, etc. Students have been so excited about storytelling that they have created their own puppets, stages, and props using recyclables! They have presented their tales to the lower grades and to their peers in order to rehearse. During the actual 15^th Anniversary of Día in El Paso, TX students will be performing their tales at the storytelling booth!

Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett

Second graders enjoying Aladdin

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-26T05:41:00.000-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s collaborate: honor the perspectives we each bring, listen with open hearts and minds, respect our varying styles and unite for the well-being and future of our children, our nation’s future.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

The Spirit of Día

2011-04-26T05:33:00.002-06:00

A new professional resource, Celebrating Cuentos: Promoting Latino Children’s Literature and Literacy in Classrooms and Libraries, (Libraries Unlimited, 2011) edited by Jamie Campbell Naidoo just released. Colorín Colorado has reprinted the chapter on Día, "The Spirit of Día : Celebrating Cuentos Every Day," co-authored by Jamie with Irania Patterson (Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library.) You can read it here.

Learn more about the book here.

Día in North Carolina

2011-04-26T05:08:00.002-06:00

Kenzia Lett wrote about Día events at the Union County Public Library (NC).

Día de los niños/ día de los libros (Day of the Children/ Day of the Book)

Monday, April 25th at 3:00 p.m. @ MARSHVILLE
Don’t miss this celebration of children and books with fun activities and crafts. For ages 5-12. English/Español

Fiesta de día de los niños - Children’s Day Party!
Monday, April 25th at 4:00 p.m. @ WAXHAW
Celebrate Día de los niños/ Día de los libros with a fiesta! Books, music, crafts, and a piñata will make for a súper divertido (super fun) time!

Criss, Cross Mangosauce performs in celebration of Día de Los Niños/ Día de Los Libros
Tuesday, April 26th at 3:30pm @ Union West Regional
This is an interactive performance that makes children move and sing in both English and Spanish, using a combination of traditional Latin rhythms and classic American children’s rhymes. All ages invited for a fun and musical time!

My Garden: Growing Readers/Mi Jardín: Cultivando Lectores
Thursday April 28 at 4:00 pm @ Monroe
Join us for our Día de los Niños/ Día de los Libros (Day of the Children/ Day of the Book) celebration. Kevin Henkes’ My Garden sets the stage for this bilingual and nature-inspired program. Kids will have fun learning Spanish words and how to plant a flower. They will also take part in creating a special art project for our May bulletin board! For ages 4-9. Receive a free packet of flower seeds to take home and plant!

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-25T05:52:00.000-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s connect in committed circles that form the powerful community-based National Día Community in our city, state, region and country.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

Kutztown University Children's Literature Conference

2011-04-25T05:40:00.001-06:00

I savor presenting to interested audiences as much as I enjoy writing. Good audiences energize me, and I was certainly energized recently in Pennsylvania. At Kutztown University Children's Literature Conference, I was fortunate to hear and visit with Jerry Pinkney, Linda Sue Park and Beth Krommes. I don't get to listen to authors and illustrators that often, so that alone was a treat. I also had the pleasure of speaking to three different audiences: second graders, university students and faculty, and area teachers and librarians. How excited these professionals and pre-service teachers were to hear about Día. "We'll do this!" they'd say enthusiastically. I felt surrounded by warm and friendly people, mostly women, who loved reading and wanted to share bookjoy.

Soon, Día's 15th Anniversary will end, and I'll be delighted to return to writing carrying some of that PA good-will with me.

Día Anniversary Celebration at ALA Conference

2011-04-25T04:00:00.001-06:00

“Many Children, Many Cultures, Many Books: Celebrating the 15th Anniversary of El día de los niños/El día de los libros” will take place during the ALA Annual Conference on Saturday, June 25th, at 10:30 am, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Join us for the 15th anniversary celebration of Día! Hear from Día founder, Pat Mora, one of Día’s first supporters, Oralia Garza de Cortes, and Dia author Jeanette Larson. Also presenting will be Julie Corsaro, ALSC President, and Lucia Gonzalez, REFORMA President. REFORMA is the Founding Partner of Dia. Learn effective multicultural programming techniques for year round Día celebrations, and explore new Día resources.

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-24T06:01:00.001-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s see ourselves as central rather than peripheral, as a force for positive change that welcomes ideas for expanding and deepening Día’s work.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-23T08:34:00.000-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s remember that though change is slow, people and institutions can change; our challenge is to be persistent, effective advocates.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

D I A Spells Día

2011-04-23T04:00:00.001-06:00

Two Día Dynamos are Laurina Cashin and Bobbie Combs who are my web team. They also generously donate some of their time to help me promote Día. At the beginning of the year, I received a package in the mail from my team. I opened it slowly and stared at the three letters below. Being a bit dense, I first arranged the beautiful letters decorated with art from BOOK FIESTA as A I D. Oh yes, thought I, Laurina and Bobbie do aid me. Very sweet. As I looked more carefully at Rafael López' art, I suddenly thought, OH! The letters spell Día. I was stunned at all the work and at the thoughtfulness. I then spotted the message, "For our friend Pat in honor of Día's 15th Anniversary." How sweet is that?

* Letters were created from a f & g of Book Fiesta!

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-22T06:15:00.000-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s praise leaders who become Día champions because they are committed to assisting all children to become learners.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

A Million Friends for Día

2011-04-22T05:30:00.003-06:00

My good friend Joseph Rodriguez, a Día Dynamo who lives in Austin, sent me this video link some months back. I so liked the catchy music and the words Roberto Carlos is singing. The lyrics say that he doesn't want to sing alone. He wants a million friends to sing with him enlarging his singing. The words made me think of Día. (I know. Many things make Pat think of Día.) Día needs a million friends to enlarge its impact, its "song" too. Are you one of Día's friends?

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-21T05:48:00.000-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s propose innovative solutions to predictable resistance to change and increase Día’s growth and impact.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

Día in Santa Barbara

2011-04-21T05:37:00.000-06:00

Recent Mora Award winner, the Santa Barbara Public Library System celebrated its third annual Día De Los Libros Celebration on Saturday, April 16, 2011. The Junior League of Santa Barbara was the library's partner.

Events were held at the Santa Barbara Central Library in the Library Plaza and Faulkner Gallery and featured nationally recognized storyteller Olga Loya and local storytellers Kirk Henning and Joseph Velasco. The Brazilian Cultural Arts Center of Santa Barbara performed Afro-Brazilian dance and music. In addition, local youth mariachi and dancing groups performed.

Thanks to generous sponsors, children received free books and refreshments were served.

Día 2010

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-20T04:05:00.001-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s commit to developing programs that assist parents of our diverse families to become effective literacy mentors, our partners.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-19T04:05:00.001-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s involve children as presenters in our various literacy events and at Día book fiestas and celebrate our children’s talents.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

Yolo County, 2010 Mora Award Winner, Celebrates Dia

2011-04-19T04:00:00.001-06:00

Submitted by Lana Harman, Yolo County Public Library.

This year Yolo County Library will be celebrating Día de los Niños / Día de los Libros at two of its largest branches, the Stephens-Davis branch (service population - 65,000 people) and the Arthur F. Turner Community Library in West Sacramento (service population - 48,000 people). Yolo County, located in North Central California, is the definition of diversity: in addition to being both rural and urban, it is multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, and multi-cultural. Almost a third of Yolo County residents (32.1%) speak a language other than English at home. More than 20% were born outside of the United States. 26% are of Latino or Hispanic origin. Spanish is the main second language in rural areas but in big cities like Davis and West Sacramento there are large groups of Chinese (both Mandarin and Cantonese), Russian, Hmong, Farsi, Hindi, and Urdu speakers. Here in Yolo County we are truly the world and Día de los Niños / Día de los Libros, with its celebration of literacy in many languages, is a community building experience above all.

Both Yolo County Library's Día celebrations are scheduled for Saturday, April 16th. The Stephens-Davis Branch Library will start the festivities at 10 in the morning and will pass the baton on to the Arthur F. Turner Community Library later in the day. The programs will be similar yet different. Both branches will have a presentation by the bilingual author of children's books Jorge Argueta and a group art project facilitated by Maya Christina Gonzalez, a renowned illustrator of children's books. Maya Christina visited the Arthur F. Turner Community Library last year for the 2010 Día celebration and presented part of her "Claiming Face" curriculum. Children's books must reflect the diversity of their young readers - not just in subject but also in illustrations and Maya Christina's curriculum reinforces this thought.

There will be dancers, of course! - it's not a fiesta without music and dancing! Young dancers from the Chinese School of Davis will show traditional Chinese dances in Davis, and Folklorico Latino de Woodland will delight the visitors in West Sacramento. Face-painting, crafts, tortillas (made to order!) and story times will add to the festivities and are sure to be crowd-pleasers!

Building home libraries as a resource for family literacy is one of the goals of our Día celebrations and more than 400 books will be distributed to the children who attend the events. Public libraries are also an important resource for family literacy and we expect library card sign-ups to double or triple during the celebrations.

We couldn't have prepared such a magnificent program alone. Our sincere thanks go out to the Mora Family for the Estela and Raúl Mora Award that we received last year for an outstanding Día celebration at the Arthur F. Turner Community Library. We are proud of the recognition and we hope to continue on this path of excellence for years to come. We are also thankful to our partners who helped us get ready for this year's Día: First 5 Yolo, IMLS, Friends of the Stephens-Davis Library, Friends of the West Sacramento Library, the Rotary Club of West Sacramento, the California Gold chapter of REFORMA, and the Interact Club of the River City High School. Our volunteers are numerous and very enthusiastic. Our staff members have been working very hard to put together both events. Because of all the hard work by our partners, volunteers, and staff members, we can say with confidence, "It's going to be a great Día!"

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-18T04:05:00.001-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s encourage and assist all families to build home libraries, to celebrate Día annually at home, and to take pride in being reading families.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

15 Día Nuggets: #14 Día Dynamos

2011-04-18T04:00:00.001-06:00

I encourage Día organizers throughout the country to contact the amazing Día Dynamos for ideas and advice. They are treasures.

15 Día Nuggets for Día’s 15th Anniversary

#14 15 Día Dynamos

Congratulations to these Día Dynamos, literacy leaders throughout the U.S. who for years have invested significant time and creative energy on expanding Día’s impact. These Dynamos are outstanding resources for others working in similar positions.

1. Flo Trujillo, Youth Services Coordinator
Farmington Public Library (NM)

2. Ana Schmitt, LIBROS Group
Multnomah County Library (OR)

3. Beatriz Pascual Wallace, Children's Librarian
Seattle Public Library (WA)

4. Laurina Cashin & Bobbie Combs, Pat’s Web Team
We Love Children's Books (MD)

5. Rose Treviño, Librarian, deceased but not forgotten
Formerly Houston Public Library (TX)

6. Oralia Garza de Cortes, Latino Children's Literature Consultant (TX)

7. Elva Garza, Regional Operations Branch Manager
Austin Public Library (TX)

8. Meryle Leonard, Outreach Manager/ Community Engagement Department
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (NC)

9. Lucia Gonzalez, Author, Storyteller, Librarian (FL)

10. Jeanette Larson, Consultant, Trainer, and Writer (TX)

11. R. Joseph Rodriguez, Ph.D., Center for Teaching and Learning
The University of Texas at Austin (TX)

12. Lydia Breiseth, Manager, Colorín Colorado
WETA (VA)

13. Mark Smith, Administrator
Riverside County Library System (CA)

14. Alma Ramos-McDermott, Media Specialist
Pollard Middle School (MA)

15. Sara Howrey, Literacy Advocate, (KY)
and
Lise Tewes, Head of Children's Department
Erlanger Branch, Kenton County Public Library, (KY)

To assist those of you planning Día celebrations at your schools, libraries, etc., we’re sharing 15 Día Nuggets, 15 lists of 15 items to assist you in your planning. All 15 Nuggets are available as completed on Pat's web site, individually and as a single downloadable packet.

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-17T04:05:00.001-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s design Día programs and celebrations that—though they may include food, music, dancing and prizes—create positive and memorable literacy experiences for attendees.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-16T04:05:00.001-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s assist school and public libraries to diversify their collections to reflect our national diversity and global connections.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-15T04:05:00.005-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s remember that effective advocates need to endure the challenges of learning new skills; in Día’s case: partnership building, fund raising, marketing, publicity, public speaking, social networking, true collaboration.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

Colorín Colorado Videos

2011-04-15T04:00:00.001-06:00

My deep thanks again to Lydia Breiseth and her team at WETA for sharing these video clips. Colorín Colorado has been an outstanding Día supporter.

View recent interview with Colorín Colorado.

Visit Dia resources on Colorín Colorado's website.

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-14T04:05:00.001-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s create Día planning communities locally and nationally that reflect the diversity we espouse, and let’s invite social service agencies, the media, the young and seniors to enrich our work.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

NCTE Supports Día

2011-04-14T04:00:00.003-06:00

From April 5 issue of the NCTE Inbox:

Celebrate El día de los niños / El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day)

In its 2005 Resolution, NCTE supports El día de los niños / El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) because the day recognizes that students who participate in culturally and linguistically diverse literacy activities at home, in school, and in the community are more successful readers. Use the ReadWriteThink calendar entry and celebrate Día on April 30!

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-13T06:18:00.000-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s thank and celebrate our partners again and again.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

Día Events in New Mexico and San Francisco

2011-04-13T06:13:00.000-06:00

Flo Trujillo at the Farmington Public Library and Barbara VanderBorght at San Francisco Public Library sent in news about Dia events.

Día events throughout the month of April in New Mexico are a kick off to Summer Reading at NM libraries!

Libraries, community centers, 21st Century afterschool, Boys & Girls Clubs and faith-based communities along with New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez recognize the importance of literacy.

For the San Francisco Día 2011, we will be at the Main Library for our big celebration on April 24. Putting the event together this year was a challenge, as the downturn in the economy had a big effect: planning group members had to drop out, no new funding came in and there was a big increase in permit fees as we attempted to go back to our community park location, but we were determined to make Día happen!

Using remaining funds, trimming our operating costs and with the free use of the Library, we are putting on a celebration that still features wonderful multiethnic performances; our Spanish bilingual child/family issues radio hosts; literacy based hands-on art activities and a children’s book giveaway for all participants.

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-12T05:54:00.000-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s question our assumptions about how to reach our goals and who our appropriate partners can be.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

Cinco Puntos Press Celebrates 25 Years and Día

2011-04-12T05:46:00.001-06:00

We asked Lee Byrd to talk with us about publishing, creativity and Día.
My name is Lee Byrd. My husband Bobby and I are both writers. In 1985, we started Cinco Puntos Press. Funny, how things start, take root and grow—we were sick and tired of working for other people, we had three kids to support, and we wanted more time to write. (If you need more time to write, don’t start a publishing company!) We had no idea what publishers did, but luckily we had a lot of friends whose work we admired who weren’t getting published; and we had another friend who knew how to design books.

Our first book was Winners on the Pass Line, a collection of short stories by Dagoberto Gilb; our second, a book of poems by Joe Somoza. Then we met Joe Hayes. He was traveling all over the Southwest telling stories to kids. They loved him! We asked him if we could publish a book of his and he said it would have to be La Llorona / The Weeping Woman because that was the story the kids wanted to hear the most. And we would need to do it in a bilingual format because that was the way he liked to tell stories. Thus began our journey into children’s literature. Twenty-five years have passed and we’re still learning, each book—whether for kids or adults—taking us into new and miraculous territory.

Publishing is very creative work. Like writing, it’s a marvelous act of self-discovery. A manuscript comes to us. We love it. We see it opening up new doors of understanding to readers. But how to present it, how to get it illustrated or designed and who will do that? Who is the audience and how best to present it to that audience? When the book arrives from the printer, we all feel like its proud parents. It’s such a creative and collaborative process, no one knows exactly where his or her work started and where someone else picked it up.

At Cinco Puntos, we love El día de los niños, El día de los libros because we see the festivities surrounding it and the excitement that the kids have as a way of raising up the next generation of readers, who will, hopefully, read books that we—and our colleagues in this incredible work—have created.

John, Lee and Bobby Byrd

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-11T04:05:00.001-06:00

Day by day, día por día.

Let’s attend and support an annual Día celebration and experience the joy of honoring children and of linking children and families to books.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

2011-04-11T04:00:00.001-06:00

For many years, Jeanette Larson has been helping Día grow, and now she has completed El día de los ninos/El día de los libros: Building a Culture of Literacy in Your Community Through Día, published by ALA Editions. Gracias, Jeanette.

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-10T04:00:00.001-06:00

Day by day, día por día.

Let’s reach out to new partners including elected officials, school administrators and faculty preparing future librarians and teachers.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-09T09:35:00.000-06:00

Day by day, día por día.

Let’s explore new ways to share what we’ve learned or are trying to implement.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-08T06:56:00.000-06:00

Day by day, día por día.

Let’s learn together to be more compelling in articulating the importance and relevance of our goals to our various communities.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

15 Día Nuggets: #12 Día Literacy Games

2011-04-08T06:50:00.000-06:00

To assist those of you planning Día celebrations at your schools, libraries, etc., we’re sharing 15 Día Nuggets, 15 lists of 15 items to assist you in your planning. This month during our second Díapalooza, we’ll finish with Nuggets 11, 12, and 13; showcase the 15 Día Dynamos, and share Bookjoy quotes from kids, our final Nugget.

All 15 Nuggets are available as completed on Pat's web site, individually and as a single downloadable packet.

15 Día Nuggets for Día’s 15th Anniversary

#12 Día Literacy Games

Winners receive books, of course.

1. Book Bingo
2. Book games based on games from other countries such as a book lotería
3. Book Walk rather than Cake Walk
4. Piñata celebration adding a book connection
5. Charades using book titles or familiar book characters
6. Día–themed word search or crossword puzzles
7. Book-themed scavenger/treasure hunt
8. Matching games using book covers
9. Name the Story or Name the Character based on a series of clues or from passages from various books
10. Snag a Book: game using an extended grabber for book prizes
11. Who’s the Villain: (safe) dart game in which the target is a picture of different “villains” in children’s books
12. Name the Famous Characters: identify children’s book characters on a poster
13. Wheel of Fortune with book connection: Land on a villain and lose points
14. Tape Your Book in the Book Return: like Pin the Tail on the Donkey but blind-folded children tape the book cover they created on a book return image
15. Timed word-making contest: Children and families race to make as many words as possible from Book Fiesta! Celebrate Children's Day, Book Day/ Celebremos El día de los niños, El día de los libros

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-07T06:23:00.000-06:00

Day by day, día por día.

Let’s affirm home languages and diverse cultures.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

Día in Albuquerque

2011-04-07T06:14:00.000-06:00

Throughout this month, we'll post news about Día festivities across the country. Albuquerque Bernalillo County Libraries has planned many events over several days.

Riann Powell, Cultural Activities Coordinator for the ABC Libraries provided this information:

We are excited to be participating again by providing 17 events from April 16-30. The events include:

• Bilingual (Spanish & English) storytelling

• Storytelling in the traditional Native American style using sign language

• African Dance & Drumming

• Interactive & hands on sessions from the Natural History Museum

• A PBS/KNME sponsored event featuring characters from the show Super Why

At the end of each program each student will receive a book of their very own to take home and keep. We will also be handing out bilingual family storytelling activity placemats that were created by an organization that encourages families to eat and interact together.

Riann was recently promoted and her successor will be responsible for Día. She says "Working on Día has been one of the big highlights of my career with the libraries – we’ve been able to grow it so much over the years and I love what it has evolved in to. We’re very lucky to have an endowment for Día through our Friends for the Library which enables us to put on quality programs and ensures that the libraries will continue special programming for years to come."

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-06T04:05:00.002-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s learn what other Día advocates have shared and discovered.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

Message from Katherine Paterson

2011-04-06T04:00:00.001-06:00

“My warm congratulations to all the literacy advocates who through Día work hard to connect all children to books, languages and culture.”

Katherine Paterson
National Ambassador for Young People's Literature

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-05T04:05:00.001-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s champion children and literacy in our daily lives and creatively and concretely introduce Día to potential partners.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

Red Oak Books

2011-04-05T04:00:00.003-06:00

Warm congratulations to my friends at Red Oak Books in Fort Worth, Texas! Today, they celebrate thirteen years in which they have donated 337,294 books to children in their city. Now that's an example to for local and state foundations to follow throughout this country.

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-04T04:05:00.003-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s creatively make Día fun for ourselves and others.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

15 Día Nuggets: #11 Families as Día Partners

2011-04-04T04:00:00.002-06:00

15 Día Nuggets for Día’s 15th Anniversary

#11 Families as Día Partners

Since Día is a daily commitment, creatively involve parents, adult and young adult family members throughout the year as literacy partners. This list focuses on the particular role libraries and schools play in empowering families who may not view themselves as literacy mentors. Diverse strategies are essential for motivating all community families to be reading families.

1. Provide staff training to increase the effectiveness of literacy programming and outreach for diverse populations within the community.

2. Affirm the importance of multilingual families as literacy partners by using multiple languages in greetings and on signs, ads, web pages, graphics, posters and in family bookjoy sessions throughout the year.

3. Partner with families who speak other languages in presenting bilingual story times, programs, and literacy games.

4. Demystify the library with family tours and presentations that address the interests and concerns of the families served, showcase resources and encourage participation in programs such as Summer Reading.

5. Engage families as storytellers and in creating and sharing literacy posters and kits, and in exploring ways to create and share stories digitally.

6. Model creative strategies for instilling bookjoy at home such as sharing family stories and reading together.

7. Be innovative in helping families create libraries at home, seeking book donations where possible.

8. Introduce and model reading, writing, and arts activities including having families write, illustrate and share their own books.

9. Establish monthly family literacy nights at which students, teachers, and families collaborate in presenting thematic storytelling, puppet shows, etc. to the community.

10. Provide relevant sessions to assist families to be literacy advocates in their family and community, tailoring sessions to their reading practices and languages.

11. With families as partners, plan, implement and assess family literacy leadership training as part of your efforts to empower families within the school or library community.

12. Start an outreach storytelling program in which families volunteer at hospitals and retirement homes or in which older children read aloud to younger ones.

13. Form book clubs for the various literacy levels in your community by assessing the impact of literacy and literature programs on the various communities served.

14. Encourage families to visit the local public and school libraries, to volunteer, check out materials, and collaborate in Día celebration programming.

15. Invite families to be active members of your Día celebration planning committee. You’ll wonder how you got along without their fresh ideas and enthusiasm.

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-03T04:05:00.014-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s remind one another often that Día is a daily commitment and not only an annual celebration.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-02T04:05:00.002-06:00

Day by day, día por día

Let’s create regular time to reflect on the importance, challenges and
opportunities of Día’s goals.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

International Children's Book Day

2011-04-02T04:00:00.001-06:00

Today is International Children's Book Day, a holiday celebrated across the globe for over 40 years, and designated to inspire a love of reading and highlight children's books.

Doris Gebel, USBBY* president-elect, believes, "Both El día de los niños/El día de los libros and International Children's Book Day have similar and complementary goals: inspiring a love of reading and advocating for literacy, celebrating the cultural backgrounds of children the world over through literacy efforts. It is fitting that the month of April begins with International Children's Book Day and culminates with El Día de los niños, Día de los libros."

* USBBY is the US national section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)

Today's Día Reflection

2011-04-01T04:05:00.020-06:00

Day by day, día por día.

Let’s see ourselves as part of the National Día Community connected by our commitment to the potential of each child and to the pleasure and power of literacy.

I'm posting a Reflection each day during April in honor of Dia’s 15th Anniversary. All thirty Reflections will be available as a downloadable pdf at the end of the month.

This Month's Día DynamoS

2011-04-01T04:00:00.002-06:00

Double pleasure. As part of celebrating Día's 15th Anniversary, I've introduced you to 15 Día Dynamos that are archived on my site.

Our grand finale is a Día Dynamo Duo: Sara Howrey and Lise Tewes. These modest women each wanted to decline the recognition to focus attention on her Día colleague and friend. Symbolically, however, they are shining examples not only of their personal commitment and innovative strategies, but they show us how Día leaders create a literacy legacy.

What hope Sara gave me when I met her years ago in the Cincinnati/Northern KY area where I lived for a time. Sara was unstoppable in her determination to involve the public library in creating new partnerships. She also brought attention to Día within ALA nationally. Like all good Día leaders, she created a committee that she nurtured, so that when Sara retired, Lise was ready to bring her talents to assuming that leadership role. Día has grown thanks to these two amazing women who consistently teach and inspire me.
¡Gracias!

Sara Howrey

1. When and how did you become interested in sharing bookjoy?

SH: As a reluctant but competent reader, I didn’t think much about bookjoy until I attended a REFORMA meeting in San Francisco while I was still in library school (2001). At that meeting the REFORMA librarians said it was possible to do bilingual storytime without reading or speaking Spanish. What fun! What a challenge! And, believe me, those librarians demonstrated bookjoy that day as they read a picture book page by page in two languages (English and Spanish). The room was electric with enthusiasm for bilingual storytime. Then I met Pat Mora, and she convinced me we not only have the opportunity but the obligation to share the pleasure of reading with children and adults regardless of their native and home languages. For me, bookjoy began with bilingual picture books, and I still believe bilingual storytimes are the pinnacle of bookjoy today.

2. How did you first learn about Día and what has been your experience with Día?
SH: As soon as I was hired as a children’s librarian and allowed to write a grant for bilingual storytime, I was involved in celebrating El Día. For many years I enjoyed the indescribable rewards of planning and presenting El Día in our tri-state area, which is rich with many nationalities and languages. I treasure my ever-growing list of friends who are always willing to help with Día by reading in their home languages.

3.What are your hopes for Día 2011, Día’s 15th Anniversary?
SH: Wouldn’t it be grand if every single public library and school library in the United States celebrated Día? If not now, when?

4. What helpful tip(s) do you have for those organizing a Día event for the first time?
SH: Make certain your celebration features the joy of literacy in all the home languages of your community. Search for native speakers of foreign languages and select simple bilingual picture books for them to read . . . don’t be afraid to ask these willing and enthusiastic new friends to help with your event. (You can find new foreign language friends everywhere: ethnic bakeries and restaurants, universities, health care centers. Seek and you shall find!)

5.What is your favorite example of Bookjoy as either a child or an adult?
SH: I tutor children with dyslexia and experience bookjoy every time a once-struggling reader begins to read fluently. I’ll never forget the expression on a young man’s face as he truly experienced bookjoy for the first time while reading Heat by Mike Lupica. As he completed a particular passage, he stopped, looked up, and searched my face to see if I had noticed the critical and surprising turn of events in the story. I’m glad I was there to witness his miracle of reading with understanding and pleasure.

6. What are you reading now?
SH: In addition to the books my students are currently reading aloud (Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech, Baseball Great by Tim Green, and Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien), I am reading:
• Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1. Edited by Harriet Elinor Smith and the editors of the Mark Twain Project.
• Rise to Rebellion: A Novel of the American Revolution by Jeff Shaara.

Lise Tewes

1. When and how did you become interested in sharing bookjoy?
LT: I have always been an avid reader, but I guess my first experience sharing bookjoy was as a mother reading with my 7 children. Reading together was part of our everyday activities, and my children, who now range in age from 26 to 16, still remember their favorite children’s books and the special closeness of those times spent reading together.

2. How did you first learn about Día and what has been your experience with Día?
LT: I first learned about Día through working at the Kenton County Public Library, from my colleague Sara Howrey. Sara was the driving force in the KCPL’s involvement with Día. She organized the first Día celebration at our Covington location in 2004, all on her own. In 2005, Sara joined forces with a neighboring library and the local Catholic Diocese Hispanic Ministry to present a joint Día celebration. I was part of that cooperative event. The partnership with other libraries grew through 2009, including up to 7 different libraries and a dozen community partners celebrating Día at one location together! This experience of networking and supporting each other, financially as well as emotionally, gave us all confidence and commitment to Día. While the partnership has dwindled in the past two years, each library is now offering its own Día event in its own community, so the presence of Día in the Greater Cincinnati area has actually grown.

3.What are your hopes for Día 2011, Día’s 15th Anniversary?
LT: I hope that there can be a greater awareness of the importance of reading with children, in all languages, and that public libraries will take the lead in using Día to promote that important literacy message.

4. What helpful tip(s) do you have for those organizing a Día event for the first time?
LT: Look around your own community. Identify the diverse populations that live in your area and reach out to them. Invite them into the Library and ask them to participate in Día. When people are personally invited they feel welcome and committed. Most people from other cultures and countries are pleased as punch to have an opportunity to share their culture and language with others, and Día can be the way to make that initial contact and let all your diverse populations know what the Library can offer. Find partners in your community who are already working with those target populations, and get them involved. Don’t forget to include your “regular” patrons, who may not represent diversity but who still need to be encouraged to share bookjoy with their children! And network, network, network!

5.What is your favorite example of Bookjoy as either a child or an adult?
LT: I still remember the sound of my first child, barely two years old, “reading” aloud to me! We had read the same book so many times that she had memorized it. She “read” it perfectly, without mistake, and I was the proudest mom on earth! Today, she is a high school English teacher, sharing bookjoy with her students, and I’m still the proudest mom on earth!

6. What are you reading now?
LT: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood. It’s the second book of a new series called “The Incorrigible Children of Aston Place.” It’s very clever and funny!

Díapalooza 2011

2011-03-31T04:54:00.001-06:00

Ready for our second annual Díapalooza? My web team, Laurina Cashin and Bobbie Combs, and I hope you’re finding the Día Nuggets helpful as you plan for culminating 15th Anniversary Día Celebrations. At the end of April, we’ll post a pdf of a Día Planning Booklet, including the 15 Nuggets and 30 Día Reflections I’ve written. All this material is also archived on my site. We’ve recently changed my web design and enhanced some navigational features so if you haven’t visited in awhile, take a look.

My hope is that when your Día committee does its assessment, you’ll find the booklet a helpful guide on ideas for the future. Next year, print copies of the booklet pdf for your diverse committee and personalize it with your unique cover design.

30 Daily Día Reflections

Visit this blog for a Daily Día Reflection during April. We’re also posting Día News throughout the month. To have your news considered, please complete and submit the form below. Enjoy sharing bookjoy!

Send Us Your Día Celebration News

From Laurina Cashin, blog manager
If you'd like to have your Día celebration featured on Pat's blog during our April Díapalooza, please describe your Día event in 150 words or less. We welcome a visual or two (jpegs only, please) of your team, location, or a past Día literacy-related event. You can also choose to post a Día message as a comment on Pat’s blog.

We may not be able to post all that we receive, but we’ll certainly try. We appreciate your cooperation and enthusiasm. Happy Día to all!

Pat’s blog is Share Bookjoy! (http://sharebookjoy.blogspot.com/) Send all blog posts to Laurina Cashin, lcashin (at)welovechildrensbooks(dot)com.

Name and email:

Library, School, Organization :

Dia Event Description (150 words or less):

Photo description if attached:

Download a pdf of the blog post form.

Register Your Event

Remember to register your event at the Association of Library Service to Children’s (ALSC) Día website receive colorful complimentary Día stickers for your event.

15 Día Nuggets: #10 Themes and Programs to Enrich Your April Día Celebrations

2011-03-17T13:35:00.000-06:00

One more Nugget today, resulting in numbers 1-10 available individually and as a downloadable packet.

To assist those of you planning Día celebrations at your schools, libraries, etc., we’re sharing 15 Día Nuggets, 15 lists of 15 items to assist you in your planning. During our second Díapalooza during April 2011, we’ll showcase the 15 Día Dynamos, 15 Mora Award winners and the 15 Día Nuggets, etc.

15 Día Nuggets

#10 Themes and Programs to Enrich Your April Día Celebrations

Looking for a new idea for your culminating Día celebration? Consider incorporating these themes and exploring organizations that could strengthen your yearlong Día work.

April Celebrations

1. National Poetry Month (Academy of American Poets)

2. School Library Month (American Association of School Librarians/AASL)

3. April 2, International Children’s Book Day (United States Board on Books for Young People/USBBY)

4. April 10-16, National Library Week (American Library Association/ALA)

5. April 10-16, Week of the Young Child (National Association for the Education of Young Children/NAEYC)

6. April 22, Earth Day

National Literacy Programs

7. Colorín Colorado & Reading Rockets (WETA Public Television)

8. Born to Read, Every Child Ready to Read (Association of Library Service to Children/ALSC)

9. PAWS to Read

10. Prime Time Family Reading Time ® (Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities)

11. Raising a Reader

12. Reach Out and Read

13. Read to Me Program

Literacy Organizations That Have Partnered with Día Events

14. First Book

15. Reading Is Fundamental (RIF)

________________________________________________________

ALSC is now offering a new webinar, Día 101: Everything you need to know about celebrating el día de los niños/el día de los libros. Taught by Beatriz Pascual Wallace, MLIS Children's Librarian, Seattle Public Library, participants will learn about the history, resources and ideas behind Día. For more information visit ALSC’s online education page.

News

2011-03-14T14:12:00.002-06:00

ALSC announced the opening of 2011 registration for Día. Let others know about your upcoming Día programming and see what Día celebrations are occurring all over the country. Spread the Día word!

Cool stickers, right? Receive complementary stickers when you register.

PoetryTagTime is the first electronic-only poetry anthology for kids! This eBook project was compiled and edited by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong. Included are 30 new poems by 30 well-known contemporary poets writing for children -- including a poem by Pat.Visit the website for more information. (Available April 1)

Creativity Interview: Erica Brown

2011-03-10T14:01:00.005-07:00

I met Erica briefly at YALSA's Young Adult Literature Symposium in Albuquerque. My friend, Flo Trujillo, Día Dynamo and Youth Services Coordinator at the Farmington Public Library (NM) proudly gave me a copy of Blended Zine edited by Erica and staffed by her fellow teens in San Juan County, New Mexico. I was so impressed by the quality of the work in the zine and by the fact that this is a teen production. What a fine model of school, library, and community cooperation.

My name is Erica Brown, I’m 17 years old, a senior in high school and I have been home schooled my entire life. I’m involved in several programs besides Blended such as Mayor’s Teen Advisory Council, UMATTR (http://www.umattr.com/), coaching second grade cheerleading for Upward basketball, and Student Leadership and the Worship team through my church. In January of 2009 when I was 15 years old, I applied for a position at Blended Zine. I had submitted before and thought it was a really cool project, so I wanted to get involved. I was hired as a general staff member and joined the 12 person staff. In June of ’09 after the current editor graduated, I was promoted to the position of editor.

Do you think of yourself as creative?
EB: I would definitely think of myself as of creative. My whole life I’ve loved experimenting with different art forms whether it was painting, drawing, writing or music. I always try to do something different and think outside of the box. Creativity is one of the most defining aspects of my life. I like to be different from what most people are doing. I like to be crazy and stay on the edge of new and exciting things.

In what ways does creativity shape your life?
EB: I love creativity in any form. I love dancing and learning new things and figuring out things that haven’t been done. I also love music. I love just experimenting with music to make something different or a new sound. Something I really enjoy is making sidewalk murals with chalk. Chalk is one of my favorite mediums. For Blended over the past few years I have submitted a broad range of pieces. Drawing, etchings, paintings, digital art, and in our most recent issue, poetry! I really like expressing myself in so many different ways.

Blended, May 2010

As for balancing school and creativity, I think the two can be a wonderful combination. I truly believe that creativity produces rational thinking because when you don’t limit yourself to the norms, you open up your mind to so much more! You can look at things from more perspectives. One of my favorite subjects is math. Although math is very precise, there are limitless possibilities that are just wonderful to explore, and for me personally this sparks a lot of curiosity. No matter what subject you are researching or writing on, creativity can helps you see things from new perspectives or different viewpoints.

That’ s why Blended is such a great program for teens to get involved with. It sparks creativity. We've had many teachers tell us that they've had students improve in school after submitting and getting published in Blended. I think that’s one of the greatest effects a program like this could ever have.

Blended, December 2010

Blended Zine has been one of the biggest parts of my life for the past two years. I was so blessed with the opportunity to be part of the program and it has changed my life in more ways than I can list. I am currently working on the eighth issue, and my fifth and last issue as part of the staff. It has been a truly amazing experience!

Tell us about your most memorable teacher.
EB: I have been home schooled my entire life [so] my most memorable teacher is definitely my mom! She has taught me the importance of thinking for myself, being my own person and just being myself! Although, I have been taking college classes part time since my junior year, in my second semester I took inter-personal communication. My teacher was wonderful! She definitely made a profound impact on my life.

Release Party December 2010

Blended Zine is published three times each year by the Farmington Public Library, Farmington NM. All submissions and published pieces are from students, ages 13-19, living in San Juan County. The Mission Statement states "Blended strives to be a positive influence and helps teens stay connected and involved with the community. Along with the Farmington Public Library, Blended enlightens, enriches, and changes lives by providing innovative, optimistic and constructive influences for adolescents.

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Uno, Dos, Tres: One, Two, Three Featured Title for Summer Reading Program

Pat's picture book Uno, Dos, Tres: One, Two, Three is a featured title for this summer's Collaborative Summer Library Program's (CSLP) theme "One World, Many Stories." TeachingBooks.net has created an audio clip of Pat talking about how she came to write the book, and reading from it.

This Month's Día Dynamo!

2011-03-03T14:33:00.005-07:00

Alma Ramos-McDermott is our 14th Día Dynamo, the first who is a school librarian. It's exciting to honor a school librarian who's active in the American Association of School Librarians, (AASL) who has experienced the value of sharing Día, and who is leading the way to connect other school librarians with this family literacy initiative. I met Alma at a YALSA conference in New Mexico last year and was so impressed at her commitment to share bookjoy with all students. As she and I discussed, when working with Middle School students, some Día advocates say: El día de los jovenes y libros, Day of Young People and Books. Some middle schools create Día literacy activities for themselves and some promote literacy at a neighboring elementary school. I hope that we'll hear from many fine school librarians who like Alma want to incorporate Día's goals of linking all children to book, languages and cultures into their planning and to start an annual tradition of planning a culminating celebration with parents on or near April 30th. Gracias, Alma, for enriching Día's work with your enthusiasm.

I. When and how did you become interested in sharing bookjoy?
AR: I was always a loner because my family moved at least twice/year, which made me the “new kid on the block” for my entire K-12 school experience. When I received my first public library card at age 11, a new world opened up for me. I experienced true bookjoy, as books became the friends I didn’t have and the one constant in my life. As a school librarian I love sharing bookjoy with students, watching books and children connect.

2.How did you first learn about Día and what has been your experience with Día?
AR: I first learned about Día 2 years ago. I have a student population made up of non-Hispanics, and wanted them to be aware of the availability of Latino literature, as well as learn about the Latino culture, using literature to bridge that gap. I have enjoyed teaching students about the importance of literacy through Día activities, and the students/teachers have enjoyed learning/participating in Día

3.What are your hopes for Día 2011, Día’s 15th Anniversary?
AR: I am hoping Día 2011 will be the beginning of great collaboration between school librarians in the United States. As a teacher and school librarian, I see the literacy gap that exists in many schools and know that participating in Día can help bridge that gap. A Quinceañera is a “coming of age” time, and I feel it’s time for Día to “come of age” with school librarians.

4. What helpful tip(s) do you have for those organizing a Día event for the first time?
AR: Tip number one is don’t worry if you can’t speak Spanish. Día is not just for Hispanics – it’s a Literacy Bridging event. Tip #2 would be to think of a way to bring literacy to your school or public library. Tip #3 is to just go out there and do it! Día events can range from the extremely elaborate, which involve hundreds, to something as simple as sharing puppet stories to a small group of children. Your only limitation is you, so “go for it!”

5.What is your favorite example of Bookjoy as either a child or an adult?
AR: My favorite example happened last year when I connected an 8th grade reluctant reader with a book. Previous to that, she’d only read Manga. That book about someone who liked Manga led to another book. Over the summer, she became a reader. In September, I met up with her in the hallway, during passing time, and gave her part two of a book she’d just finished reading. She jumped up in the air – in front of her classmates, and shouted “Yes! That’s just what I like to hear!” To that, I respond “Me too!”

6. What are you reading now?
AR: I just finished reading Three Black Swans by Caroline B. Cooney, and am starting Sweet Treats & Secret Crushes by Lisa Greenwald. Two days ago I read Starlighter by Bryan Davis and two days before that I read A Million Miles from Boston by Karen Day. With a personal stack of 250 ARC’s and 44 bound books waiting to be read, I’ll be reading something else by the time you read this. Suffice to say I’m never without a tween/YA book in my hand.

Visit Alma's blog (http://yourschoollibrary.wordpress.com/) about her Middle School Library Teacher position at Pollard Middle School in Needham, MA.

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Interview News

"Books and Authors: Talking with Pat Mora" is a feature interview by Jeanette Larson in the January 2011 issue of Book Links and available online. Pat talks about her work, bookjoy, and Día’s fifteenth birthday.

Pat Celebrate Día's 15th Anniversary in Tucson, AZ

2011-02-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

Pat Mora will join the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association, for the national kick-off 15th anniversary celebration of El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day), also known as Día, at the Valencia Branch of the Pima County Library System from 11:30 – 3 p.m., in Tucson, Ariz., on Saturday, April 30, 2011. Click here for the full press release.

A Visit with Doris Gebel about International Children's Book Day

2011-02-24T14:11:00.003-07:00

I've never had the pleasure of meeting Doris Gebel, but we certainly share a love of children, the importance of sharing bookjoy, a belief that books can connect diverse children to other cultures, languages and countries. I'm a proud member of USBBY and am always inspired by the good work they do. I so hope that more and more schools and libraries will celebrate International Children's Book Day on April 2 and that more teachers and librarians will join USBBY. This organization has steadily supported Día. ¡Gracias!

Let's begin with an introduction.
DG: I am the Head of Youth Services at the Northport-East Northport Public Library in New York. I've taught Children's Literature and International Children's Literature at St. Joseph's College and Children's Literature at the Palmer School of Library and Information Science. I was privileged to serve on the 2003 Mildred L. Batchelder Award Committee and the 2006 Newbery Committee and as a long time member of USBBY was proud to edit the third annotated bibliography Crossing Boundaries with Children's Books (Scarecrow, 2006). I am currently serving on the USBBY Board as President-elect.

1. Tell us about USBBY.
DG: USBBY serves as the U.S. national section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), which was founded to promote international understanding and good will through books for children and teenagers. The organization, founded by Jella Lepman in 1953, aims to give children everywhere the opportunity to have access to books with high literary and artistic standards; to encourage the publication and distribution of quality children's books, especially in developing countries; to provide support and training for those involved with children and children's literature and to stimulate research and scholarly works in the field of children's literature.

2. What is International Children’s Book Day? Tell us about this year’s celebration plans.
DG: Since 1967, on or around Hans Christian Andersen's birthday, 2 April, International Children's Book Day (ICBD) is celebrated to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children's books. Each year a National Section of IBBY sponsors the International Children's Book Day creating a poster and inviting a prominent author of children's books to write a message promoting reading. This year's poster and message is available both on the USBBY webpage and the IBBY webpage and may be reproduced by anyone wanting to promote a love of reading. All types of celebrations around children's books and other special events that may include encounters with authors and illustrators, writing competitions or announcements of book awards are encouraged. In an effort to increase awareness of International Children's Book Day, USBBY has developed a webpage so that teachers, educators and librarians can share ideas for programs, lessons and activities in the home to encourage a love of reading and promote international understanding.

3. Do you see ICBD as a part of Día de los niños, Día de los libros’ emphasis of linking all children to books, languages, and cultures?
DG: Both El día de los niños/El día de los libros and International Children's Book Day have similar and complementary goals: inspiring a love of reading and advocating for literacy, celebrating the cultural backgrounds of children the world over through literacy efforts. It is fitting that the month of April begins with International Children's Book Day and culminates with El Día de los niños, Día de los libros. Pat Mora says it best with the phrase that she has coined -- Bookjoy! Everyday is a good day to share books with children and it is our hope that these special days stimulate literacy efforts all year round.

Pat’s Visit to Zavala Elementary School

2011-02-17T10:16:00.000-07:00

This past September, I received an e-mail from a young school librarian. She had heard that I was going to be speaking in my home city of El Paso, Texas, and she wrote urging me to visit her school. She spoke of her commitment to El día de los niños / El día de los libros ( Día) and promised me that her students would be well-prepared for my visit and well-behaved. I called Lisa and gained energy and inspiration from her excitement about sharing bookjoy. Meeting her was a highlight of 2010. Thanks, Lisa, for making me feel so welcome and Zavala Elementary and for preparing such a special morning for me.

1. Why did you become a librarian?
LL: I was born in El Paso, Texas but grew up across the border in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua until I was thirteen years old. Since I completed my elementary education in a city where libraries are non-existent, the first thing I did when I moved to El Paso, TX from Juarez, was to sign-up for a public library card. I recall feeling right at home every time I set foot in such a wondrous print-rich environment. By the time I finished my undergraduate degree in early childhood education, I could not help but feel a void in my professional accomplishments. I decided to apply to graduate school at the University of North Texas and pursue a Masters in Library and Information Science, which I have just completed in the summer of 2010! I love being a librarian and instilling a love of literature and reading.

2. What are some of the comments students made following the author visit?
LL: Students were so excited to meet Pat Mora! They kept making remarks about her upbringing in El Paso TX, and her founding of the Día celebration that allowed them to relate to her creative work. Our students keep checking out her books with such enthusiasm that there is a waiting list to check out her autographed copies.

3. Why did you think an author visit was important and how did you prepare for the visit?

LL: An author school visit is always such an honor to host because not only do they motivate students to read more, they also give students hope that maybe someday they too can be acclaimed authors. Hosting Pat Mora at our campus was such an enlightening experience not just because we hold 27 copies of her books, but because of her founding of El Día de Los Niños – Día de Los Libros. This literary fiesta is famously celebrated in our hometown of El Paso, TX. As a lover of literature and advocate of libraries, I have volunteered in previous Día celebrations as a storyteller. Preparing for her school visit was so memorable because her arrival coincided with the first day of National Hispanic Heritage Month! I personally decorated our cafeteria auditorium with festive Mexican “papel picado” flags, miniature piñatas, student-made welcoming banners, a myriad of her books, and the US-Mexico Consulate donated books in Spanish for children. The procession ended with the distribution of “Marranitos” Mexican sweet bread for every student. I purchased these treats at Bowie Bakery, the famous bakery in El Paso depicted in Mrs. Mora’s The Bakery Lady, a Zavala favorite!

4. Why is Día important to you and how do you hope to celebrate Día’s 15th Anniversary?
LL: Our Dia Celebration is so important to me because it is the greatest opportunity to cherish books, reading, and family literacy in general. As the all-time favorite saying goes "Los Padres y Ninos que leen juntos, crecen juntos", “The family that reads together, grows together” and so it is my primary goal to witness the flourishing of a community of readers. Books and storytelling are capable of bridging the gap between generations and thus bringing everybody closer together. Our school community makes plans way ahead of time to take everybody along in the family to celebrate Día at Washington Park. Last year alone, 20,000 gathered to celebrate here in our border area!

Día’s 15th Anniversary will be celebrated similarly to last year with one difference. I will plan for a thematic unit at our library on fairytales and folktales in which students will get to create their own folktales and perform those using marionettes. We’ll record the performances to create a digital storytelling event at our campus. A group of students will also accompany me to Día’s celebration to perform their folktales at the storytelling booth. I’m adding something new for the anniversary and implementing a family literacy month throughout March. This will prepare my students who are storytelling at the actual Día celebration. In addition, children and families will get the opportunity to enjoy live theatrical plays based on classic folk tales and fairy tales using my marionette set. The family literacy program will take place on every Saturday of March for two hours of performance and read alouds at Washington Park (where the real Día celebrations take place!). I will make flyers for families to advertise and motivate them to attend.

5. What are you reading now?
LL: Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

15 Día Nuggets: #9 Literacy-focused Craft Ideas for Children and Families

2011-02-17T09:37:00.001-07:00

One more Nugget today, resulting in #s 1-9 available individually and as a downloadable packet.

To assist those of you planning Día celebrations at your schools, libraries, etc., we’re sharing 15 Día Nuggets, 15 lists of 15 items to assist you in your planning. During our second Díapalooza during April 2011, we’ll showcase the 15 Día Dynamos, 15 Mora Award winners and the 15 Día Nuggets, etc.

15 Día Nuggets for Día’s 15th Anniversary

Nugget #9 Literacy-focused Craft Ideas for Children and Families

Here’s a wonderful opportunity to involve teen or college helpers and service organizations.

1. Make paper plate clocks, printing “Time to Read” on each clock face. Decorate.

2. Embellish canvas bags with fabric paint and use as book bags.

3. Create personalized bookmarks, bookends, and bookcases (use cardboard boxes) using stick-on foam shapes and gems and colored stickers. Use blank stickers too, so kids can write a reading slogan or book recommendations.

4. Plant a Poetry Garden. Write poems, paste them on sticks and plant them outside of the school or library.

5. Make accordion books with the last panel pre-printed with the words LOVES READING! Children can write their name on the beginning panels and decorate the book with collage, colored pencils or paints.

6. Make papier-mâché globes and let each child note the different countries they’ve read about with colored sticker dots. Use the globes in a display of books set in other countries.

7. Make memory books with stories and pictures about reading and books.

8. Take photos of kids reading in a special chair (a reading throne) they’ve helped decorate. Buy cardboard or foam photo frames that each child can decorate.

9. Construct masks of favorite characters from books.

10. Distribute envelopes containing a pre-made paper booklet and cutouts of pictures and photos. Each child writes a story about the pictures and uses them to illustrate the story.

11. For very young children, create reading puppets using cutouts glued to craft sticks.

12. Use recycled papers (printed on one side) to make personal reading logs. Use recycled book jackets or patterned papers for covers.

13. Create necklaces of words.

14. Create a Día Alphabet mural or frieze, associating a word or short phrase about Día with each letter of the alphabet such as “F – Families.” Decorate and hang on the wall or use as a banner in a hallway.

15. Use a template to create book-shaped magnets. Color image with colored pencils and laminate, then glue magnet to back.

A New Design

2011-02-14T12:56:00.000-07:00

Today we've posted a new blog banner, the beginning of changes in my Site and Newsletter banner and format. I'll let you know when the other changes are complete and hope that you like the consistent design we'll be featuring.

I now have an Author Page on Facebook. I hope you'll visit for book news and reviews, or comment about a favorite book, share a lesson plan, or just click “like.”

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T12:46:00.003-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day to each of you who visits my blog! In Spanish, this day has various names. My favorite is El día del amor y de la amistad because the name celebrates both love and friendship.

Love is all around ... all year long. My book for teens, Dizzy in Your Eyes, is a collection of 50 poems about love.

"Teachers in need of a fresh new avenue for teaching poetic form, lovers of language, and teens in search of a broader definition of love will find it here.” - School Library Journal