REFORMA celebrates Dia de los Ninos/Dia de los Libros

Contact: Oralia Garza de Cortes


512-929-7958

ALA News Release


For Immediate Release


April 2001

REFORMA celebrates Dia de los Ninos/Dia de los Libros

REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, urges libraries to celebrate Dia de los Ninos/ Dia de los Libros (Children's Day/Book's Day) on April 30, 2001.

Libraries celebrating Dia de los Ninos/Dia de los Libros include:

  • Austin (Texas) Public Libraries will host two major authors - Carmen Tafolla, "Baby Coyote and the Old Woman / El coyotito y la viejita" and Margarita Robleda Moguel, an accomplished children's author and musician from Mexico City. Austin also will host children's author and storyteller Magdalena Sofia Cardenas Garcia as part of the city's cultural exchange with the Austin-Saltillo (Mexico) Sister City Committee.
  • Boston Public Libraries are celebrating with Xuchipilli, a dance troupe that will perform a heritage of traditional regional Mexican dances.
  • El Paso (Texas) Public Library will give away books to each child who attends their celebration.
  • Tucson-Pima Public Library will celebrate with local author Judi Moreillon and crafts, face painting, music and a puppet show.
  • San Antonio Public Library is offering a series of programs and displays, including a pinata celebration, a puppet show and stories featuring Hispanic authors.
  • REFORMA de Utah received a $1,500 grant from ALA's "Live! At Your Library" program to sponsor performances in libraries and schools in Utah. Featured performers will include poet Hector Ahumadat; folk singers Jose Bonilla and Ricardo Merino; storytellers Matisha Marxuach and Grace Nicklaus; Grupo Experimental de Teatro Americas, a theatre troupe who will perform "El Leon Pelon;" and Mexican paper flower artists Dolores Perez and Bea Sanchez.

Dia de los Ninos/ Dia de los Libros was established in 1996 by author Pat Mora and is sponsored annually by REFORMA and the National Association for Bilingual Education to promote literacy, reading and books for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

"What better way to celebrate what we value most than by combining our efforts to bring children and books together on a special day that honors all children," said REFORMA President Oralia Garza de Cortes.

REFORMA also is calling for applications for the Estela and Raúl Mora Award 2001. The award is donated by Pat Mora and her siblings in honor of their parents and was created to recognize excellence in Día de Los Niños / Día de Los Libros programming.
The application deadline is June 30, 2001. Application guidelines may be obtained at
www.reforma.org.

REFORMA is an affiliate of the American Library Association.