(http://www NULL.americanlibrariesmagazine NULL.org/news/ala/celebrating-15-years-children-cultures-and-books)

A Family Literacy Celebration 

El día de los niños/El día de los libros, or Children’s Day/Book Day, is a nationwide annual celebration of children, families and reading which emphasizes the importance of literacy for all children from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Hundreds of libraries, schools and communities throughout the country will host celebrations and programs that honor multiculturalism and stress the importance of books and literacy.

“Since 1925, Día del Niño, or the Day of the Child, has grown as an annual celebration throughout Mexico. This day recognizes children, pays homage to their importance in society, and endorses their well being. Pat Mora, a Texas native and nationally recognized author of children’s books, first heard of this Mexican tradition during a 1996 interview for a public radio program.”

Source: http://www.texasdia.org/Toolkit/History.pdf (http://www NULL.texasdia NULL.org/Toolkit/History NULL.pdf)

Through lots of hard work and grass root support for a celebration linking language and literature, Día became an officially recognized event on April 30, 1997.  This year Día will celebrate it’s 15th anniversary!

Join in the fun and check out these great local events:

Oakland Public Library – (http://cs NULL.ala NULL.org/websurvey/alsc/dia/details NULL.cfm?id=1991)Elmhurst Branch (http://cs NULL.ala NULL.org/websurvey/alsc/dia/details NULL.cfm?id=1991)

April 23rd, 2:30pm – 5pm

San Francisco Main Library (http://www NULL.sfpl NULL.org/index NULL.php?pg=1004918601) (http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/dia2011 NULL.png)

April 24th, 1pm – 4pm

San Leandro Main Library (http://www NULL.sanleandro NULL.org/civica/inc/displayblobpdf NULL.asp?blobID=8098)

April 30th, 11:00am – 1:30pm

Oakland Public Library – Cesar Chavez Branch (http://www NULL.eventkeeper NULL.com/code/popevent NULL.cfm?curOrg=OAKLAND&curHelp=NONE&curTZMode=AIRLINES&curTZOffset=123&ref=BRANDABLE&refNote=BRANDABLE&eID=2200604)

April 30th, 12pm -4pm

Oakland Public Library – (http://cs NULL.ala NULL.org/websurvey/alsc/dia/details NULL.cfm?id=1991)Martin Luther King Jr. Branch (http://www NULL.eventkeeper NULL.com/code/popevent NULL.cfm?curOrg=OAKLAND&curHelp=NONE&curTZMode=AIRLINES&curTZOffset=123&ref=BRANDABLE&refNote=BRANDABLE&eID=2171122)

April 30th, 1pm – 2:30pm

Carmen Flores Recreation Center, Oakland (http://events NULL.kqed NULL.org/events/index NULL.php?com=detail&eID=17316)

May 7th, 12pm – 3pm

(http://www NULL.patmora NULL.com/book_pages/bookfiesta NULL.htm)

To learn more about Pat Mora, the event’s core mission, or other celebration ideas visit  www.patmora.com (http://www NULL.patmora NULL.com/)

Click h (http://www NULL.ala NULL.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/initiatives/diadelosninos/Info%20Sheet_FINALDia NULL.pdf)ere (http://www NULL.ala NULL.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/initiatives/diadelosninos/Info%20Sheet_FINALDia NULL.pdf)to download the 2011 Día book list.

Reuse, Reduce, Recycle

In honor of Earth Day (April 22nd), help make a positive impact on the environment by using recycled materials!

(http://www NULL.creativereuse NULL.org/)Organizations like SCRAP (http://www NULL.scrap-sf NULL.org/) in San Francisco or the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse (http://www NULL.creativereuse NULL.org/) are great resources for parents and teachers to put recycled items to good use.  From buttons to bookcases,  they’re helping to make useable excess materials available as art supplies and diverting it away from landfills.  So, you can create projects that are not only environmentally friendly, but are free or low cost too!  For more details about collecting or donating materials, visit their websites.

For other ways to celebrate Earth Day around the Bay, check out these great events happening this week:

Academy of Science Free Admission (http://sf NULL.funcheap NULL.com/free-admission-day-california-academy-sciences-gg-park/) (San Francisco): Wednesday, April 20th, 9:30am - 4pm

Oakland Public Library Re-Useable Tote Bag Giveaway (http://sf NULL.funcheap NULL.com/earth-day-reusable-bag-giveaway-oakland-public-library/): Saturday, April 22nd, 12pm- 8pm

Berkeley Earth Day Celebration (http://www NULL.hesternet NULL.net/events NULL.html): Sunday, April 23rd, 12pm – 5pm

Earth Stroll 2011 (http://www NULL.parksconservancy NULL.org/calendar/crissy-field-events/earth-stroll-2011 NULL.html) ^{(San Francisco): Sunday, April 23rd, 10am – 3pm}

(http://www NULL.naeyc NULL.org/woyc)

April 10–16, 2011, is the Week of the Young Child (http://www NULL.naeyc NULL.org/woyc), an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

NAEYC first established the Week of the Young Child in 1971, recognizing that the early childhood years (birth through age eight) lay the foundation for children’s success in school and later life. The Week of the Young Child is a time to plan how we – as citizens of a community, of a state, and of a nation – will better meet the needs of all young children and their families.

source: http://www.naeyc.org/woyc/faq (http://www NULL.naeyc NULL.org/woyc/faq)

Visit the NAEYC website for Key Facts About Children and Families (http://).

During Week of the Young Child, Raising A Reader staff will be at:

Jumpstart for a Day
Thursday, April 14, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
San Francisco Civic Center Plaza
Selected preschool children and teacher’s will experience various hands-on learning stations, inspired by a popular children’s book.

Week of the Young Child Celebration and Resource Fair
Friday, April 15, 9:00am – 3:30pm
Children’s Fairyland, Oakland
Parents and families can learn about safety and wellness at this celebration and resource fair.
Please NOTE: This event is for Oakland Head Start parents only.

To learn about additional activities, check out the calendar of events  for 2011 Week of the Young Child ( http://www NULL.childrenscouncil NULL.org/?q=community/WOYC), assembled by the Children’s Council  of San Francisco.

For more information about Early Care and Education in San Francisco and Alameda Counties visit:

• The Department of Children, Youth & Their Families -  San Francisco (http://www NULL.dcyf NULL.org/Content NULL.aspx?id=1440&note=1462&ekmensel=14_submenu_16_btnlink)
• First 5 Alameda County (http://www NULL.ackids NULL.org/index NULL.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=8)

Trickster Tales Author in the Bay Area

Children’s book author and illustrator, Gerald McDermott,  is scheduled to speak at the San Francisco Public Library on Tuesday, April 5th as part of the Effie Lee Morris (http://www NULL.ala NULL.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2009/november2009/effiemorris111609 NULL.cfm) Lecture Series. There will be a reception and book signing at 5pm in the Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room. The 6pm lecture entitled Tricksters:  The Art of the Folktale will be held in the Koret Auditorium on the Lower Level of the Main Library – 100 Larkin Street at Grove, San Francisco (http://maps NULL.google NULL.com/maps?q=100+Larkin+Street+at+Grove,+San+Francisco&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=100+Larkin+St,+San+Francisco,+California+94102&gl=us&z=16). For more information about the event download the invitation.

McDermott has authored many Raising A Reader favorites including:

( http://bookwizard NULL.scholastic NULL.com/tbw/viewWorkDetail NULL.do?workId=1134)

(http://www NULL.geraldmcdermott NULL.com/home/geralds-books/coyote/)

(http://www NULL.geraldmcdermott NULL.com/home/geralds-books/raven/)

Click on the book covers to learn more about each title.

You can read more about the author on his website. (http://www NULL.geraldmcdermott NULL.com/)

Literacy Poets

Raising A Reader put out a call  for poetry submissions (http://www NULL.rarbayarea NULL.org/2011/03/use-your-creativity-to-support-raising-a-reader/)on March 15th.  Today, on the first day of National Poetry Month (http://www NULL.poets NULL.org/page NULL.php/prmID/41), we are pleased to announce….

Congratulations to Roya Platsis! Her poem was selected as Raising A Reader’s entry for the CTK Foundation’s Heart and Soul grant contest.

Every letter, an accomplishment
Each word, a victory
We smile and laugh and save the world when you read books with me
Growing every day, my brain
We have everything to gain
Out of my mouth the words will rain
It’s learning you can see.

Judy Pack’s poem was selected as the runner up:

The books they’re strewn
Around the room
He sits among them all.
Mom reads of ducks,
And moons, and trucks
Forever he’ll recall.

Thank you to all the volunteers who submitted an entry! We appreciate your continued support of Raising A Reader.