Blog by Chien, Polina, Tandy, Yasmeen, Jackie, and the Spanish Language Programming Team
Día, short for Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros (Children's Day/Books Day) is celebrated in the United States and Puerto Rico on April 30. Día was originally inspired by Día del Niño, a holiday celebrated in many Latin American countries as Children’s Day. On this day, children are honored with games, activities, performances, toys, and prizes to enjoy the wonders of childhood and this joyful time. Schools often present field trips, picnics, fairs, or minimal days to give kids opportunities to have fun and enjoy their day.
On April 30, 1997, libraries officially adopted Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros (Día), transforming this day into a celebration of both children and their books. Día takes Día del Niño one step further by recognizing that children come from various backgrounds, cultures, and languages, and their books should reflect this. As a result, Día has become a day focusing on children, families, early literacy, diversity, and culture.
For more Día information: ALA Día History
Celebrate with AC Library!
In celebration of Día, AC library will be hosting in-person multicultural and multilingual events for children and families. Below are a few of these events.
Special Events
- Día Storytime with First 5 Alameda County at San Lorenzo Library on Wednesday, April 16 at 3:00 pm
- First 5 Dia Storytime at Newark Library on Monday, April 21 at 5:00 pm
- Día Bookmark Craft at Fremont Main Library on Wednesday, April 23 at 4:00 pm
- Día del Niño Bilingual Storytime (Spanish-English) at Union City Library on Thursday, April 24 at 10:30 am
- Día Storytime with First 5 Alameda County at Centerville Library on Thursday, April 24 at 4:00 pm
- Storytime with Mrs. Jean Ficklin at Newark Library on Saturday, April 26 at 1:00 pm
- Read-a-thon: in every language at Newark Library on Saturday, April 26 at 1:30 pm
- Día Family Movie Time at Fremont Main Library on Saturday, April 26 at 2:00 pm
- Bilingual Storytelling Performance at Newark Library on Saturday, April 26 at 3:00 pm
- Día Storytime with First 5 Alameda County at Fremont Main Library on Monday, April 28 at 6:30 pm
- Mariela’s Music Time at Centerville Library on Tuesday, April 29 at 3:30 pm
- Día Storytime with First 5 Alameda County at Union City Library on Wednesday, April 30 at 10:00 am
- Día - Taller de Creación de Libros / Bookmaking Workshop at Cherryland on Wednesday, April 30 at 3:00 pm
- Manitas en Acción - Día Celebration at Newark Library on Wednesday, April 30 at 4:00 pm
Storytimes
- Sing-A-Long Sign Language Storytime at Fremont Main Library on Friday, April 4 from 10:15–11:00 am
- Tibetan Storytime at Albany Library on Saturday, April 5 from 10:00-11:30 am
- Bilingual Spanish/English Storytime at Fremont Main Library on Saturday, April 5 from 10:30–11:00 am
- Hindi Storytime - हिंदी कहानियाँ at Fremont Main Library on Monday, April 07 from 6:15–6:45 pm
- Signing Stories - an ASL Storytime at Fremont Main Library on Monday, April 14 from 6:30–7:30 pm
- Mandarin/English Bilingual Storytime 中英雙語故事時間 at Fremont Main Library on Wednesday, April 16 from 11:15–11:45 am
- Little Bookworms Storytime - Bilingüe Español y Inglés at San Lorenzo Library on Thursday, April 17 from 11:00 –11:45am
- Bilingual Storytime/ Hora de Cuentos Bilingüe at Albany Library on Saturday, April 19 from 11:00-11:30 am
- Kuwentuhan Tayo! Tagalog-English Bilingual Storytime at Union City Library on Saturday, April 26 from 11:00–11:45 am
- Spanish Bilingual Storytime/ Hora de Cuentos Bilingüe at Fremont Main Library on Tuesday, April 29 at 6:00-6:30 pm
Día Bookmark Contest
Children and teens under the age of 18 are invited to participate in our Día Bookmark Contest. Show off your creativity by writing or drawing about your culture, your home language, or your favorite memory of childhood literacy. Pick up a Día Bookmark Contest form at your library. Participants can submit their bookmark designs by May 1, 2025, for a chance to have their artwork printed and distributed throughout all AC Library locations.
Marigold Seed Kits
In partnership with our Garden Center and the Spanish Language Programming team, we are providing a marigold seed kit giveaway! These kits will include marigold seeds, growing instructions, a craft, and more. Visit any AC Library location to pick up your seed kit while supplies last. We encourage everyone to plant marigolds to have them ready to use for Día de los Muertos this fall.
eResources for Early Literacy
Día recognizes that literacy and learning is a joint effort between children and caregivers. Below are some electronic resources to help build up early literacy skills.
- Early Literacy Calendar: This calendar features daily early literacy activities that families can work on together. These activities focus on early literacy skills of reading, writing, talking, counting, singing and playing. Available in English and Spanish.
- Overdrive Kids’ Reading Room, opens a new window: This Overdrive feature provides eBooks and eAudiobooks for kids. Some of these books are also available in community languages, including Spanish, Chinese, French, and more.
- Hoopla Binge Passes, opens a new window: This Hoopla feature provides a bundle of eBooks and/or audiobooks in categories, such as STEAM, world learning, social-emotional learning, and more. There is also a Spanish kid’s books collection.
- LOTE4Kids, opens a new window: Check out free read-along eBooks (picture books) in over 50 languages. This electronic resource now includes American Sign Language, British Sign Language, and Australian Sign Language.
- Discover and Go, opens a new window: This program allows members to use their library card to request free or reduced cost tickets to museums, science centers, zoos, theatres, and other local cultural locations.
- PlayGarden Prep Online Preschool, opens a new window: An online preschool program offering children 2-4 years old a private preschool experience at home! The Online Preschool program offers a private preschool curriculum, lessons with certified teachers, hands-on learning tools, and a daily learning schedule. Lessons are in English.
Learning Together
As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. Below are some additional resources to support parents and caregivers.
- Parenting Collection: Find this collection at your local library. Browse through books for kids and adults on various parenting topics, such as developmental stages, health and wellness, social-emotional learning, and more. Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and more.
- Family Paths: This nonprofit organization provides free, confidential mental health and parenting support for families. Family Path also provides a free Parenting Stress Helpline, with access to a translation service in hundreds of languages.
For more information and family/parenting resources: https://aclibrary.org/families/, opens a new window
Reading Together
Día is also Book Day. Below are booklists featuring multicultural and multilingual books to celebrate the diverse backgrounds and cultures of children around the world.
This list features titles that represent various languages, cultures, backgrounds, and abilities in celebration of Dia. Dia stands for Día de los niños/Día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day) and is celebrated nationwide on April 30. These titles were selected by the Association for Library Services for Children. Book descriptions are quoted from the ALSC booklists.
This list features titles that represent various languages, cultures, backgrounds, and abilities in celebration of Dia. Dia stands for Día de los niños/Día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day) and is celebrated nationwide on April 30. These titles were selected by the Association for Library Services for Children. Book descriptions are quoted from the ALSC booklists.
This list features titles that represent various languages, cultures, backgrounds, and abilities in celebration of Dia. Dia stands for Día de los niños/Día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day) and is celebrated nationwide on April 30. These titles were selected by the Association for Library Services for Children. Book descriptions are quoted from the ALSC booklists.
This list features titles that represent various languages, cultures, backgrounds, and abilities in celebration of Dia. Dia stands for Día de los niños/Día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day) and is celebrated nationwide on April 30. These titles were selected by the Association for Library Services for Children. Book descriptions are quoted from the ALSC booklists.
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