Austin, TX – This April, Texans celebrate 25 years of Children’s Day, Book Day (Día de los Niños, Día de los Libros): a celebration of children, culture, and literature. The Texas Center for the Book coined the term Lone Star Día for the Texas event and encouraged statewide participation. Nationally, libraries, schools, churches and organizations are encouraged to discover “bookjoy” year-round—most events occur around the official national celebration, April 30th.
“Lone Star Día is our Texas celebration of Children's Day, Book Day, a national initiative founded in 1996 by author and literacy advocate Pat Mora to encourage a love of books and reading among children of all cultures,” said Mark Smith, Director and Librarian at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. “Lone Star Día can be a great way to encourage and reinforce the power of reading among all people in our communities.”
Mora, a native Texan, chose the Mexican observance of Día de los Niño’s (Children’s Day), April 30, since promoting literacy went hand in hand with supporting the well-being of children. Plans for 25th anniversary celebrations, some virtual, are underway across the nation. Mora says, “Although this is a challenging year for the world and our country, I have great faith that families, schools, libraries and literacy organizations will generously and creatively inspire our children to be readers. An easy April 30th celebration idea is Triple Treat for the 25th: excite our children to read a book, draw a poster and enjoy a treat.”
A national registry listing events is available at dia.ala.org, which covers events such story times, family celebrations and cultural meals. The site includes free program downloads to access booklists, event posters and sample activities available to all libraries, school, and participating organizations. The website aims to provide easy-to-use materials to make events manageable. Users are encouraged to register their event to the National Día Program Registry to attract more participants.
Information about Lone Star Día and resources are available at www.tsl.texas.gov/lonestardia.
One of 50 state centers affiliated with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, the Texas Center for the Book is under the direction of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and partners with library professionals, educators, authors, publishers and booksellers for our shared mission of promoting a love of literature to the more than 26 million residents of the Lone Star State. For more information contact Rebekah Manley at 512-936-2505 or visit tsl.texas.gov/centerforthebook.
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The Texas State Library and Archives Commission provides Texans access to the information they need to be informed, productive citizens by preserving the archival record of Texas; enhancing the service capacity of public, academic, and school libraries; assisting public agencies in the maintenance of their records; and meeting the reading needs of Texans with disabilities. For more information, visit tsl.texas.gov
