Pat Mora's Blog, page 37

School libraries transform learning!

That’s the theme of this year’s School Library Month. Every April school librarians are encouraged to host activities to help their school and local community celebrate the essential role that strong school library programs play in transforming learning.

School librarians are important Día advocates! Share this colorful poster of twenty-six nouns that matter to ALL of us who work to connect all children to books, languages and cultures.

Download this mini-poster

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California, here comes Día!

Here’s a roundup of Día celebrations taking place in the Golden State!

Yolo County Library
All branches will be celebrating with cultural performances, interactive STEAM stations, and a free book giveaway with titles in Spanish and English. The library is also partnering with local organizations who will provide information on community resources and health and support services to Día participants and families. "The Library looks forward to Día every year,” says Yolo County Librarian Patty W...

New Mexico celebrates Dia’s 20th

From the New Mexico governor’s desk:

"I, Susana Martinez, Governor of the state of New Mexico, do hereby proclaim the month of April, 2016, as: 20th Anniversary Children’s Day/Book Day, El día de los ninos, El día de los libros throughout the state of New Mexico."

Thank you, New Mexico! You can serve as inspiration to the other 49.

See larger image

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Read a poem a day

Dí’s turns 20 this year, and so does National Poetry Month! Why not try to read a poem a day, in honor of both?

Pat’s poetry collections for adults.

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A special day in a special month

Día partner USBBY/IBBY has celebrated International Children’s Book Day since 1967, on or around Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday, April 2. How wonderful it is to celebrate this day during Día’s special 20th anniversary month!

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Twenty Ways of Looking at a Child

Welcome to our 7th Annual Díapalooza! Let me begin by thanking my wonderful Web team, Bobbie Combs and Laurina Cashin, for their loyalty and creativity. They are treasures! Thanks also to REFORMA, my first organizational partner, to ALSC for its creative energy through the years, to First Book who is coordinating the 2016 Mora Award, and to the other partners mentioned here.

I wrote the following poem as a way to celebrate Día’s 20th. Enjoy!
1
The child climbs into laps
that bounce or rock,...

San Antonio: 6th Annual Early Childhood Institute

Pat will be the keynote speaker at the UTSA College of Education’s 6th Annual Early Childhood Institute in San Antonio, Texas this Saturday. It’s free and open to the public – Pat Mora.

New in paperback: Book Fiesta!

Just in time for Día’s 20th anniversary, Book Fiesta! Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day, Celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros will be available in paperback tomorrow, March 29!

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March 27 is World Theatre Day

This weekend, why not see a play in honor of World Theatre Day, March 27? Another idea: act out a favorite picture book with your children or students. Because the setting is an old theatre, Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo! is a wonderful choice for a Reader’s Theatre!

Illustration by Amelia Lau Carling from Bravo, Chico Canta! Bravo!

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Necessities of Life: Poetry and Water

In celebrating World Poetry Day, March 21, UNESCO “recognizes the unique ability of poetry to capture the creative spirit of the human mind.”

The United Nations celebrates World Water Day on March 22. The 2016 theme is “Better Water, Better Jobs.”

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