Yakima Libraries celebrate Día, a children and books day

Libraries in the Yakima Valley will celebrate Día, a children and books day, on Saturday, April 27. The event fosters multiculturalism, languages and reading, while promoting childhood importance and well-being.

El Día de los Niños/El Día de los Libros, or just Día, like the Mexican and Latin American tradition, celebrates kids at this time of the year.

The children and books day has been celebrated in Mexico and several other Latin American countries on April 30 since the 1920’s.

According to a Yakima Valley Libraries press release, Yakima celebrations started in 1996, after Pat Mora, a Texan-Hispanic literature figure, proposed a similar celebration in the United States.

Family events will take place in Sunnyside, Yakima and all other library branches around the Yakima Valley.

Sully Gama is the Yakima Valley Libraries community engagement and impact manager.

“Día is a nationally recognized initiative that is meant to emphasize the importance of literacy and the children and their linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The goal of Día program is to celebrate children and connect them to the whole world,” Gama said.

Events will include story time, book giveaways, scavenger hunts, lotería and crafts.

“Our Día events are a celebration of children and books, two of the things we here at Yakima Valley Libraries are passionate about,” said Madison Gailus, YVL youth services coordinator.

Gailus said Día is an opportunity to bring the community together around diversity, while nurturing an appreciation for stories and literacy among youth.

Community partners, such as Nuestra Casa, Northwest Harvest, Save the Children, and Yakima Valley Farmworkers, will provide information and resources for kids and parents.

Sunnyside Library will hold the event on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Yakima Central Library event will be Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m.

All other YVL locations will have Día drop-in crafts and treat bags available for kids.

Families can pick up treat bags at Buena, Granger, Harrah, Mabton, Tieton, Toppenish, and Zillah libraries on Friday, April 26.

Moxee, Naches, Selah, Terrace Heights, Wapato, and West Valley libraries will have craft kits available on April 27.