A Day for Kids

By Aída Bardales -- Críticas, 4/1/2007

The idea of having a special day to celebrate children is nothing new for many people around the world. What is unique about the Día celebration in the United States—now in its 11th year—is its “marriage” to literature and books.

When I was growing up in Honduras, I always looked forward to celebrating El día del niño (in addition to my birthday and Christmas, naturally!). It was a day full of hugs, games, treats, singing…and presents! We celebrated in school and at home, with friends and family.

I must admit that as a little girl, I never really understood the reason behind El día del niño (Child’s Day), but it made sense: it was a day to celebrate being a kid, just as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day celebrate parents. Of course, as I got older, I understood the value of such a special day and the importance of letting children know they’re loved and appreciated, as well as the history behind it. So, I was very pleased when I learned many years ago that schools and libraries here would be celebrating El día de los niños.

For Hispanic children in the United States—whether they are immigrants or second generation—El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book’s Day) presents a wonderful opportunity to appreciate (or learn) the Spanish language and their parents’ culture through books that depict life in Spain or Latin America, and even the immigrant experience in the United States.

For adults, Día is—and should be—a commitment to help children understand and recognize the value of different cultures and languages through literature that reflects the diversity of the U.S. Hispanic population in particular, and immigrant communities in general. If we encourage children to value multiculturalism, to love languages (and to speak several!), and to love literature and books, we provide them with the tools they’ll need to build a successful and pleasurable future.

As immigrant communities (and multinational businesses) continue to sprout across the United States, multiculturalism and bilingualism will remain an important part of our future. It is up to all of us to lay the groundwork now, to help connect the communities we serve, and linking to children is the key to that effort.

In this month’s issue, Texas librarian Rose Treviño shares some tips for celebrating the big day. But the celebration doesn’t have to be limited to Día. Whether at the library, at school, or even at home, children can travel the world through books, food, or music at any time. April 30 may be the official day, but the concept behind Día should really be practiced every day.

Want to tell us about your plans for Día? Write to the editor.

Aída Bardales
Editor, Críticas