This year’s Estela and Raúl Mora Award went to two library systems for promoting El día de los niños/El día de los libros (“Children’s Day/Books Day”) on April 30. The Riverside County Library System (RCLS), CA, and the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County (PLCMC), NC, each will receive $1000 and a plaque commemorating their efforts. Established in 2000 by Pat Mora and her family to honor their parents, Estela and Raúl, the Mora award serves to motivate libraries to celebrate Día.

Winners are selected by REFORMA, the National Association To Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-speaking. The award is housed at the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association.

RCLS held a series of special events honoring books, libraries, and reading for children throughout the library’s 33 branches during the month of April. These programs included bilingual story hours, poetry programs, storytelling, crafts, and cultural programs. This year’s event also included appearances by children’s authors Lucía González (a 2008 Library Journal Mover & Shaker) and Pat Mora, as well as folksinger and storyteller Suni Paz.

PLCMC collaborated with many community organizations, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, WTVI Television, Children’s Theatre, and Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation. Each branch hosted programs throughout the month of April. Día activities included an appearance by author and 2008 Pura Belpré Award winner Yuyi Morales, bilingual story times, free children’ books, dance performances, storytelling from various cultures, educational workshops, and a children’s art contest.