More than 350 enjoy reading and arts activities
Siler City, N.C. — Sunny weather, free books, and fun activities combined to create lots of smiling faces on Saturday, April 28, at the annual Day of the Books festival at Virginia Cross Elementary School. More than 350 people attended including at least 200 children. All children received a brand new bilingual English-Spanish book when they arrived and then chose an additional 2 to 3 books at the “free book table.” Altogether, about 800 books were distributed to children. Eleven nonprofit and governmental agencies came to support the event and share information about their services with families.
Highlights for the children included bilingual storytime under the circus tent, led by staff of the Chatham Community Library, and the customary breaking of the piñata as the finale.
“El Día de los Libros,” as it is also known, is a bilingual children’s festival that promotes literacy and education and provides arts experiences for children. It is part of the global celebration of the Latin American holiday “El Día de los Niños.”
Chatham County Partnership for Children organized the event with the help of many agency partners, including Central Carolina Community College, Chatham County Public Libraries, Vida de Esperanza Clinic, Chatham Literacy, Chatham Reads and Chatham County.
This event was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, through Chatham Arts. Chatham County Schools provided the complimentary lunch, while the Friends of the Chatham Community Library donated funds for the bilingual books.
Katy Henderson and Luis Melodelgado of Chatham Community Library lead bilingual storytime
Credit: Celeste Helewski
Magetsi 4-H Club of Sanford performed traditional Latin American dances
Credit: Celeste Helewski
Face painters stayed busy all day
Credit: Celeste Helewski