Over ten thousand books to be given away at Children’s Day event

Reading will take center stage on Saturday, April 25th at Washington Park as the El Paso Public Library and Parks and Recreation present their 13th Annual Día de los Niños / Día de los Libros celebration from 11 AM to 6 PM. “The event is a reminder that children are our community’s most precious resource and that reading is one of the most important ways to ensure their success in school and in life”, Said Library Director Carol Brey-Casiano. The Library has over 10,000 children’s books to give away free of charge. Special guest Dora the Explorer will perform throughout the day. Free books will be given away to all the children in attendance. There will also be live music, dance performances, martial arts exhibitions, folklorico groups, Mariachis and other entertainment as well as hundreds of free activities to enjoy. There will be free parking and shuttle service from the El Paso County Coliseum. Admission is free and open to children and families.
For more information visit www.elpasolibrary.org or call 543-5468.

The local celebration began in 1997 at the Armijo Library and Recreation Center in Segundo Barrio as a joint project between the Library, Parks and Recreation and other area agencies. Their idea was to attract area residents to the Library and Rec. Center by creating a cultural program in which the community could identify. While El Día del Niño had been celebrated in Latin America for many years, it was not celebrated in the U.S. until El Paso author Pat Mora wrote an open letter to teachers and librarians asking them to start their own Children’s Day celebrations. Approximately 500 kids showed up to the first event in 1997 and it has grown exponentially since that time. Over the years, the Library has given away over 150,000 new books to the kids who have attended. The books have either been donated or purchased by donations received from local businesses.

Dora the Explorer will be brought to El Paso courtesy of Time Warner Cable. Parks and Recreation will have a Healthy Hearts with Parks walk beginning just before the start of the event at 10 AM. The live on-stage entertainment, will begin at 11 AM and promises to be the best ever in the history of the event. There will also be many food and activity booths for everyone to enjoy.

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