FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 14, 2003
Contact: Patricia Fraga
(512) 974-7528
Fax: (512) 974-7442
patricia.fraga@ci.austin.tx.us

Austin's Only Bilingual Celebration of Books, Reading, and Family Learning
Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros

Celebrate with us at the 5th Annual Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros, Austin's only bilingual celebration of books, reading, and family learning. The event takes place on Saturday, April 26, 2003 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the St. John Community Center in Northeast Austin (7500 Blessing Ave.) Last year, 2,000 children and parents attended this unique community celebration; over 1,000 new free books were given to kids and families to support reading in the home.

Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros 2003 will include; a reading by Texas writer David Rice, storytellers, dancers, music, free snacks, free books and much more. Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros is unique in Austin in its commitment to giving low-income, predominately Spanish-speaking youth the opportunity to experience the joy of books through readings and workshops by award-winning bilingual authors. David Rice is the critically acclaimed author of young-adult shortstory collections Crazy Loco (named as ALA "Best Books for Young Readers," 2001) and Give a Pig a Chance (Push Cart Prize nominee). Writer-in-residence, teacher, and mentor with the Llano Grande project in Elsa, Texas, Mr. Rice has lead workshops in Austin for children and teens at low-income AISD schools. Born in Weslaco, Texas, his stories reflect the experience of growing up Latino on the Texas-Mexico border.

Since 1999, over 30 community groups, more than 250 volunteers, and over a dozen public schools have worked together to make Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros a model collaborative partnership promoting books, reading, and family literacy. The event has been honored for its success as an innovative, collaborative literacy outreach project with awards from the American Library Association and Texas Library Association. Event organizers include Austin Independent School District, Austin Public Library, Austin Children's Museum, Americorps for Community Education and Engagement, KLRU, Child, Inc., Connections Resource Center, Girl Scouts-Lone Star Council, the Mexican Consulate, and others. For more information, contact Elva Garza, Austin Public Library-St. John Branch, 974-7575, or visit www.main.org/ninos.

updated 21 april 03