Día!: Books To Celebrate Every Child
By Angela Martinez, Children's Associate, Broken Arrow Library
Every year on April 30th (and for Tulsa City-County Library, all of April), libraries celebrate El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Día!), a day that honors children, families, and reading. But Día! is more than just a single celebration. It’s a reminder that connecting kids to books, language, and culture should happen all year long.
In my Build A Reader storytimes, I see this play out in real time. Many of the children who attend my programs come from similar backgrounds, and there is so much value in introducing them to stories that act as “windows” into lives that look different from their own. But there is something truly special when a new child walks in and, through a book I’ve chosen, gets to experience a “mirror” moment—seeing themselves, their family, or their culture reflected on the page.
That’s what Día! is all about. It encourages us to celebrate all children while also honoring the languages, traditions, and experiences they bring with them. Picture books are such a natural way to do this. Whether it’s a bilingual story, a folktale, or a book featuring characters from different cultural backgrounds, these stories help children feel seen while also building understanding and empathy.
Día is a mindset when planning storytime. It’s about being intentional with book selection, thinking about who might walk through the door, and making sure every child has the chance to feel like they belong. Because when kids see themselves in books, it doesn’t just support literacy—it builds confidence, connection, and a love of reading that can last a lifetime.
Check out these staff-created Bibliocommons lists for even more diverse reads in both fiction and nonfiction.
https://tccl.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/display/2233289039/2469228709
https://tccl.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/display/275252227/2863277677
https://tccl.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/display/117553264/2300840819
https://tccl.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/display/2309787859/2948624577
