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Strains of Mexican music filled the children's area of the American Fork Public Library Monday evening as the library celebrated "The Day of the Child -- The Day of the Book."
The event was one of two which the library did during the last year as part of a grant it received to enhance its Spanish-language collection of materials. The other was reinstating storytime in Spanish.
Initial estimates showed around 100 children and adults, mostly Hispanic, attended the fiesta.
Volunteers provided activities for those in attendance. Paul Sampson and Adrian Thayn read "The Three Little Pigs" in Spanish, showing pictures and doing puppetry to depict the story.
There was also face painting, a game with a toy, the Mexican hat dance, a Mexican jumping bean game, and flower crafts.
Sisters Osiris and Hashira Garcia attended the celebration in native dress. Their family moved from Guadelajara, Mexico to American Fork about 13 years ago. Osiris said she enjoyed the festivities.
"It is awesome," she said. "I think I will like the piñata the best. I think there will be candy and big surprises in it."
Library director Sheena Parker said the attendees seemed to enjoy it.
"It is fun to see the Hispanic people support this," she said. "It is bridging the culture gap. They were the first ones here to participate. Many came dressed up."
Children's librarian Vicky Turner agreed.
"I am just glad," she said. "Everybody seems to be having fun."
The two thanked the Young Women from the American Fork Seventh Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for doing the face painting, Peggy and David Shoaf for doing crafts and games and Elizabeth Thayn.
"Elizabeth was a great help putting this together," Parker said. "She brought about six volunteers to help with the hat dance, puppetry and crafts. She also brought sombreros for the children." |
