91´«Ã½

Through a partnership with nine different organizations, the Salt Lake County Public Library will use the funds to help host the Diá de los Ninos Festival that will take place on April 27, 2013 for children and families of all ethnic backgrounds to celebrate reading in their community. Salt Lake County is home to a large immigrant population with 20 percent of the population speaking a language other than English.

The Diá de los Ninos Festival will feature author John Scieszka who will provide a keynote address, a podcast interview and book signing. Activities at the highly accessible Viridian Event Center will go on throughout the day and be tied to Mr. Scieszka’s books. Based on the Every Child Ready to Read early learning practices, kids will talk, sing, read, write and play their way through Scieszka’s books. Children will be driving cars along a laid-out route for Welcome to Trucktown; a puppet show and puppet-making activity with The Stinky Cheese Man; and a communal writing project for Guys Write for Guys. Book give-aways, mini-grants for local schools to hold Diá events, and multicultural performances will also be part of this exciting literacy festival.