Children celebrate their day with games, stories in Palatine

On Wednesday, April 30, the Palatine Library hosted a program celebrating Día de los Niños (Children's Day). This is a day that celebrates children and connects them to the world of learning through books and libraries.

Dana Mijalski, library associate, collaborated with Gray M. Sanborn School art teacher, Joanna Angelopolos, to involve her second-grade students.

"Collaborating with the Palatine Public Library encourages community outreach and broadens my students' learning experiences. It has become an excellent way to use this wonderful community resource as a teaching tool in the art room. Additionally, these collaborations connect students' love for reading to their love for making art. It's a perfect combination!"

The evening began with families playing La Lotería, a traditional Spanish Bingo-style game. After that, three second-grade students read the bilingual story, "Book Fiesta," in a readers' theater presentation. The program continued with more family activities, including a craft called Papel Picado, or "perforated paper."

Angelopolos' students studied the works of Spanish artist/illustrator Rafael López, even taking a trip to Chicago to see one of his famous murals. They created beautiful group collage-style murals using bright-colored tempera paints. These murals were displayed around the room the night of the program. Families of these artists were able to come to the Palatine Library and view their artwork, as if it were hanging in a museum.

"I love working in partnership with the local schools - it brings families into the Library so they can see what we have to offer. So many people think the library is just a bunch of books, but in reality it is so much more,"shares Mijalski.

For more information about programs like these, please contact, Dana Mijalski at the Palatine Library, (847) 358-5881, ext. 171, or dmijalski@palatinelibrary.org.

The Palatine Public Library District (www.palatinelibrary.org) is your destination for knowledge, entertainment, and community. The Library serves approximately 90,000 residents predominantly within the communities of Palatine and Hoffman Estates.

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