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English and Spanish
speaking members of the Hispanic League and the community are invited to come out and enjoy the new bilingual storytime series, also con-sponsored by the Hispanic League, which will include stories, songs, crafts, and refreshments. Sessions will take place at Southside Library, 3185 Buchanan Street at 7 pm the second Monday of each month (began May 14), Reynolda Library, 2839 Fairlawn Drive, 7 pm, the fourth Tuesday of each month, and Kernersville Library, 130 East Mountain Street, Kernersville on varying Saturdays at 11 am. Call 748-3088 or the appropriate library for more information. In April the Hispanic League partnered with the Forsyth County Public Library for the second time in presenting Day of the Children/Day of the Books, a new holiday whose goal is to bring together children and books and celebrate Hispanic culture. Last year’s program at the Central Library, featuring children’s author and storyteller Lucía Gonzalez, drew an enthusiastic crowd of 175 people. This year the program was presented in three different libraries: Southside, Kernersville, and Reynolda Manor - in order to kick off ongoing monthly bilingual storytimes at the same locations. All drew large crowds totaling about 600 altogether, including between 40-70% Hispanic participants in each location! The program featured a musical play entitled "Señor Gato y Sus Amigos/Mr. Cat and His Friends," presented by the Touring Theatre Ensemble of North Carolina. It presents a high-spirited romp through Latin American stories and singing games, which feature animal characters. The stories were "Señor Cat’s Romance," "The Bossy Gallito," "La Cucarachita Martina," and "Chato’s Kitchen/Chato y su Cena." Singing games included such favorites as "Arroz Con Leche," and "Vibora de la Mar." The five actors and actresses quickly jumped from one character to another with only the slightest of costume changes that were pulled from a couple of colorful boxes in full view of the audience. They played their roles with charm, humor, and energy, engaging and delighting the entire audience from toddlers to grandparents. When he courts the Cucarachita Martina, for example, Señor Gato leans over her so aggressively that she falls off her seat. Ratoncito Perez, on the other hand, is so shy that he covers his face almost entirely with his hat. As last year Day of the Books was rounded out by refreshments, the busting of a piñata, and the opportunity for each child to choose a gift book appropriate to his own age, interest, and language. Que Pasa Carolina visited the program at Kernersville Library and included an article about it in their society page. Unfortunately, the theatre company did not permit photographing during the play, but we have included some pictures before and after. This event was very successful at bringing out both the Hispanic and non-Hispanic community to enjoy a quality family event that celebrates Hispanic culture. The Hispanic League made this possible by covering over half the cost of the theatre group. Also the Cultural Events committee of the League assisted library staff and their volunteers in carrying out the events. This included committee chairs Jon Sundell, and Carla Clayton, plus Ana Gonzalez, her husband, Luis, and children Sara and Andrés, Carla Periera, Diane Iseman, Humberto and Ramiro Pulido. Library patron Jorge Vasquez and Que Pasa editor Francisco Cámara, as well as several other guests, stepped in to hold the library’s ingenious new piñata holding machine. Thanks to all in helping make Day of the Children/Day of the Books a resounding success! |
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HISPANIC LEAGUE OF THE
PIEDMONT TRIAD |
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