The Library has an AMAZING collection of books featuring stories and information written by and about people from varied backgrounds, races, ethnicities, life experiences, and viewpoints. We love to share selections that demonstrate the range of our collection all year and we encourage you to explore these books with us!
This month, we are highlighting activities and books in our collection by and about people in the Hispanic community. Check these out below and join us at one of our programs, which feature information and stories in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
#READ: Dinner on Domingos by Alexandra Katona
Warm memories wash over a first-generation Latinx American girl as she experiences a typical Sunday night dinner at her Abuelita's house. As Alejandra thinks about all the good times her family has had there, she decides that she wants to be brave and try speaking Spanish with Abuelita so that they can deepen their bond.
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Questions to think about while you read:
- The author writes about her memories of her large family getting together for Sunday dinners. Does your family do something similar? What do you do when you are all together?
- Is there a family member that you are particularly close to? What do you enjoy doing with this person that is special to the two of you?
- Abuelita says, "La comida siempre nos lleva a casa," (food always leads us home). What does that mean to you? What kind of food makes you think of home?
#PLAY: İLotería!
Our featured book mentions the author's family playing Lotería. Lotería is a game played in Mexico that is similar to Bingo. The difference between the games is that Bingo uses a combination of letters and numbers and Lotería uses pictures. The caller in Lotería describes the picture they draw out of the hat, and players who have that item on their card put a marker in that space. Just like Bingo, the object of the game is to get five marked spaces in a row: down, across, or diagonally.
Supplies:
- Printable Lotería cards, found here
- Beans, small stones, or bottle caps to use as markers
- Prizes for winners
- Bowl
Instructions:
- Print out cards for players.
- Take one card and cut out the images; there should be 24. Put these in a bowl for the caller.
- Give each player one card and a handful of markers (beans, etc.).
- The caller pulls a card out of the bowl and describes the image on the card. For example, if they pull the sun card, they might say, "this is in the sky every day and makes light and heat." Players put a marker on the card where the sun is. Play continues until a player gets five markers in a row (across, down, or diagonally) and shouts, "İLotería!" The caller checks that the items have been called, and if so, the player wins a prize.
VARIATIONS: There are many ways to play; the caller can call out the Spanish item name and players can find it on their cards or they can sing or act out the item on the card. To challenge players further, they can have more than one card to play.
From: FreeKidsCrafts.com
#EXPLORE: Make Guatemalan Worry Dolls
When you are stressed out, wouldn't it be nice to get rid of your worries? Guatemalan children have a way to do that with Guatemalan Worry Dolls, also known as trouble dolls (in Spanish, “Muñeca Quitapena”). These are handmade little dolls that Guatemalan children tell their worries to, then the dolls are placed under the child’s pillow when they go to bed. By the next morning, the dolls will have taken the child’s worries away. The origin of the Muñeca Quitapena goes back to a local Mayan legend, and it refers to a Mayan princess named Ixmucane. Ixmucane received a very special gift from the sun god which made it possible for her to solve any problem a human could worry about. The worry doll represents the princess and her wisdom. Pretty interesting, don't you think? Here's how you can make your own Worry Dolls to tell your worries to:
Supplies (per doll):
- Two pipe cleaners, 6-inch length (colors do not matter)
- Different colors of yarn
- Scissors
- Permanent marker (optional)
- Glue (optional)
- Scraps of cloth (optional)
Instructions:
- Fold the pipe cleaners as shown in the image below:
- Connect the pipe cleaners by twisting the legs around the neck, and then wrap the arms around the body to shorten the arms as shown in the image below:
- Choose colors of yarn to be the "clothes" of your Worry Doll (shirt, pants, skirt, etc.) Take a piece of yarn and tie it in the middle of the body. Start wrapping the yarn: the goal is to cover all of the pipe cleaner. You can wrap up toward the arms and head, then wrap down to the torso and legs. When you run out of a piece of yarn, tie it to a new piece and continue wrapping. When the entire body has been wrapped in yarn, tuck in the loose end of the final piece of yarn or use a spot of glue to secure it.
- If you like, use the marker to add facial features and use scraps of cloth to add more texture. You can gently bend the arms and legs of the Worry Doll to pose it however you choose.
- Tell your worries to your Worry Doll, put it under your pillow, and hopefully, you wake up stress-free!
From: Access Art
#JOIN: Attend a program!
View all school age programs and events offered this month.
Registration is required for all programs; if space allows, walk-ins will be admitted. Use the link in the program information to register.
