Preschoolers from the Arlington Independent School District will enjoy a special field trip to the George W. Hawkes Central Library on Wednesday, April 30 and Thursday, May 1. They will be celebrating El Día de los niños/ El Dia de los libros.

Children’s Day/Book Day is a worldwide effort to introduce children to books and reading. During the library visit, students will participate in a story time celebrating the history of Día with the reading of Pat Mora’s Book Fiesta,along with traditional Mexican songs and finger plays.

Special guest readers will include Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Jimmy Bennett and other Arlington City Council Members. AmeriCorps Vistavolunteers will perform in a readers’ theater-style presentation of favorite children’s books, including Mo Willems’ Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin and James Dean.

Children will tour the library and have the opportunity to pick up new library cards to use during bi-weekly story time visits, a community outreach initiative of the Arlington Public Library. The visits will conclude with party favors, a special gift, and a book to take home.

An additional afternoon session is open to the public on April 30, 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., in the George W. Hawkes Central Library Community Room. Reading Corpsparticipants and their families are invited to join the festivities. Following the program, children may make crafts to take home.

For more information, see the library website at ArlingtonLibrary.org or call 817-456-6900.