College Celebrates Literacy and Culture with Día De Los Niños y Día de los Libros
Moreno Valley College celebrated its seventh annual Día de los Niños y Día de los Libros (Day of the Child/Day of the Book) with a joyful and collaborative event hosted by the Puente Program and the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Center. The service-learning celebration brought together students, faculty, and community members to honor children and promote multicultural literacy through shared language, heritage, and storytelling.
The event featured multilingual storytime, including selections such as the Caldecott Award-winning Home in a Lunchbox by Cherry Mo and culturally rich titles from Lil’ Libros, which introduced participants to stories from around the world.
The ECE playground was transformed into an immersive literacy experience, with themed stations that brought storybooks to life through real-world activities. Each station was inspired by a children’s book displayed at the table and featured hands-on components tied directly to the story’s theme. Children enjoyed ice cream at a station based on a book about an ice cream vendor, crafted maracas at a music-themed table, and panned for gold at a station inspired by a book on exploration. These interactive experiences allowed preschoolers to engage with literature through sight, sound, taste, and touch—reinforcing storytelling in memorable and meaningful ways.
MVC Puentistas, Children’s Literature scholars, ECE and Early Education (EAR) faculty, college employees, EAR 30 interns, and departments such as the iMAKE Innovation Center and Wellness Center collaborated to create these memorable experiences. Their creativity and enthusiasm ensured that children could learn through play while connecting deeply with multicultural stories.
As part of the celebration, MVC Puente and English scholars also attended a special platica (talk) with Cellar Door Bookstore owner Linda Sherman-Nurick, who spoke about her journey as an independent bookstore owner and her dedication to uplifting diverse voices through literature. In previous years, Día de los Niños y Día de los Libros events have included guest mentors like author Sandra Gonzalez-Mora and illustrator Reynaldo Mora, who have shared their experiences in publishing bilingual children’s books.
“We would love to kindly thank the remarkable hard work from all Puentistas and EAR 30 interns,” said Patricia Lucero, an ECE teacher. “Each scholar came into our Preschool with a positive outlook from setup to cleanup. The back-and-forth exchange was sincere between children and adults; there was communication and enthusiasm as students facilitated the activities; and most importantly, everyone felt comfortable to simply have fun and appreciated the opportunity to feel like a child again through play-based learning.”
Puentista Ana Paola Valdez reflected on the power of the event, saying, “Participating in this activity made me understand how crucial multicultural stories are and how important it is to share them not just with children but also with our communities. Stories are not just to entertain; they are connectors to our history, values, and ways of life.”
This year’s Día de los Niños y Día de los Libros event showcased Moreno Valley College’s ongoing commitment to embracing language, culture, and inclusivity in joyful, creative, and meaningful ways.