By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris
This weekend is bursting with holidays to celebrate! Saturday’s Halloween is followed by Sunday’s Dia de Muertos, Day of the Dead, and your public library is ready.
We’re offering two Halloween dance party storytimes, one at 10 am for all ages and a Supported one at 11 am for kids with disabilities who prefer visual schedules and structure to their classes.
The library is also part of the Ofrendas de Dia de Muertos en OP & RF community display, from October 31 through November 6. Visit the Main Library windows outside the Children’s Services Area to see our offering, called “Say Their Name!,” in memory and honor of victims of violent crime. See a map of all community display locations (pdf) »
Interested in learning more about Dia de Muertos?
Hear Miss Beronica and Miss Nora talk about Dia de Muertos, Day of the Dead, and show you how to build an ofrenda.
Miss Juanta and Miss Nora also made a beautiful video about Calaveras, the sugar skulls you see during Day of the Dead.
Why do we sometimes say Dia de los Muertos and sometimes Dia de Muertos? Miss Nora explains that Dia de los Muertos is actually an Anglicization of the proper phrase Dia de Muertos, adding in the unnecessary “los” to match the English translation.
Check out these books & activities for more exploration
- Elisabeth at Spanish Mama is a former teacher who has wonderful crafts, activities, books, and vocabulary to introduce to kids.
- Print out and color your own sugar skull mask at Mami Talks.
- Make paper marigolds with these tutorials from the Crafty Chica.
- Following Miss Beronica and Miss Nora’s instructions in Thursday’s video (watch it at oppl.org/virtual-learning), build an ofrenda to remember someone who has died. What did they love? Add it to your offering.
- Browse the Dia de Muertos books on Hoopla »
- Check out more Halloween title suggestions from Oak Park librarians »
About Shelley
Shelley is a children’s librarian with a passion for early literacy, serving and celebrating the disability community, and exploring technology. She can often be found practicing storytime songs with her black lab, Bingo.
