National Hispanic Cultural Center to Host Virtual Children’s Bilingual Book Festival

April 8th, 2021

ALBUQUERQUE – The History and Literary Arts program at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) will host its annual Children’s Bilingual Book Festival via Zoom April 15-18, 2021. Registration is not required for this free, all-ages event, and access links to the activities will be made available each morning of the festival. 

Geared toward young readers in grades K-6, this year’s Children’s Bilingual Book Festival will include author readings, illustrator demonstrations, story time hours, activities, storytelling sessions by kids and authors, and music. More than 30 presenters will be available throughout the four-day event.  

As the only event of its kind in the United States, the Children’s Bilingual Book Festival will feature children’s books written in Spanish and English and Indigenous languages and English. The focus on Spanish, English, and Indigenous languages books and authors makes this festival particularly meaningful and vibrant, reflecting the identities of many children, not only in New Mexico but the Southwest and beyond. 

The goal of the event is for children to see themselves in contemporary children’s literature, to promote a love for reading and literacy, and to introduce a bilingual body of literature to a wider audience. 

“We are so excited to share this free festival with children, parents, and educators everywhere,” said Valerie Martínez, director of the History and Literary Arts program at the NHCC. “Some of the best U.S. bilingual children’s authors will be representing, there are workshops for parents and educators, and kids lead and read during several sessions — all to celebrate a love of reading in multiple languages.” 

For more information, including each day’s Zoom link, please visit https://www.nhccbookfest.com.

About the National Hispanic Cultural Center
The National Hispanic Cultural Center is dedicated to the preservation, promotion and advancement of Hispanic culture, arts and humanities. The Center presents mission related events throughout the year, some produced by its history, literary, performing and visual arts programs, and others by partnering with external organizations. Events take place at its 20-plus-acre campus, which includes a plaza, an art museum, a historic designated building, a library, and genealogy center. The Center is a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and is further supported by the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation.