Children’s Book Fair at Barnes & Noble Supports La Casita’s Bilingual Library, Literacy Programs

La Casita Cultural Center has partnered with Barnes & Noble to launch a fundraising campaign seeking support for its Bilingual Library and literacy programs. A week-long book fair will run from Tuesday, Dec. 2 through Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Barnes & Noble store located at 3453 Erie Blvd. E., Syracuse. On Dec. 2, the young participants in the literacy program will visit the store for a special holiday story time reading and musical performance, starting at 4 p.m.

A dual language reading circle at La Casita Cultural Center

Dec. 2 also marks the date for what is now known as Giving Tuesday. Founded in 2012 by New York’s 92^nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation, Giving Tuesday is a global day for giving back, in response to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Over 10,000 organizations have partnered worldwide to celebrate generosity and promote giving. This Dec. 2, La Casita joins the movement.

Proceeds from this campaign will be allocated to expand the children’s book collection of La Casita’s Bilingual Library and sustain its weekly children’s literacy program, the Dual-Language Reading Circles. Through this collaborative program between La Casita and the Spanish Action League of Upstate NY, children from 6 to 12 have the opportunity to develop bilingual reading and comprehension skills, engage in artistic activities related to the readings and have their work featured in the annual Young Art exhibit that La Casita presents in the spring.

La Casita’s Reading Circles program is offered at no cost to participants. It also engages dozens of college students who volunteer their service and advance their career training in areas of education, social work, child and family studies and civic engagement.

From Dec. 2-8, Barnes & Noble customers can make a purchase at any store around the country or online, and without any additional charge, a percentage of the sale will be credited by Barnes & Noble to La Casita for the acquisition of new books. Customers just need to present a voucher that can be obtained at the Erie Boulevard store or provide the BOOKFAIR ID 11381571 at checkout, in any store (or online until Dec. 7).