PORT ANGELES — Eli Rosenblatt — a multi-instrumentalist, performer, producer and composer based in Seattle — on Saturday will lead El Día de los Niños/El Día de los Libros (Children’s Day/Children’s Book Day) celebrations at the Sequim, Port Angeles and Forks libraries.
The North Olympic Library System, or NOLS — which oversees those three libraries, as well as the Clallam Bay Library — is hosting the free celebrations in concurrence with hundreds of libraries across the nation.
Rosenblatt, a bilingual musician, and his friends will lead the celebration with music in English and Spanish.
He will perform at 10:30 a.m. at the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave; at 1 p.m. at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St.; and at 4 p.m. at the Forks Library, 171 S. Forks Ave.
All children in attendance will receive a free book, organizers said.
El Día de los Libros is a celebration of children, families and reading that culminates each year on April 30.
This day, also known as Día, emphasizes the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Every year, libraries across the country celebrate Día and book diversity.
Musical style
Rosenblatt’s musical style spans the globe, incorporating sounds from Cuba, Eastern Europe and Africa.
“Eli and his band visited us . . . in October,” said Jennifer Knight, NOLS youth services librarian.
“He was tons of fun. We’ve had people asking when he’ll be back all year and are happy he’s able to help us celebrate one of our favorite holidays.”
NOLS has a wide range of books for all ages available in Spanish. In addition, patrons can request books in other languages from libraries around the country through the system’s interlibrary loan service.
Día events are supported by Friends of the Library groups in Forks, Port Angeles and Sequim.
For more information, contact the Forks Library at 360-374-6402; the Port Angeles Library at 360-417-8500, ext. 7705; the Sequim Library at 360-683-1161; or visit the library website at www.nols.org.
To contact the youth services department, email youth@nols.org.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
