The Hoboken Public Library and the Hoboken Dual Language Charter School is hosting a free weekly bilingual story hour on Wednesday at the Grand Street branch.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The free program, which has HolA middle school students reading to young residents in Spanish, features a themed story time with books, songs, and take-home crafts.
“The power of bilingual story time is shown in one of my favorite experiences,” Head of Library Youth Services Vanessa Iris Soto said in a statement.
“The parent of one of our preschoolers who regularly comes to bilingual story time told me about a conversation she’d had with her child’s teacher: The teacher related that the youngster had asked for Spanish-language songs. The teacher asked if the family spoke Spanish at home. ‘No,’ replied the parent, ‘all the Spanish he’s learned is from bilingual story time at the library.’”
Bilingual Story Hour with HoLa is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at the library’s Grand Street Branch, located on the second floor of Multi-Service Center at 124 Grand St.
“We’ve been fortunate to have a strong relationship with the Hoboken Public Library for a number of years, and one of the dreams we have had was a free program through which HoLa students could read to Hoboken children in Spanish,” added HoLa Executive Director Jen Sargent.
Hoboken Library Director Jennie Pu also gushed about the program.
“We can’t think of a more important partner than our local schools in spreading the love of literacy and languages,” she stated.
“At the heart of the library we connect people with one another. I think it’s wonderful and so impactful that our students are connecting with younger children through songs and stories and play. Together our Library and schools are helping to prepare our youngest and emerging citizens to flourish and thrive in an increasingly global and connected world.”
