As part of the ongoing nationwide annual Día festivities, celebrate the importance of literacy for children on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 11-2:30 pm at Sierra View Library in Reno! Josue Valadaze collaborates with Elisa Garcia, the City of Reno Poet Laureate, to bring poetry to life through hip hop beats, nursery rhymes, and storytelling at 1:00 pm. Together, they remix classic children’s verses, poems, and stories into interactive performances that invite children ages 5 and up to clap, move, and create alongside them. Blending rhythm with children’s literature, they make poetry accessible, bilingual, and rooted in community - encouraging kids to see themselves as writers and performers.
Please note: Space for this event is limited, and registration is required. Parents will be required to attend with their children. Please only register the number of children who will be participating in the event.
This program is supported by Nevada Humanities and is part of Washoe County Library System's Children's Day/Book Day celebration. El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day), commonly known as Día, is a celebration every day of children, families, and reading that culminates yearly on April 30. Día is a nationally recognized initiative that emphasizes the importance of literacy for all children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Photo by Melody Jane Photo
Elisa Garcia is a Mexican-American writer and spoken word artist whose voice was born in Los Angeles and has been shaping the Reno poetry scene since 2009. A proud member of the Spoken Views Collective, Elisa has guided young poets at Brave New Voices and made history as part of Reno’s first-ever team to compete at the National Poetry Slam. Through her poetry, she delves into family, identity, and the tender journey of self-acceptance - using her words as both resistance and a path to healing. Now based in Reno, she facilitates writing workshops, curates special events, and occasionally taps into her competitive roots on the slam stage.