Journeys of my life / Viajes de mi Vida

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

Loudoun County Public Library and Loudoun County Public Schools collaborated to celebrate literacy, creativity, and heritage in the Journeys of my life / Viajes de mi vida project. The venture blended the themes of the National Endowment for the Humanities’ Latino Americans: 500 Years of History grant awarded to Loudoun County Public Library, and the Loudoun Country Public School’s One to-the World initiative which asks students to address a problem, create a product, and connect with the world. Working in teams with public and school librarians, and teachers from Art, English, and English Language Learning departments, over 80 Park View High School students created 17 bilingual picture books under the guidance of Latino illustrator, designer, and educator John Parra. These books are to be delivered to Biblioteca Luz, a children’s library in La Libertad, El Salvador by El Salvador’s ambassador to the United States. The books will also be placed on the shelves of the public libraries in Loudoun County, as well as the preschool at Park View High School. The project strengthened bilingual literacy, and encouraged imagination and group work. The blending of the students’ past and present, and their hopes and dreams were beautifully illustrated in their stories.