Dovetailing off Hispanic Heritage Month is Latino AIDS Awareness Day Monday October 15, 2007. To mark this day, the Washtenaw County Public Health department is providing free AIDS testing for adults or young people over 13 years old. While Latinos only make up about 14% of the U.S. population, they account for 19% of the AIDS cases in the U.S. since the start of the epidemic. In 2004, Latinos accounted for 20% of the new AIDS cases in the U.S. To read more about the impact of AIDS look for Aids in America by Susan Hunter.

Learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month on this site for kids--enlightening for grown-ups as well! There are some exciting local events beginning this week-end to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Fun for the whole family is Gran Noche Mexicana in Ypsilanti. Also this week-end, performing in Detroit, the talented Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. Feel like staying in and having a private salsa or merengue fiesta? Check out Baila! A Latin Dance Party!

This month Proyecto Avance: Latino Mentoring Association, or PALMA, will once again begin holding English language tutoring sessions at the Downtown Library. PALMA is the brainchild of Cristhian Espinoza, a Spanish professor at the University of Michigan’s Residential College. The organization pairs UM students with native Spanish speakers in the community who are interested in learning English. Participants range in age from infants and preschoolers to adults, and many attend as families.

While PALMA currently has a waiting list, the library has lots of materials for patrons looking to learn English, from DVDs and CDs to books written specifically for adult English learners.

Please join us in welcoming PALMA back to the Ann Arbor District Library!

Okay, I confess I am a huge fan of surfing stories - movies, books, TV shows - I love them all! Fans of surfing will enjoy In the Break by Jack Lopez, but a love of surfing is not required. In the Break follows the story of 15 year old best friends, Juan and Jamie. They live and breath surfing and love the freedom that comes with being in the water. Unfortunately, life outside the water isn't so ideal. After an argument between Jamie and his abusive step-father comes to blows Jamie needs to get out of town - fast. Together (along with Jamie's sister, Amber) they head for Mexico - with surfboards stowed in the back. Unfortunately for Juan, Jamie and Amber things will never be the same again..

This month Proyecto Avance: Latino Mentoring Association, or PALMA, will begin holding English language tutoring sessions at the Downtown Library. PALMA is the brainchild of Cristhian Espinoza, a Spanish professor at the University of Michigan’s Residential College. The organization pairs UM students with native Spanish speakers in the community who are interested in learning English. Participants range in age from infants and preschoolers to adults, and many attend as families.

While PALMA currently has a waiting list, the library has lots of materials for patrons looking to learn English, from DVDs and CDs to books written specifically for adult English learners.

Please join us in welcoming PALMA to the Ann Arbor District Library!

Dia de los Muertos (meaning "Day of the Dead") celebrations run from October 31 through November 2. Teach your child about this ancient Aztec holiday and celebrate the memory of your loved ones with these books from our youth collection:

Felipa and the Day of the Dead by Birte Müller
Beto and the Bone Dance by Gina Freschet
Clatter Bash!:a Day of the Dead Celebration by Richard Keep.
Calavera Abecedario : a Day of the Dead Alphabet Book by Jeanette Winter
Day of the Dead by Linda Lowery
The Skeleton at the Feast : the Day of the Dead in Mexico by Elizabeth Carmichael and Chloë Sayer.