The 7th annual Feria del Libro: A Family Book Fair is a community-wide event promoting a culture of literacy at home and academic achievement at school, where quality culturally-relevant books are available to children of all ages.

The book fair had its beginning five years ago when the Boyle Heights Learning Collaborative, the LAUSD Roosevelt family of schools, and Families In Schools decided to be pro-active in making books available to families in Boyle Heights, a community with limited access to bookstores and libraries.  The book fair has grown each year.  In 2003 the fair attracted over 5,000 people and in 2007 grew to over 35,000 youth of all ages and their families who joined in the celebration of books on the steps of City Hall.  One of the very exciting highlights of the event is when students are recognized for being the Million Word Challenge winners from their schools and each of them receives a $50 gift card to purchase books at the fair.

This community-wide event is produced through a unique partnership of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the City of Los Angeles, Families In Schools, and many other local non-profit organizations.  The partnership, with the support of the generous corporate sponsors, works to promote reading as an important activity in every home in our community. 

Upcoming Event:

Feria del Libro: A Family Book Fair

Date to be announced

Highlights from Feria del Libro:

1.    Opening Ceremonies include formal recognition of sponsors, along with statements from elected officials giving a grand welcome to the children and families who have chosen to spend their day at the book fair.

2.    Million Word Challenge Student Recognition takes place to recognize students selected by schools who enroll in the Million Word Challenge literacy campaign.  Each student winner receives a $50 gift card to purchase books the day of the event.

3.    Book Vendors are the main attraction at the event and offer family-friendly books; they especially bring high quality multicultural books that are representative of the diversity of families in the Los Angeles area.  

4.    A Piñata Breaking by Million Word Challenge winners and local celebrities reminds us that we are celebrating reading and books; the treats falling are, of course, books!

5.    Supplemental Educational Services (SES) providers who are approved under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) provide information on how to order FREE tutoring for your K-12 students.

6.    College Corner, a program sponsored by Families In Schools, hosts representatives from the many colleges in our community.  Throughout the day relevant information is offered along with interesting interactive activities to motivate students and their families to make college their goal.

7.    Financial Literacy Information is provided by WaMu staff with important material that can support efforts to save for college.

8.    Youth Activities are sponsored by organizations such as LA City Recreation and Parks, LAUSD-Beyond the Bell and LA’s BEST.

9.    Community Based Organizations such as the Boyle Heights Learning Collaborative (BHLC) and the Belmont Education Collaborative (BEC) and others share important information related to literacy and college as a goal for all students.

10.     City of Los Angeles Library provides engaging literacy activities and signs up children and families for library cards—their passport to life-long learning.

11.    Literacy Based Entertainment and Hands-on Activities give students of all ages the opportunity to create projects and see and hear exciting literacy related activities.

12.    Author Readings, Signings & Presentations by a diverse group of authors on the stages and in book vendor booths are entertaining, informative and inspirational.

13.     Student Musical Talent from all over the Los Angeles County entertains between literacy-related entertainment and authors on the two stages sponsored by WaMu and Disney.

14.    Special Literacy Characters are visitors to some of the booths and stages throughout the day and are brought to the book fair by Target, Hudson Group, Disney, and other sponsor organizations.