Spanish language students host “Cuentos y Cantos Bilingual Stories and Songs” at Verona Public Library

Most parents of toddlers will tell you that the classic children’s song “Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” is a good  one for language development.  But how about language development in two languages?   Students in Caldwell University Professor Rosa Sanchez’s Children’s Literature course had the  experience of reading stories and songs in both Spanish and English to toddlers at the Verona Public Library’s “Cuentos y Cantos Bilingual Stories and Songs” program on March 27. 

The children and their parents clapped hands, sang, danced and joined in the educational fun program led by the Caldwell students who each picked out their own books to read like “Bear About Town/Oso en La Ciudad” and “Como estas?/How Are You?”

“It was exciting when the kids got energetic,” said Ava Oberlin, a  Spanish major at Caldwell.  Pamely Garcia, an applied language and psychology major at the university, said she was very happy to read after having prepared for the project. For Katherine Garcia, a nursing major with a Spanish minor, participating in the project was rewarding and she enjoyed seeing the “individual reactions.”  

Johanna Valladares, the mom of a little one, said she appreciated the great selection of songs. Her husband Julio Valladares said he liked watching the interactions too and that it was “easy to follow the songs”.  

Rachael Trotter, the Verona library’s children’s librarian, praised the Caldwell University students for doing a wonderful job. She was happy  to see “familiar and unfamiliar” faces among the children and their parents.  Trotter is encouraging members of the community to bring their kids to the next session of  “Cuentos y Cantos Bilingual Stories and Songs” on Monday, April 3 at 10:30 a.m.  The event is free and open to the public. 

Sanchez was very pleased with how well the university students in her class conducted the program. One of her aims, she said, is to have students in her classes “fill in gaps” where things are needed in the community.  “My hope is that this is just the beginning, that we can continue to motivate our students to use their language skills to serve in the community as volunteers.” 

Cutline for the top photo – Caldwell University Professor Rosa Sanchez, Ph.D. (far right) and Rachael Trotter, (2nd from right) children’s librarian at the Verona Public Library with Caldwell University students and some of the members of the community who attended “Cuentos y Cantos Bilingual Stories and Songs” at Verona Public Library.

Updated April 3, 2023- Photos from the April 3rd session.