Canta Conmigo

‘Sing With Me’ connects families through Spanish and song at Point Reyes Library

Story and Photos by George Alfaro • Bay City News

April 14, 2026

EVERY MONDAY at the Point Reyes Library, librarian Alex Porrata leads “Canta Conmigo,” a story time circle centered around Spanish music and movement for newborns, toddlers and their caregivers where play and language-building skills are intertwined.

Librarian Alex Porrata blows bubbles as children play and dance to a Spanish song during the bilingual Canta Conmigo story time program Monday at the Point Reyes Library. (George Alfaro/Bay City News)

The 30-minute sessions use songs, simple stories and guided movement to introduce Spanish vocabulary and rhythms to infants and toddlers. Caregivers join in, reinforcing words and gestures that children can repeat at home. According to Porrata, the format is intentionally low-pressure: repetition and enjoyment, not formal instruction.

“I get tremendous joy sharing language and culture with the kids. There is nothing more fun than singing and dancing with them,” said Porrata.

Porrata trained with Colors of Spanish, a Sonoma County program founded in 2004 that supports libraries, schools and organizations in early Spanish-language learning. The organization uses music, movement and storytelling to promote bilingualism and whole-child development. Colors of Spanish also provides professional development for educators, equipping classroom teachers with practical, research-informed techniques to support bilingual learners.

Porrata said that training informed the structure and energy of Canta Conmigo, from song selection to interactive routines. The program helped her adapt strategies for a library setting, keeping activities short, accessible and easy to replicate.

Librarian Alex Porrata leads the bilingual Canta Conmigo story time program at the Point Reyes Library on Monday, April 13, 2026. “I get tremendous joy sharing language and culture with the kids. There is nothing more fun than singing and dancing with them,” she said. (George Alfaro/Bay City News)

Researchers and early-education experts note that language exposure in the first years of life strengthens phonetic awareness, vocabulary acquisition and social communication. Programs like Canta Conmigo also aim to foster cultural connections between community members and family alike. For many families, Spanish is tied to identity and intergenerational bonds, as the mother tongue keeps the culture alive. Porrata said the sessions offer both language practice and a space for families to connect over shared tradition.

“It’s also important that they see themselves and see their culture reflected,” she said.

Scenes from the Canta Conmigo story time at the Point Reyes Library on Monday, April 13, 2026. Left: Librarian Alex Porrata uses gestures to teach young children Spanish. Right: Porrata bids her pupils farewell at the end of a bilingual Spanish immersion program. (George Alfaro/Bay City News)