The Latin American Student Organization will introduce Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, to children by reading them picture books, explaining the holiday’s history as well as making sugar skull masks.

As part of the Booth Library’s ‘Story Time’ series, LASO will read 10 a.m. Saturday to children ages 3 to 7 in the Ballenger Teachers Center at the Booth Library.

Katrina Thompson, the secretary of LASO and a sophomore early childhood education major, said Day of the Dead is an important holiday and tradition in Latin America, and it is around the same time as Halloween in the U.S.

LASO will give children a view on different cultures by teaching them about Día de los Muertos and how it is celebrated in Latin American countries, Thompson said.

Thompson said LASO wants to show visual representations of the altars used in the celebration and what they are made of.

There will be books available on the history of Día de los Muertos at a higher reading level for older children who attend, Thompson said.

Children will also have the opportunity to create their own calavera, or sugar skull mask, with supplies brought in by LASO members.

LASO has already celebrated Latin Heritage Month by having an elote sale and blood drive. Elote is a cup of corn with mayonnaise, butter and chili pepper.

Thompson said the elote sale on Sept. 19 was successful, with the organization making about $142 by selling around 72 cups.

27 people donated blood in the lobby of Andrews Hall during the blood drive, Thompson said.

The final celebration LASO will be hosting for Latin Heritage Month is called Vamos a Bailar, where participants will get the opportunity to learn different dances from Latin America. Vamos a Bailar is scheduled from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7.

Kennedy Nolen can be reached at 581-2812 or kdnolen@eiu.edu.