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Are You Ready for Read Across America Day?

Beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss famously said, “Oh, the places you’ll go when you read!” In celebration of reading and Dr. Seuss’s birthday, the National Education Association (NEA) decided back in 1998 to devote March 2 as National Read Across America Day.

On this day, all ages are encouraged to read; however, the real hope is that by observing this important day, more children will be inspired to read and discover those titles that will stay with them all their lives. If you need suggestions, NPR offers 100 Best Children’s Books for your consideration.

 

Turning Pages During a Pandemic

Of course, COVID-19 has inspired a reimagining of Read Across America Day, with schools and bookstores creating ways to celebrate, virtually.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, whether by tuning in to a celebrity guest read-aloud or by reading to your children at home, the importance of reading relative to healthy child development cannot be overstated.

Our team is made up of book lovers, which is why we think it’s so important to highlight what the gift of reading can mean for children, now and in the future.

 

A Cause for Celebration

Reading to children plays a critical role in their healthy mental and emotional development. Numerous studies have been done which evidence why any time spent reading to a child is time well spent.

Consider these potential benefits published by Healthline, Reading to Children: Why It’s So Important and How to Start:

  • Stronger parent-child connection
  • Social and emotional maturity
  • Sharper listening skills
  • Enhanced vocabulary
  • Expedited language development
  • Greater creativity
  • Wilder (in a good way) imaginations
  • Recognition and understanding of real-life issues, with more empathy for others

Amazingly enough, you don’t have to read volumes to realize these benefits and make a real impact, according to this 2019 study:

“Parents who read 1 picture book with their children every day provide their children with exposure to an estimated 78,000 words each a year. Cumulatively, over the 5 years before kindergarten entry, we estimate that children from literacy-rich homes hear a cumulative 1.4 million more words during storybook reading than children who are never read to.”

One picture book? We know you can handle that and we invite you to celebrate Read Across America Day 2021 by sharing your favorite storybooks with us on social media.  Let’s get on the same page and show children how much adventure awaits them in a good book!

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