National Read Across America Day is on March 2. Here's how you can celebrate reading
Krys'tal GriffinWith Dr. Seuss’s birthday coming up soon, many children and adults alike are gearing up to celebrate around the nation.
Whether his books are a throwback to your childhood or a favorite pastime with your own children, here’s how you can get in on the fun.
Who is Dr. Seuss?
Born Theodor Seuss Geisel, Dr. Seuss was an American writer and illustrator of a plethora of beloved children’s books, according to Britannica.
His books are known for their whimsical rhymes, unusual characters and creatures and sometimes nonsensical words.
Dr. Seuss received two Emmys for his TV specials, two Oscars for an animated feature and a documentary and a Pulitzer Prize for his catalogue of written works. Some of his most popular books include “The Lorax,” “The Cat in the Hat,” “Green Eggs and Ham,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”
What is National Read Across America Day?
Dr. Seuss was born on March 2, 1904, in Springfield Massachusetts and died on Sept. 24, 1991, in La Jolla, California. Saturday, March 2, 2024, marks what would have been his 120th birthday.
To celebrate his life and contributions, National Read Across America Day – also known as Dr. Seuss Day – occurs on his birthday each year. In recent years, a renewed focus for National Read Across America Day has been highlighting diverse children's books.
Read Across America Day was established by the National Education Association in 1997, with the first iteration of the celebration occurring on March 2, 1998, according to National Day Calendar.
The annual event promotes the joy of reading, especially among youth, and is filled with various events showing appreciation for Seuss’s iconic characters and stories that continue to inspire and entertain generations of people, according to Awareness Days.
How to celebrate National Read Across America Day
To celebrate National Read Across America Day, many schools, libraries and communities across the nation host special activities and reading events.
The National Education Association’s yearly Read Across America Calendar features three books each month – for young, middle grade and young adult readers – that explore topics related to diversity and inclusion.
The featured books for March are “A Crown for Corina,” by Laekan Zea Kemp, for young readers; “You Are Here: Connecting Flights,” by Ellen Oh, for middle grade readers; and “Invisible Son,” by Kim Johnson, for young adult readers.
According to National Day Calendar, there are plenty of simple ways to establish a habit and love of reading in children and adults, including:
- Keep books wherever you spend time, like backpacks, purses and in the car.
- Attending book readings.
- Joining a library.
- Reading aloud to yourself.
- Having children read aloud to you.
Other ways to get involved, according to Awareness Days, include:
- Dressing up as your favorite Dr. Seuss character.
- Donating books to local schools, charities or libraries.
- Hosting a reading session in a school, community center or online.
- Reading with a child.
- Engaging with others online to share your favorite Dr. Seuss quotes, reading moments or memories.
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To keep in touch with Read Across America happening on social media, the following hashtags can be followed:
- #DrSeussDay
- #ReadingMatters
- #SeussCelebration
- #ReadAcrossAmerica2024
- #OhThePlacesYoullGoWithReading
However you celebrate National Read Across America Day, remember that reading is a great activity to do every day, not just on Dr. Seuss’s birthday, and there are plenty of books waiting to be read by you, no matter your age.
Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.