Falling down on your resolutions already? Want a goal that makes you feel good?
Make an easy pledge this year: Read more!
It’s fun, it’s educational, portable, comes in an e-version if so desired, practically everyone can do it, and even if that means you are reading TO someone else, get the whole family involved! This year my 6 year old and I both pledged to read 50 books (her kids books, and YA+ for me)– I don’t count the tiny kids books I read out loud to them- fairly certain I’d be at 50 already!
Need more prompting to get you started? Save the following dates on your calendar to jump into a good book!
January 23, 2015: National Reading Day
This one’s for K-3 (specifically in schools). If you follow the rabbit hole, there’s a link for free books. I’m going to give it a shot!
January 24, 2015: National Readathon Day
An undertaking sponsored by Goodreads, the National Book Foundation, Penguin Random House, and Mashable, it’s a nationwide (although outside the US? Don’t let it stop you!) marathon reading session from noon to four. Four hours just for me? Yes please!
February 5, 2015: Harry Potter Book Night
Sponsored by Bloomsbury, you can still get a party kit here HP Party Kit.
March 2, 2015: Read Across America Day
Celebrate Seuss, who turns 111 this year! To see how we’ve celebrated in the past, click here!
April 12, 2015: DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) Day [website currently down]
April 12-18: National Library Week
Celebrate with the ALA and the theme “Unlimited possibilities @ your library®” Honor your local librarians, bookmobiles, and all they do for your family and community!
April 16: Teen Literature Day
Break out a copy of Hunger Games, Twilight, or Divergent and read until you crave pizza!
June – August, 2015: Summer Reading programs
Get involved at your local library, and read, read, read! Challenges, activities and prizes await the kids (and grown-ups, too!) Don’t restrict yourself to one, if you crave more, find a few local libraries and dive into selected programs at each!
September 8, 2015: International Literacy Day
Everyone is doing it, all around the world, celebrate the privilege and READ!
September 27 through October 3: Banned Books Week
Be a rebel, the best books are banned! Harry Potter, Huckleberry Finn, The Catcher in the Rye, Animal Farm or any other frequently challenged book can be your pick this week.
November: National Picture Book Month
Even grown ups love pictures! If your kids are too big, get one and donate it to the library, share it with a friend, or volunteer to read aloud for a group of your choice. Celebrate the first steps to reading, even if you are beyond this stage in your own house!
November 1, 2015: National Family Literacy Day (US)
Get the whole family absorbed in a book. Read together, or camp out in different parts of the house. Raid used bookstores if you all want to read the same book and have your own mini book club discussion! Make it a party!