Thank you to everyone who participated in World Read Aloud Day 2016. We hope you will continue to read aloud to children in your life every day. Reading aloud to children every day is proven to put them almost a year ahead of children who are not read to, regardless of parental income, education level or cultural background. In addition, research from the Kids & Family Reading Report has shown that 83% of children (ages 6-17) enjoy reading aloud at home as a fun, special activity to do with parents! The same report also found among kids ages 6-11 who are no longer read aloud to at home 40% wish it had continued.
To celebrate the critical importance of reading aloud here are some World Read Aloud Day resources that can be used year round:
- “100 Best Books to Read Aloud” List: LitWorld, Scholastic and Orajel™, a family sponsor of World Read Aloud Day, have curated a “100 Best Books to Read Aloud” list to unveil in conjunction with World Read Aloud Day and the launch of the Orajel™ Read2Me Tonight campaign, which encourages families to include reading aloud as part of a child’s healthy nighttime routine. The list was created by parents and experts including Pam Allyn, founder of LitWorld. Visithttp://www.scholastic.com/read2me/to access the “100 Best Books to Read Aloud” list along with a brand new downloadable book from Orajel™ called The Three Bees, all about starting great bedtime routines, created with the help of Scholastic."
- Free downloadable resources: World Read Aloud Day 2016 resources are available for free download on the LitWorld website and can be used by individuals or organizations to plan World Read Aloud Day celebrations. The resources provide tools for scheduling virtual read aloud connections with published authors and other classrooms across the globe. Teachers can schedule Skype connections with authors and classrooms across six continents for World Read Aloud Day.
- Scholastic Book Fairs World Read Aloud Kit: Throughout the month of February, the kit will be distributed to more than 1,000 school book fairs that will be held on or around World Read Aloud Day. The Scholastic Book Fairs kit is also available for free download for families and teachers to host their own World Read Aloud Day party. The kit provides ideas for hosting a read aloud event and includes read aloud program materials, printable bookmarks, tips for facilitators and more!
If you will be in the NYC area now until March 31, 2016:
- Reading Aloud on Broadway with School of Rock—The Musical: Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway musical is celebrating World Read Aloud Day on February 24 with a special reading event after the 2:00 p.m. matinee in New York City. Cast members will read aloud to children in the audience and give out free books provided by Scholastic. In addition, together with Scholastic and Polo Ralph Lauren Kids, School of Rock—The Musical is supporting World Read Aloud Day by donating 10% of the proceeds fromSchool of Rock—The Musical tickets sold from February 24–March 31 to support LitWorld. Purchasers must use code SCRLN126 when reserving tickets by phone, at the box office or at telechargeoffers.com.
Here are some of our favorite author moments from the My Very Own Library event in Newark, NJ:
Gordon Korman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of three books in The 39 Clues series as well as five books in his Swindle series: Swindle, Zoobreak, Framed, Showoff, and Hideout, shares his favorite book from his childhood and explains how it inspired him.
Natalie Standiford, author of Switched at Birthday, tells students from Newark, NJ who her favorite person to read aloud with is.
Kristin Rocha, author of the series Secrets of Bearhaven, celebrated World Read Aloud Day by sharing who she’d love to read aloud to.
