Join MANA in Celebrating March Is National Reading Month

It's March and that means it’s National Reading Month. This annual event celebrates the power and importance of reading for people of all ages. Reading is fundamental to learning and communication. By promoting reading, especially among children, literacy rates can improve, leading to better academic performance and opportunities in life.

March was designated as National Reading Month to honor the March 2 birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, one of the most popular children’s authors of all time. The monthly observance encourages people to read every day and participate in fun, literary-related activities.

Many schools use National Reading Month as an opportunity to reinforce their literacy curriculum and encourage students to explore a variety of genres and topics through reading assignments, book discussions, and related activities. 

Since reading can bring people together, communities often organize events, such as book clubs, author talks, and read-aloud sessions during March, to create a sense of camaraderie and shared enthusiasm for literature.

Here are 5 suggestions for celebrating National Reading Month:

1. Host a book club. Bring your friends, family, or coworkers together and start a book club focused on a specific genre, author, or theme. Choose a book to read together and schedule regular meetings throughout the month to discuss the book and share insights. If it goes well, you may want to continue to meet every month.

2. Create a reading challenge. Challenge yourself or others to read a certain number of books throughout the month. You can set specific goals, such as reading a new book from a different genre each week or reading books that you started a long time ago but never finished reading.

3. Visit your local library or bookstore. Libraries are scheduling a variety of events, such as author talks, book signings, or reading workshops. While there, take time to walk down the aisle to look at books on the shelves or borrow e-books or audiobooks, to expand your reading options.

4. Share your love of reading. Consider donating books to libraries, schools, or community organizations to support literacy initiatives and provide access to reading materials for those in need.

5. Read your books away from your home. Head to a park, cafe, or scenic spot to experience a relaxing reading session. 

Overall, National Reading Month is a crucial reminder that reading is not just a foundation for learning but also a source of enjoyment, personal growth, and connection with the world around us.

If you’re looking for new books to read, check out this blog, the MANA Sunriser, to listen to excerpts of the children's books, Lamar Montgomery and The Freaky Faces Club by Barbara Gene and Charlie: The Dog Who Lived The Dream by Charmaine Stangl. 

Also, go HERE to visit MANA’s website where you can discover a variety of books to read.