Early March, schools celebrate Read Across America. We think this is a grand idea. There really is nothing better than taking time to read a good book, unless it’s taking time to eat a stroopwafel while reading.
The date was chosen originally to coincide with the birthday of Dr. Seuss on March 2. Recent years have seen broader efforts to encompass modern picture books. Still, it is likely you’ll see kids marching around in Cat in the Hat hats since that’s just a fun thing to do.
If you are celebrating, stroopwafel is a great treat to bring to your child’s classroom, whether it’s a class of 20 or a homeschool of 3. It’s a different and unusual cookie that can spark conversation. 3Bros Dutch Cookies offers a rare place where you can get cookies that are freshly baked, individually wrapped, and shipped fast to you. Try them!
Recommended Books for Read Across America and National Reading Month
There are many lists of books for Read Across America. This seems like a great list for this celebration.
Elementary Readers
How to Read a Book by Kwame Alexander
I am a Story by Dan Yaccarino
Bunny’s Book Club by Annie Silverstro, Tatjana Mai-Wysee
Reading Makes You Feel Good by Todd Parr
A Child of Books by Oliver Jeffers, Sam Winston
Read! Read! Read! By Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, Ryan O’Rourke
Preschool Readers
Look! A Book! By Bob Staake
Open this Little Book by Jesse Klausmeier, Suzy, Lee, Sara Gillingham
Red Knit Cap Girl and the Reading Tree, Naoko Stoop
I Do Not Like Books Anymore by Daisy Hirst
The Book Hog by Greg Pizzoli
Charlie Cook’s Favorite Book by Julian Donaldson, Axel Scheffler
Ways to Celebrate Read Across America With Your Family
- Establish DEAR time. “Drop Everything and Read”. You could set a timer and when it goes off, everyone has to stop what they are doing to read alone or together. This can help break the video and gaming addictions!
- Create a story circle habit. Whether inside or outside, the family sits in a circle to read stories or to share stories. Story-telling was the time-honored tradition of entertainment before electronics and computers.
- Make a storytelling bag. In the bag, put a wide variety of items. Pass the bag around the family and have members tell a story based on items they draw from the bag.
- Act it out. After reading a new or favorite story, have the family act it out. Dressing up and acting silly together is fun, and it brings the story to life in a child’s imagination.
- We hope you’ll “drop everything and read” a bit more for Read Across America and National Reading Month. If you need some stroop to go with that, you’ll find what you need here.
