5 Authors to Celebrate During Read Across America Day
There’s something so special about watching a child fall in love with books. The giggles during a silly story, the wide-eyed wonder at a new adventure, the quiet moments snuggled together turning pages. These are the memories that shape lifelong readers.
Read Across America Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the authors who spark that magic. I’ve written about five worthy authors below, but you can choose to celebrate however you see fit! Whether your little one loves rhyme, humor, heartfelt lessons, or imaginative worlds, this is a beautiful time to intentionally fill your home or classroom with stories that inspire.
What is Read Across America Day?
Read Across America Day is celebrated each year on March 2 and is a nationwide initiative launched by the National Education Association to promote reading and literacy among children. The day was originally chosen to coincide with the birthday of Dr. Seuss, but it has grown into a broader celebration of diverse books and authors that reflect the many experiences and backgrounds of young readers across the country. Schools, libraries, and families participate by reading together, hosting themed activities, and highlighting beloved authors who help children discover the joy of books.
1. Dr. Seuss
As stated above, the date for Read Across America Day was originally chosen for this renowned author’s birthday, so what better way to celebrate than to read some of his best works?
Dr. Seuss is known for his whimsical and outlandish worlds, illustrations, and rhymes. I still remember my own dad struggling to read through Fox in Socks when I was a kid! His characters are extremely recognizable, from Horton to the Lorax to the Cat in the Hat himself. Plus the fantastical scenes he has built within these books are so memorable, they almost feel magical. My son loves looking at all the whacky characters in Wacky Wednesday!
Dr. Seuss’ list of written works is immense, and with each one you will find yourself transported into a world unlike any other, including any of the ones he himself created! You may close a book of his insane rhymes and think, what did I just read? But maybe that’s what keeps us coming back!
Check out our favorite Dr. Seuss book here!
2. Jory John
Jory John is easily my son’s favorite author, and for good reason. His Bad Seed series has reached huge levels of popularity in homes and classrooms alike. The characters are all charming, with heartfelt lessons embedded in each story. I have been able to take this entire series and discuss the meanings with my two year old, and my previous students, while maintaining a captivated audience. Jory has done an outstanding job creating lovable characters that make mistakes, and impress the importance of learning from them.
He has a ton of other great reads as well! His Penguin Problems series brought us my son’s favorite book: Cat Problems (which is about a very sassy kitty). We have also laughed wonderfully hard at his Goodnight Already series as well as his Something’s Wrong series.
No matter what book you grab from Jory Johns anthology, I’m sure you and your little readers are in for some laughs, lessons and love.
Check out our favorite Jory John book here!
3. Oliver Jeffers
Oliver Jeffers is not only an outstanding author to celebrate this Read Across America Day, but he’s also a celebrated illustrator! (We happened to check out one of his illustrations this week)
Oliver Jeffers has written a ton of heartwarming stories that I have enjoyed as a mom and a teacher. The How to Catch a Star series is adorable, funny, and captures a ton of childlike-whimsy in its pages. The Great Paper Caper was another story that I loved reading to my class, as it takes on the role of a mystery novel told by forest creatures.
Arguably the most recognizable work tied to Oliver Jeffers is The Day the Crayons Quit series, where Jeffers illustrates and brings life to these opinionated crayons. His combination of real images mixed with childlike drawings make the story Daywalt is telling even more believable.
Check out our favorite Oliver Jeffers book here!
4. James & Kimberly Dean
James & Kimberly Dean have worked together to create over 100 different stories for children to love, all centering around one particular blue kitty. Pete the Cat has been so successful for a variety of reasons, including the wide array of reading difficulty levels they currently have. He’s optimistic, teaches important and easy to understand lessons, and always stays cool!
The simple and sing-songy rhymes get kids grooving along to white shoes and four buttons, while secretly honing foundational learning skills! The mix of simplicity and intentionality that the Dean team have created should be celebrated, and what better time than during a day dedicated to reading?
The next time you’re at the library or book store, check out the huge selection of Pete the Cat books to see if there is a story that fits your little learners interests; With that many titles, there’s sure to be some!
Check out our favorite James & Kimberly Dean book here!
5. Christian Robinson
Christian Robinson is another renowned author and extremely well known illustrator. His works have received multiple awards from New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year to the Caldecott Honors. Christian Robinson is a creator that chooses simplicity, while somehow creating greater depth and feeling throughout his pieces.
Some of his most well-known works of art include those in Matt De La Pena’s Last Stop on Market Street. This is not only one of my favorite books of all time, but it is a cult classic in children’s literature, for good reasons! The illustrations so simply capture the scene while expressing vibrance and evoking emotion. The characters are so wonderfully expressed, you almost feel as if you know them personally.
Christian Robinson’s writings are also well known, especially in the classroom setting. His book You Matter so delicately describes the importance in all of us, while portraying diversity in understandable ways.
Overall, Christian Robinson’s works are a no-brainer for me when it comes to picking out read-alouds!
Check out our favorite Christian Robinson book here!
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Final Thoughts
Helping my son grow his immense love for reading (& books in general) has been one of my greatest accomplishments as a mom. Developing a passion for reading not only benefits him in regard to his literacy, but it has also allowed us to make so many quiet memories together. I could not be more grateful for those moments, and without these talented authors (even those not named) we wouldn’t be in the same place we are now with reading. Read Across America Day is not just a day to recognize great authors, but a day to celebrate all of the pages read together, and all of the pages to come!
I hope you celebrate Read Across America Day this year (teachers typically celebrate it the whole week!) by making some space for a good story together. These are moments your little readers will never forget!
Happy Read Across America Day!
❤️ Until next time
