National Reading Month kicks off on Saturday, March 2 (Dr. Seuss’s birthday!) with Read Across America Day, an initiative of the National Education Association to encourage childhood literacy and a lifelong love of reading. Here are all the local bookish events happening this National Read Across America Day across the Austin metro.
Austin Public Library
Teddy Bear’s Picnic
2:00-3:00 pm
4301 Rosedale Ave, Austin, TX 78756
Children ages 2 and up are encouraged to bring their favorite teddy bear out to Ramsey Park for a special bear-themed storytime event complete with crafts, activities, songs, and play.
All Ages Storytime
10:30-11:00 am
Willie Mae Kirk Branch
3101 Oak Springs Dr.
Recommended for children 5 and under (but free for children of all ages), storytime at the Willie Mae Kirk Branch features stories, songs, finger puppets, rhymes, crafts, and more.
Book People
603 N. Lamar
Author Liesl Schuh joins Book People storytime on Saturday March 2 to read from her book Girl Dad (my girls’ favorite part is when Dad rocks the pink bow) in the Book Kids amphitheater. Book People staff will be doing a day long celebration of Dr. Suess, reading from his books and hosting activities for the kids.
Lark & Owl Booksellers
205 W. 6th St
Georgetown, TX
For Saturday’s Lark and Owl storytime, booksellers invite children and their parents to bring a blanket and read in the garden for Read Across America Day.
Reverie Books
5330 Menchaca Rd Ste D
This year’s Read Across America theme is diversity and inclusion, and no store embodies these ideals more than Reverie Books in South Austin. All day Saturday, Reverie is offering a 20% discount on all children’s books and will be hosting giveaways throughout the day. Come visit Austin’s favorite bookstore Cat (not) In The Hat.
Paper Bark Birch
The Railyard Shopping Center
Cedar Park, TX
The Austin metro’s newest bookstore is a children’s book haven adjacent to the Austin Steam Train Association. This Saturday, the Leander High School cast of Matilda the Musical will be doing a reading from Roald Dahl’s Matilda and discussing theater life with middle grade book lovers. Signed copies of Matilda are available for purchase.
Of course, one of the best things about reading is you don’t have to leave your house (or even your bed!) to do it. You can celebrate Read Across America Day on your couch and take advantage of the NEA crafts and other activities for 2024 from the comfort of your home (and if you’re me… hide the glitter). As parents, we can all do our part to help create a nation of diverse readers!
