First of all, Happy Read Across America Day! And Happy Birthday to Dr. Seuss! What better way to celebrate a birthday than with books? Want to know a little more about the event? Take a look at this synopsis from the main Read Across America Day site and then head over there to take the pledge to participate by reading to the children in your life!

What is NEA’s Read Across America?
NEA’s Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss.

NEA’s Read Across America also provides NEA members, parents, caregivers, and children the resources and activities they need to keep reading on the calendar 365 days a year.

In cities and towns across the nation, teachers, teenagers, librarians, politicians, actors, athletes, parents, grandparents, and others develop NEA’s Read Across America activities to bring reading excitement to children of all ages. Governors, mayors, and other elected officials recognize the role reading plays in their communities with proclamations and floor statements. Athletes and actors issue reading challenges to young readers. And teachers and principals seem to be more than happy to dye their hair green or be duct-taped to a wall if it boosts their students’ reading.

Also, if you’re on Facebook, and who isn’t? Take a look at the Dr. Seuss Books on Facebook page for a chance to win 3 of the best Dr. Seuss books ever!

So, which are your favorites? Are you reading any Dr. Seuss books today? Our pick for the day would definitely be Hop On Pop! It’s been both Turkeybird and Littlebug’s favorite from the very beginning!

Next, if you are a parent, teacher, librarian or just someone looking for great ways to improve children’s literacy you need to be on the lookout for these next two items…

The Book Chook’s quarterly Literacy Lava has just been released! Literacy Lava 8 is out now! No doubt this will be an excellent resource for anyone who is around children at all. You’ll find tips on reading aloud, creative thinking, starting your own toddler book club and more. Don’t miss this issue and past issues, if you haven’t read them already, it will be a great resource I’m positive!

The last item I want to bring your attention to is one readers may remember from last year, Share A Story Shape A Future. This week long literacy event is one that unites the online community in sharing ways to improve, incorporate and encourage literacy with children. It’s something I’m incredibly proud to be a part of and this year I will be hosting the third day, Wednesday the 9th of March, in which we’ll be discussing literacy for the future. We’ll be chatting about technology, from apps to book trailers to eReaders and how the work into the equation of Literacy 2.0. It’s sure to be a fantastic event and I can’t wait for each and every day! Here are the other topics to look forward to:

• The Power of a Book – From the literal power of owning a book and a good story to the intangible power that comes with knowing how to read.
• The Gift of Reading – Whether you’re looking for a book to excite a reader, want to help someone learn to read or celebrate the “gift” … it’s covered.
• Unwrapping Literacy 2.0 – With all of the talk of digital literacy, e-readers, etc. What does “literacy” look like in this new century?
• Love of Reading v. Homework – Do they have to be at odds? We’ll talk about ways to help readers at home and at school.
• The Gift that Keeps on Giving – To wrap up the week we’ll be remembering “that moment” when we realized we were a reader or writer and how to celebrate it with others. Lots(!) of interviews this day.

It begins next week, March 7-11, so make sure to add the Share A Story Shape A Future site to your reader and get ready for some incredible information!

I absolutely adore this time of year, if for no other reason than all the literacy activities going on around the internet! What about you? Are you looking forward to any of these events, or possibly already planning to participate? I’d love to know!

So much is happening in the Children’s Literacy world this week and next I thought I’d share a couple of upcoming events to get you ready.

Today, in honor of Dr.Suess’s birthday, is Read Across America Day. Each year on March 2nd thousands of participants gather to read and share a love of books through events happening all over the country. On the NEA website they have a list of the top ten ways to be involved with the event. Including hosting your own event and even asking the mayor or local legislator issue a proclamation. There are so many ways to be involved, all starting with picking up a book and reading to your nearest child. Check out the site for more details and get involved!

Next up is the much anticipated Literacy Lava issue 4!

I’ve been really looking forward to this best kept secret of mine. This is the 4th issue of Literacy Lava and I’ve been slowly devouring every page. It’s available for free via pdf on the Literacy Lava site. Susan Stephenson of The Book Chook, a fabulous site for book reviews and teaching tips for parents & teachers, has published Literacy Lava and made it available for anyone who is interested. This issue has some great topics including:

• Book Loving Boys
• Discovering Baskets of Hands-On Learning
• Simple Story Extensions: Like cooking or singing
• Links to “Online Extras”

I’m looking forward to continuing my reading of this gem and encourage anyone who’s looking to enhance their experience with the little ones in their lives to take a look! You won’t regret it!

Last is the Share A Story Shape A Future event happening all next week, March 8-14 2010. I’m eagerly looking forward to participating in this event and will have the opportunity of posting for a few different days.

This years theme is “It takes a village to raise a reader” and Susan Stephenson came up with the new logo in honor of the new theme. Every day will have a different topic ranging from: helping children to read through various relationships, being creative with literacy, exploring non-fiction genres, exploring old classics and new favorites, and how to read to the next generation when your interests don’t match.

There will be so much to learn from everyone participating. I hope you have a chance to read a few of the posts and learn something that will help you and the little ones in your life grow a love of reading. Make sure to check back next week when the event gets underway!

For the Comments: Who could you read to today and what would you read to them?