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February 5, 2025: Celebrating 15 Years of World Read Aloud Day™

Published 11 days ago via Business Wire

Today, LitWorld is thrilled to kick off the 15th-anniversary celebration of World Read Aloud Day™ (WRAD). Since LitWorld founded WRAD in 2010, it has grown into a global movement that inspires millions to share the joy of storytelling, bringing together book lovers, educators, and readers of all ages. WRAD takes place the first Wednesday of every February.

“Fifteen years ago, we set out to create a day that celebrates the shared joy of storytelling while shining a light on the fact that literacy is a foundational human right,” said Caitlin Cassaro, Executive Director of LitWorld. “Today, World Read Aloud Day is a testament to the power of stories to connect communities, empower individuals, and spark lifelong learning. This milestone year reminds us that every voice matters, and every story deserves to be heard.”

Strengthening Communities in Need

As part of the organization’s mission of strengthening kids and communities through the power of stories, Scholastic and LitWorld are delivering 4,000 books to four Los Angeles-area bookstores. Local bookstores are vital to their neighborhoods, providing spaces where people can gather, discover stories, and connect. By partnering with Children’s Book World, Zibby’s Bookshop, Diesel, A Bookstore, and Vroman’s Bookstore, this initiative ensures families have access to stories that inspire and unite.

Families impacted by the wildfires are invited to visit these bookstores on February 5 to pick up a free book to replenish collections and celebrate the joy of reading.

Celebrate with Scholastic and Storyvoice

As part of the February 5th festivities, Storyvoice, Scholastic’s digital home for live author events, will host 5 interactive live author shows featuring today’s top children’s book creators, including David Shannon, Joanna Ho, Lauren Agra Deedy, Pete Oswald, and Rex Ogle. These free virtual events will include opportunities for kids and classrooms to read, draw, and connect with their favorite authors and stories. Visit here to view the full author lineup and participate in these exciting events.

Join a Local Event Near You

In addition to celebrations taking place around the globe, LitWorld is also supporting events in its home base city, New York. New Yorkers can attend events at Greenlight Bookstore and The Brooklyn Public Library.

  • Greenlight Bookstore – From 11am - 3:30pm, Greenlight Bookstore will host readings by children's book writers, including Jessica Goodman, Katie Yamasaki, Brian Floca, and Caron Levis. To learn more about the day’s events and RSVP, visit here.
  • The Brooklyn Public Library – From 3pm - 6pm, The Brooklyn Public Library will host a reading featuring children’s author Ross Baruch and WRAD activities in the children's section of the library. Activities include read-alouds, bookmark-making, reading crown-making and building stories.

Be a WRADvocate

LitWorld invites everyone to join the movement by becoming a WRADvocate. By filling out the form on our website, you can pledge your support for literacy and become part of the global community working to ensure every child has the tools and opportunities they need to thrive. Learn more and sign up here.

LitChats Series

As part of the 15th-anniversary programming, LitWorld is delighted to release a WRAD edition of LitChats, our series of recorded conversations with thought leaders. Each episode features strategies to help educators and parents foster meaningful digital communities through shared experiences like reading aloud. Watch the series on YouTube.

Year-Long Celebration

February 5th begins the 15th-anniversary celebration of World Read Aloud Day™ and launches a year-long initiative to promote literacy as a universal right. To honor this milestone anniversary, LitWorld will host events throughout the year, provide valuable resources, and spotlight inspiring stories from around the globe to spread the power of reading aloud.

Organize your own reading events, share stories with loved ones, and spread the word about the importance of literacy. Use the hashtag #WorldReadAloudDay or #WRAD2025 and be part of the celebration – today and throughout the year. To learn more, visit the WRAD Activity Hub for free activities and resources designed to support educators, students, and families.

This 15th anniversary celebration is made possible by LitWorld’s generous sponsors, Scholastic, Outskirts Press and Penguin Random House.

About LitWorld

LitWorld is a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening kids and communities through the power of stories. LitWorld provides children with brave and empowering spaces through our award-winning literacy & storytelling programs that promote social-emotional learning (SEL). Our holistic approach not only strengthens literacy skills, but is infused with evidence-based SEL tools that are intentionally designed to nurture young people’s emotional intelligence so they can thrive in and out of the classroom.

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