LitWorld
Highlights from WRAD’s 15th Birthday Party: ...

Nothing captures the essence of World Read Aloud Day better than our international partners and friends who have brought the spirit of this day to their corners of the globe!

We are so grateful to our international partners not only for bringing WRAD to their local communities, but for continuing to extend the joy of reading and the advocacy for literacy all year long by providing programs where young people can have a space to read, learn, and share stories together.

We also want to extend our gratitude to LitWorld friends around the world who organized beautiful celebrations! We love to see all the different ways in which each community chose to bring WRAD to life.

Highlights from WRAD’s 15th Birthday Party: Celebrations Around the World!
LitWorld
Behind the Scenes: 15 Years with Illustrator ...

For 15 years, Lindsey Manwell has been at the heart of World Read Aloud Day™ with her vibrant illustrations. As we celebrate the 15th anniversary of WRAD, we’re thrilled to feature an exclusive interview with Lindsey, exploring her creative purpose, favorite illustrations from the past 15 years, and the enduring power of art in encouraging a love for reading.

Behind the Scenes: 15 Years with Illustrator Lindsey Manwell
LitWorld
Calling Runners in NYC: Run for LitWorld!

Dear LitWorld Friend,

We are honored to have been invited to participate as a charity partner in this year’s United Airlines NYC Half, an annual race that attracts more than 24,000 runners, and is hosted by New York Road Runners.

At LitWorld, our mission is to strengthen kids and communities through the power of stories, a mission that aligns with New York Road Runners' vision to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running.

Are YOU interested in supporting LitWorld’s mission while meeting that New Year’s resolution? Let us help! We have 5 bibs available for serious runners ready to participate in the marathon and peer-to-peer fundraising on behalf of LitWorld.

Calling Runners in NYC: Run for LitWorld!
LitWorld
50 Days 'Til Our Favorite Holiday: World Read ...

It may be the holiday season, but here at LitWorld, we have our sights set on our favorite holiday of the year: World Read Aloud Day!

Mark your calendars for February 5th, 2025, and get ready to join thousands of people around the world as we collectively celebrate the power of stories.

50 Days 'Til Our Favorite Holiday: World Read Aloud Day!
LitWorld
At LitWorld, We Believe:
At LitWorld, We Believe:

New HuffPost Blog: Share the Gift of Story on World Read Aloud Day

 

Pam's latest HuffPost Blog is about the joy, the power, and the magic of reading aloud that will be celebrated around the world on March 6, World Read Aloud Day.

"One of my favorite read aloud memories is my mother reading the Little House on the Prairie books to me. I just adored those books. The coziness of their lives in spite of so much hardship and hard work, and the closeness of the family life always made me so happy. And my mother's voice was so calm and clear, so precise and measured. It was the perfect complement to these books, which valued the daily moments of everyday life and honored them.

During my many years as a literacy educator, I've had the privilege of witnessing the powerful yet nuanced effects of reading aloud. Like my own memories, reading aloud delivers a deep comfort for a child. In stories, they find a safe place to return to, and tools to navigate life. Books provide a risk-free environment to grapple with the world's big questions."

Read the full piece on the Huffington Post.

World Read Aloud Day is 2 Weeks Away!

World Read Aloud Day is a day to connect with another person through the joy of reading together. Now is the time for the entire community to get involved in WRAD to make reading visible to the world. The simplest, easiest thing you can do to invest in a child's future is to read aloud to her.

We are busily planning our New York celebration and we invite you to join us at the final stop on our WRAD Bus Tour at Books of Wonder. Our grand finale will include special guest author read alouds and a performance by the Story Pirates. Full details here.

Get to know our network of WRADvocate Partners and Ambassadors who are spreading the Read It Forward movement far and wide by mobilizing their communities for WRAD. Visit the WRAD blog often to see the great global initiatives lead by our reading rockstars around the world.

Help spread the World Read Aloud Day movement on social media. Join our Facebook event and use the WRAD logo as your avatar.

An Action-Packed Week for Global LitClubs!

This was an exciting week for LitClubs! In partnership with the wonderful Rukmini Foundation, LitClubs launched in Nepal!

Meanwhile, another great LitWorld partner, the Otra Cosa Network, launched LitClub programming in Peru!

In Kisumu, Kenya, the elders of one of our LitClub communities were given a free eye care clinic in preparation for World Read Aloud Day, so that all community members can see and read on March 6! The LitClubs, which run through the Golden Girls Foundation, were on hand to read aloud to the elders of their community while they waited in line!

We are exhilirated by this global activity, and look forward to launching MORE LitClubs this week in Detroit. 

Read It Forward on World Read Aloud Day!

Read it Forward for World Read Aloud Day by reading aloud and giving the gift of story in any way you can. Read It Forward on March 6, on behalf of the 793 million people who cannot yet read.


Here are your Top 5 Actions to Read It Forward:

1. Read aloud. To a child you know, to a group of seniors, to a new friend, to an old friend. 

2. Gather your colleagues and start a meeting by reading aloud an inspiring article, poem, or book excerpt.

3. Call or video chat friends who are far away. Reading aloud and sharing stories connects us across continents and oceans.

4. Spread the word online. Make the WRAD logo your avatar and use our sample social media posts to rally your networks.

5. Host a fun event. The WRAD event kit has a step by step guide to organize your read aloud celebration.

 

LitWorld Pilots Data Collection Project at Kibera Innovation Hub Site

LitWorld's Creative Director, Dorothy Lee, has landed in Kibera, Kenya! She is with our partners the Children of Kibera Foundation, Vera Solutions, and Jennifer Estrada to launch LitWorld's data collection project. Read Dorothy's reports from the field here.

"We introduced the basic idea of the project to the LitClub leaders, Jeff, Prisca, Maureen, Geoffrey, Gertrude, and they all took the draft of the survey. And then we had a discussion about the survey questions. And it was just awesome. I had a couple of moments where that was all I could think to myself: this is awesome. I could feel the project coming into existence around me. They were asking such great questions, and bringing such interesting and informative feedback to us, it just made me tingle. And then after we wrapped up, we got to immediately revise the whole survey before we forgot what anyone said."

Stay connected

Make a difference