Celebrate National Read Across America Day 2024 with Save the Children


Read Across America Day, an annual reading motivation and awareness program initiated by the National Education Association, calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2. It’s no coincidence that March 2 is also the birthday of Dr. Seuss, a celebrated children’s author whose books continue to inspire and delight readers young and old. 

Save the Children knows that fostering a love of learning early on is key to improving literacy in America and ensuring our children’s success in school and life. That’s why we offer effective school-based child literacy programs to children living in poverty right here in the United States. Our child literacy programs and expanded curriculum in science and math help elementary school children across the country from kindergarten through sixth grade stay on track developmentally and grow as readers and learners. 

The Impact of National Read Across America Day

It’s critical for kids to have home libraries to foster a love of reading, but more than 60%  of low-income families do not have any children’s books in their home. That's why Save the Children works to build communities’ early childhood knowledge and resources through home visits, educational activities, book exchanges and more. 

Days like National Read Across America Day and Take Your Child to the Library Day can help support literacy-based efforts in your community and build awareness for the critical role that early learning plays in each child's development. 

Save the Children Action Network, our political voice for kids, rallies hundreds of thousands of volunteers and online supporters to secure state funding for early education. Did you know: High-quality early education programs have a 13% return on investment – per child.

Tell lawmakers: invest in kids! Together, we can urge our leaders to invest in children – and their futures. 

Save the Children's Role in Promoting Literacy

Save the Children works to fill critical gaps in early learning across rural America to help ensure children have a healthy, strong foundation to thrive as learners and in life.

We work in more than 300 rural communities across America, where we’re often the only child-focused nonprofit, to help tens of thousands of children get essential education support right from the start

Through our award-winning Literacy Boost program, we help teachers, parents and communities boost their children’s literacy development — transforming their future and the future we all share.

Get Involved: How You Can Contribute to National Read Across America Day

Everyone is encouraged to celebrate National Read Across America Day! Pick up your favorite book and spend time enjoying it. 

Save the Children staffers have compiled helpful lists of their favorite children's books, from stories that describe the refugee experience to books that celebrate Black History Month. There's a beautiful book for everyone. 

Give now to help all children in rural America receive the quality early education every child deserves, transforming America’s future today.

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