Black History Month (February)

Celebrate and learn about Black history and culture through our video interviews with children's book authors and illustrators, themed booklists, activities for the classroom, home and community, and websites for kids.

Valentine’s Day (February)

Valentine’s Day is a perfect opportunity to practice creative writing skills — and take a fresh look at poetry, figurative language, and word play. Browse our themed booklists and learn how to make a pocket heart valentine.

NEA’s Read Across America (March 2 and all year round)

Celebrate a diverse nation of readers! NEA's Read Across America is a year-round initiative to help nurture a joy of reading in kids. Find resources for bringing diverse books into the classroom, activities for school and home, booklists, and more.

National Poetry Month (April)

30 days of celebrating the expressiveness and pure delight of poetry! Meet some of your favorite children's poets in our video interviews, and discover a treasure trove of poetry books, classroom activities, and online resources.

Drop Everything and Read Day (April 12)

Every year on Beverly Cleary's birthday, families are encouraged to put aside all distractions and spend time enjoying books together. Browse our collection of reading and writing activity sheets, ideas on how to host a D.E.A.R. event, reading tips, and information about silent reading.

El día de los niños/El día de los libros (April 30)

Borrowing from the traditional Mexican holiday El día de los niños, the American celebration focuses on reading and literacy. Dip into our themed booklists, bilingual reading resources for families and activities for children, author and illustrator interviews, and more.

Teacher Appreciation Week (May)

One great teacher can make all the difference. Get inspired by the voices of appreciation here (including writers Judy Blume, Patricia Polacco, and Kadir Nelson) — and send an e-card to a teacher who has made a difference in your life.

Asian Pacific American Heritage (May)

Celebrate family traditions and the rich diversity of Asian and Pacific Americans with books, author interviews, activities, lesson plans, and other multimedia educational resources.

Summer Reading (June–August)

Dive into our great big pool of summer resources, including activities for teachers to help families get ready for a fun, enriching summertime. Find links to parent tips, themed booklists, articles on summer learning loss, our show Adventures in Summer Learning, and our sister site Start with a Book.

Back to School! (August–September)

A backpack-full of great ideas and resources for parents and educators (veterans and first year) to help you get ready for the best school year yet — including tips on creating a welcoming classroom, building connections between school and home, and easing the transition for kids with special needs.

Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15–October 15)

From our sister site, Colorín Colorado, salute the rich history of Hispanic culture with games, bilingual books, lesson plans, activities for school and home, and links to multimedia resources on Hispanic culture.

Learning Disabilities and Dyslexia Awareness Month (October)

During this month, Reading Rockets asks you to teach one person one new thing about learning disabilities and dyslexia. Watch videos with children's authors and illustrators who have learning disabilities, and read our collection of inspirational stories and about growing up with LD. If you find an interesting article or story here, pass it along to a friend or colleague.

Jumpstart’s Read for the Record (October or November)

Jump into this joyful campaign that brings young children together with adults to read the same book, on the same day, in communities all over the world. Learn more about this year's selected book, and browse the activities and tips on reading aloud.

Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month (November)

Celebrate the rich history and traditions of Native peoples with children's books, activities for school and home, and links to lesson plans and more online resources.