National Reading Month is celebrated in March to honor Dr. Suess’s birthday. In this month people, especially children, read a lot more in celebration and although some people may find the increased emphasis on reading to be boring, the increase in reading during this month has significant benefits that will continue to pay off in the future. Reading is one of the best habits to develop; it strengthens the mental muscles, helps to improve comprehension and analytical abilities, and increases imagination and boosts memory.
History of National Reading Month
March was designated as National Reading Month to celebrate Dr. Suess. He was born on March 2, 1904. Interestingly enough, Dr. Suess was not a doctor at all, he was a writer and an illustrator of very popular children’s books including “The Cat in the Hat” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. He also wrote several books for beginner readers of which “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish” (published in 1960) was the most notable one. He received a Pulitzer Prize in 1984 for his contribution to the education of America’s children and their parents.
Today we might take reading for granted but it has a very long history and there was a time when only a few people knew how to read. The first written communication did not happen until 3500 B.C., and the first books did not appear until around 23 B.C. in Rome. Around this time, books were also developed in some Asian countries and the Middle East. Before the printing press was introduced in the 15th century, books were quite expensive and rare but as printed books gained popularity, Literacy rates began to rise. In 1892, the first book covers appeared and in the 19th century, publishers started printing books with hardbacks.
Nowadays, even though almost everyone can read, people hardly read and, unfortunately, we are losing our reading culture as a society. That is why we all need this National Reading Month which is a whole month to help us revive our reading habits.
National Reading Month timeline
The book titled “The Epic Gilgamesh” is the first book to ever be written.
Anne Hutchinson forms a women's book club to discuss weekly sermons
The first book covers appear and during this time, books with book covers cost a penny in America and Britain.
National Reading Month is celebrated for the first time in March.
National Reading Month FAQs
What is the importance of National Reading Month?
National Reading Month is important in our society right now because it will help the youth to cultivate a habit of reading. It also reminds us of Dr. Suess.
What is the real importance of reading
Reading is a good mental exercise. It keeps the mind sharp, young, and healthy.
Why do we celebrate National Reading Month
National Reading Month is celebrated not just to promote the love for reading but also to develop communication and learning.
National Reading Month Activities
Read a book
It is National Reading Month after all. So what better way to celebrate than to get out your favorite books to read?
Start a book club
The best way to make your love for reading permanent even after the National Reading Month is over is to start a book club. Your group will always be there to motivate you to read.
Create awareness
You would be surprised that not everyone knows about this special month. By spreading the word, you’re creating awareness, thereby, creating more readers.
5 Facts About Reading That Will Blow Your Mind
Reading often makes you kinder
Studies have shown that people who read more fictional books are more likely to be kinder to others than people who don’t.
Reading fast helps your eyes
Reading a book fast will help to strengthen your vision.
It reduces stress
A good book can be a great stress reliever if you allow yourself to get lost in the book.
It improves your vocabulary
Reading good books often will help to improve your vocabulary as you would be coming across new words.
Your creativity is increased
Consistent reading will help to increase your imagination, which will stimulate your brain to develop new ideas and make you more creative.
Why We Love National Reading Month
It reminds us of Dr. Suess
Dr. Suess was a famous author, illustrator, and animator of a lot of popular children’s books. He contributed greatly to the education of America’s children with the books he wrote and he even received an award for it.
We love reading
We love to read. Reading comes with a lot of numerous benefits so what better way to celebrate our favorite hobby than to dedicate a whole month to it.
It helps to cultivate a good reading habit throughout the year
Consistently reading for a whole month will help us to develop a habit that will last throughout the year. We can agree that reading is a good habit to develop.
National Reading Month dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | March 1 | Saturday |
| 2026 | March 1 | Sunday |
| 2027 | March 1 | Monday |
| 2028 | March 1 | Wednesday |
| 2029 | March 1 | Thursday |
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