The Power of Books: Read Across America’s Mission to Inspire a Love of Reading

Every year in early March, classrooms, libraries, and communities across the nation come alive with the magic of books as they celebrate Read Across America. Established in 1998 by the National Education Association (NEA), Read Across America is a nationwide movement designed to inspire a love for reading among children. The weeklong event coincides with the birthday of the beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss on March 2 and serves as a cornerstone of National Reading Month in March.

“It starts them off looking forward to reading and finding the joy in it, connecting with others,” says Lauren Poon, a kindergarten teacher at Kendrick Elementary School in the Greenfield Union School District. 

One of the most impactful Read Across America traditions at several schools across Kern County, including Kendrick Elementary, is the incorporation of several guest readers. In Poon’s kindergarten class, after reading to the students, each guest reader hands a free copy of their book for each child to take home with them. 

“My hope is that they’ll have a connection with the story because they’ll remember the special person that read it to them, giving it to them as a gift,” Poon said. “During that week, they take home a lot of books.”

Reading is more than just a skill—it is a gateway to imagination, learning, and opportunity. However, for many children, access to quality books remains a challenge. This is where organizations like First Book Marketplace step in to bridge the gap. First Book, a nonprofit social enterprise, is dedicated to providing high-quality books and educational resources for children in need at little to no cost. Through their online shop and book bank, they equip educators, libraries, and community programs with the tools necessary to foster literacy and educational equity.

“The program has given so much to my students, to my whole school,” Poon said. “I have so many books and resources that I paid pennies on the dollar for, and our kids are benefiting from those.”

Through First Book, Poon has been able to provide her students with personal home libraries. She estimates that each student has received at least ten brand-new hardcover books this year alone, with many more to come. 

Students receive an egg with an “elephant-bird” sticker inside, corresponding with the book they read.

Access to books is fundamental in shaping a child’s academic success and fostering a lifelong love of reading. Without books in the home, children are less likely to develop strong literacy skills, which can affect their educational growth.

“If you don’t have a book, you’re not going to read,” Poon emphasized. “If they have books at home, there’s always something that somebody can read with them.”

Through programs like Read Across America and First Book, educators and communities work together to ensure that every child, regardless of socioeconomic background, has access to books and the joy of reading. 

“It makes a really big difference in getting them to love books and read them over and over again,” Poon said. “That is such a gift for our students.”