As March unfolds, it brings the joy of National Reading Month – a time to celebrate the importance of reading and promoting literacy for children and adults alike. This nationwide observance was inspired by Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2nd, making the entire month a time to focus on the joy of books, the value of storytelling, and the critical role reading plays in lifelong learning.

Beyond entertainment, reading is one of the most valuable habits to cultivate - it strengthens the mind, enhances comprehension and analytical skills, fuels imagination, and improves memory. Research shows that early exposure to books helps children develop stronger language skills, a broader vocabulary, and better comprehension abilities—all essential for success in school and beyond.

Early literacy programs like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library give children from birth to age five access to high quality, age-appropriate books, mailed directly to their homes until their fifth birthday, free to registered families. One of the biggest barriers to early literacy is lack of access to books, and that’s why Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is such a game-changer. To date, more than 3 million children across the world receive a monthly book from the Imagination Library and right here in Washington, over 120,000 children are experiencing the magic of a monthly book! 

Celebrate National Reading Month with Us!

This March, commit to making reading an everyday joy for your child. Take advantage of the resources available, explore new books together, and celebrate the magic of storytelling. If your child is enrolled in the Imagination Library, share the excitement of receiving a new book each month and let it be a spark for reading adventures. Check out these different opportunities to celebrate reading this month:

• Visit your local library to explore new books and participate in reading programs.
• Join a reading challenge or set a goal to read a certain number of books in March.
• Read aloud with your child for 15 minutes every day to build early literacy skills.
• Encourage independent reading by letting kids choose books that interest them.
• Support programs like Imagination Library of Washington, which provide free books to children and promote a love of reading.

Here are some valuable tips for reading with children from birth to age five, fostering early literacy skills and a foundation for lifelong learning. (provided by Dolly Parton's Imagination Library)

If you have a little one between birth and age five and haven’t already enrolled for monthly books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, now is the perfect time to sign up!  Visit the Imagination Library of Washington website (www.imaginationlibrarywashington.org) and register your child for this life-changing program.

Happy National Reading Month to bookworms everywhere – may your shelves be stocked, your minds enriched, and your hearts forever captivated by the wonder of words.