March is Reading Month: Shedding Light on the Importance of Literacy Every Month

To me, the month of March has always been so transformative. Think of spring cleaning, shedding heavy layers, refreshing our lives, and of course…reading.

Did you know that here in the U.S. the month of March is celebrated as National Reading Month?  If you’re a lover of books like us at Making Spirits Bright, then I’m sure you did, but do you know why we celebrate reading in March? 

Established in 1997 by the National Education Association, National Reading Month was designated to honor children’s book author Theodor Seuss Geisel (you may know him as Dr. Seuss) who was born on March 2, 1904 and is believed to be one of the most impactful authors of children’s books. Seuss’s impact on children’s literature has been profound and will continue to shape young readers for generations. 

While we may read books ourselves and collect them for our children, have you ever stopped to think why Seuss created such fantastic tales or why reading is so incredibly important? 

Reading transcends simply “learning to read”–it plays a critical role in developing and enhancing language skills in young children, plants seeds of creativity and helps to broaden their understanding of the world around them. 

Research from The Ohio State University found that children who are read to daily are introduced to over 280,000 additional words by the time they enter kindergarten compared to those who aren’t. It is also noted that children who read up to five books a day are exposed to roughly 1.5 million words by the time they are 5 years old (Grabmeier). 

These statistics are incredibly important as literacy comprehension also has a dark foreshadowing. According to USA Reads, a child’s ability to read is indicative of the likelihood that they will graduate from high school (USA Reads). Further research from the Department of Justice cites that the link between academic failure, delinquency, violence, and crime are tied to low literacy rates. It is estimated that over 70% of inmates incarcerated in American prisons do not have the ability to read above a 4th grade level (The Relationship Between Literacy and Incarceration). 

This observation speaks to the core goal of Making Spirits Bright. As Metro Detroit’s book bank, we are dedicated to promoting and providing equitable access to books that brighten the lives of our youth while enhancing literacy and the love of reading. Join us in promoting literacy!

If you want to make a difference in a child’s life and spread the love of reading and literacy in your community:

• Sign up to volunteer with us today! Whether you would love engaging at family literacy events, sorting books, or organizing book drives, there’s a role for you.
• Donate books. We’re always in need of gently used children’s books to distribute.
• Host a book drive. Rally your school, workplace, or community group to collect books for kids who need them most.
• Support us online! Share our mission on social media or donate to help fund literacy programs.

Whether you volunteer, donate, or simply encourage a child to read, your efforts help build a brighter future. Let’s make literacy a priority this month—and every month.

Happy Spring and happy reading!