World Read Aloud Day
Next: February 3, 2027
A book, a reader, a listener.
The story
Where it comes from
World Read Aloud Day began in New York City in 2010, created by the literacy charity LitWorld and its founder Pam Allyn, together with a little boy she was reading aloud with. It is held on the first Wednesday of February. The idea is simple: with all the technology and teaching methods there are, one of the best ways to help a child learn to read, and to feel at home in the world, is still to read to them out loud.
How it's celebrated
Teachers, librarians, parents and carers read aloud to children at school, at home and online. LitWorld shares free activities for the day. Anyone can take part: pick up a favourite book, find a listener of any age, and read a few pages together, in any language.
Did you know
- LitWorld describes a read aloud as three things together: a book, a reader and a listener.
- According to research by the publisher Scholastic cited by LitWorld, more parents and carers began reading aloud to their children after the day launched.
- Reading aloud helps build the brain pathways linked to both emotional wellbeing and success at school, LitWorld says.
Coming up next
- World Cancer Day · February 4, 2027
- Apollo 14 Lands on the Moon · February 5, 2027
- Chinese New Year · February 6, 2027
- Bob Marley's Birthday · February 6, 2027
- Charles Dickens's Birthday · February 7, 2027
- Jules Verne's Birthday · February 8, 2027