Celebrate Read a Book Day on September 6
September 6 is Read a Book Day. It is the perfect excuse to slow down and spend a little time with a story. It doesn't matter what you read or how much time you spend. A few minutes with a poem, a chapter, a picture book, or an audiobook all count.
A Story from Our Bedtime Routine
Most of my reading happens at bedtime with the youngest reader in my family, and that's how we'll be celebrating. We read anywhere from one to five books a night, and it is one of my favorite parts of the day. Sometimes, if it is late, that book is an "oldie but a goodie" board book that we both have memorized from his toddler years.
Last week, I brought home Sideways Stories from Wayside School. My child's face lit up. His teacher had just started reading it to the class. "If we have good behavior," he told me, "we get to read extra pages!"
When we opened to the first chapter about Mrs. Gorf, the teacher who turns kids into apples, he was ready. Each time she wiggled her right ear, then her left ear, and stuck out her tongue, he jumped up and shouted, "Mirror!" before bursting into a fit of giggles at her fate. At about the third time he did this, l I finally realized that the mirror causes her to turn herself into an apple!
For years, he's been spooked by Medusa-type characters who turn people into stone (thank you, Scooby-Doo reruns). Watching him laugh instead of worry felt like a turning point and a reminder of how stories can help us see old fears in a new light. It also offered a glimpse into his new classroom, where his teacher is building anticipation and delight in reading.
Sideways Stories From Wayside School
Easy Ways to Celebrate Read a Book Day
- Read Part of a Book: A single chapter or even a few pages can be enough.
- Try Any Format: Audiobooks, graphic novels, eBooks, or print all count.
- Read Together: Storytime with kids, a read-aloud with a friend, or an eBook read-along in Libby, hoopla, or LOTE4Kids (with 90+ languages, including sign languages) can support learning a new language, practicing literacy skills, or simply enjoying a story while someone else reads to you.
- Follow Your Interests: From short stories to epics, romance to nonfiction, light reads to heavy ones. Read whatever you like to read.
Find Your Next Read with the Library
We have many ways to help you discover something new:
- Book Match: Tell us what you like, and our expert staff will hand-pick a list just for you.
- NoveList: Recommendations appear directly in the catalog. You might notice "While You Wait" in search results, "Explore Further" in catalog records, or "You May Also Like" ideas powered by NoveList. Many titles also connect to Staff Lists so you can explore what else our team recommends. If you do not have a specific title in mind, you can also go straight to NoveList Plus and NoveList K–8 to search by mood, theme, or genre.
- Staff Displays and Staff Lists: Find displays at any AC Library location or browse our staff-created lists. We love refilling displays and sharing new lists because readers keep checking them out!
- BookBrowse: Explore in-depth reviews, previews, author interviews, and themed booklists.
- New Book Alerts: Get updates on the latest arrivals so you do not miss what is fresh on the shelves.
- Join a Book Club: Reading with others can be motivating and fun. Making a commitment to a group can help you stick with a book, and it is a great way to share ideas. Check out our library book clubs to find one that interests you.
- Serendipity in the Stacks: Sometimes the best book is the one that simply catches your attention. Many of us, even librarians, find favorites this way when a title or cover sparks curiosity. A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a pink cover and playful title that I couldn't pass up: How to Age Disgracefully.
Join In
This Read a Book Day, consider what reading can be for you right now. Maybe it's comfort, laughter, reflection, escape, or even a good scare.
However you read, it counts. And if you'd like more motivation beyond September 6, we're here with tools, lists, recommendations, and even events, including our Family Literacy Days with snacks and free book giveaways.
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