🎉 National Days Library Books • Writing • Family Fun Explore all days →

National

Read a Book Day

September 6

Celebrate treasured stories, favorite characters, and the books that become lifelong friends.

A watercolor style illustration of a mother and daughter reading a book

Revisit a Favorite!

📌 Quick Facts📅 September 6🌍 Celebrated Worldwide

❤️ Why We Celebrate

Read a Book Day is a wonderful reminder that books aren't just meant to be read once... they're meant to be enjoyed again and again. Revisiting a favorite story can bring back wonderful memories, reveal details you never noticed before, and create new moments to share with the people you love.

💡 Did You Know?

Reading for just 20 minutes a day can expose you to nearly 1.8 million words in a year. Every story you share helps build vocabulary, imagination, and a lifelong love of reading.

✨ Adventure Highlights

🏅 Caldecott Medal 🧸 A. A. Milne 👠 Cinderella Around the World 📚 Classic Children's Books ✏️ Writing the Next Chapter

Read

📖

Make Way for Ducklings

by Robert McCloskey

Every family has a book that feels like an old friend. For me, one of those books is Make Way for Ducklings. Its gentle story, timeless illustrations, and unforgettable duck family have delighted readers for generations (and it’s no surprise it earned the prestigious Caldecott Medal).

But today isn’t just about my favorite. It’s about yours! Pull a well-loved book off the shelf… maybe one you haven’t opened in years. Even if your children have outgrown it, read it together one more time. You may be surprised how quickly the memories come rushing back, and how much joy there is in sharing a story that has become part of your family’s journey.

Write

✏️

Choose a favorite book. Imagine opening it years later to discover one brand-new chapter. Where are the characters now? Have they grown older, started a new adventure, or met someone unexpected? Write the next chapter while staying true to the world and characters you know and love.

Need ideas?

Think about what made the original story so memorable and write the chapter that never existed! Think about why this book became a favorite. Was it the characters, the setting, the illustrations, or the way it made you feel?

Family Fun

🎉

Favorite Book Flashback

Gather together and talk about the books your family remembers most. Which story made everyone laugh? Which book did someone ask to hear over and over again? Did Mom or Dad have a favorite from childhood? Maybe Grandma or Grandpa has one they still remember.

Once everyone has shared a favorite, vote on one book to revisit together. Snuggle up with blankets, grab a favorite snack, and enjoy reading it aloud… even (or perhaps especially!) if it’s a picture book your children have long since outgrown.

You might discover that the story feels different than you remembered… or that it’s just as magical as the very first time you turned the page.

💜 Resources We Love · Some links on this page are affiliate links that help support DUYW—at no extra cost to you.

🌎 Keep Exploring

Every adventure has another path to follow. Choose a trail and see where your curiosity leads!

Book Trail: Meet the Caldecott Medal

Did you know some of the most beloved picture books ever created have won the Caldecott Medal? Classics like Make Way for Ducklings, Where the Wild Things Are, and Owl Moon earned the award for their unforgettable illustrations.

Wonder Challenge:
Which Caldecott-winning book would you most like to read together?

Author Trail: Meet A. A. Milne

Winnie-the-Pooh wasn’t originally called Pooh! The lovable bear was first known as Edward Bear until Christopher Robin renamed him after a real bear at the London Zoo. Explore how A. A. Milne transformed his son’s toys into one of the world’s most cherished story collections.

Wonder Challenge:
Which character from the Hundred Acre Wood reminds you most of someone you know?

Fairy Tale Trail: Cinderella Around the World

Did you know Cinderella has been told in hundreds of versions around the world? One of the oldest known versions comes from China, where a girl named Ye Xian receives help from magical fish bones instead of a fairy godmother… but she still leaves behind a slipper!

Wonder Challenge:
Explore The Egyptian Cinderella, Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican Tradition, or The Korean Cinderella. What details stay the same and what makes each story unique?

Would you rather...

colorful infographic for read a book day

Print & Plan

Printable Lesson Snapshot

Keep today’s book pick, writing prompt, family activity, and discussion ideas together in one colorful overview.

View & Print This Adventure Perfect for homeschool or classroom planning.

👑Share Your Spark!

Today’s conversation: Which childhood book would you most love to share with the next generation?

Dress Up Your Writing is all about creating meaningful literacy adventures. Tell us how your family or classroom celebrated today’s National Day. Your ideas may inspire someone else’s next reading, writing, or learning adventure!

💬️

Family Friendly

Every comment is reviewed before it's published.

♥

Be kind. Be helpful.
Be inspiring! 💛

Add Your Spark Cancel reply

💛 Be the first to share your spark!

Keep Exploring

More 📚 Books Days → More September Days → All National Days →

🎉 Every Day Has a Story Waiting to Be Told

Every National Day is an invitation to wonder, imagine, explore, and create. Whether today's inspiration comes from pancakes, planets, penguins, or poetry, there's always something new to discover.

Disclosure: Some links on this page may be affiliate links. If you purchase through them, Dress Up Your Writing may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our free educational resources!

National

Read a Book Day