World Read Aloud Day

For the past 13 years, World Read Aloud Day has called attention to the importance of sharing stories by challenging participants to grab a book, find an audience, and read-aloud! The global effort, created by the non-profit LitWorld and sponsored by Scholastic, is celebrated annually in over 173 countries and is all about bringing people together through the shared connection of reading aloud in all of our communities.

In celebration of World Read Aloud day, we asked our Chief of Staff, Marissa King, about her recent reads, favorite memories, and suggestions for where to get the latest titles in celebration of #WRAD!

Q: What role does reading play in your daily life?

A: I’m a total sucker for a bookstore (Hi, Magic City Books and Fulton Street!). There’s just nothing else like it. I typically read about 40 books a year– a mix between audio and print. And obviously I read hundreds of books to my 3-year-old. He strongly prefers a full hour of reading every morning—more if he can get it- and it’s always what I’m doing while I drink that first cup of coffee. I get a strange amount of pleasure out of recommending books to people when I know what they’re interested in reading. I used to make suggested summer reading lists for former students and friends every year. And I love it when people tell me what they’re reading! 

I’m still an avid library user. Like I LOVE Tulsa City-County Library. I take my 3-year-old there regularly. I have the app. I get audio books from them. I reserve books online. I did the distanced pick-up during the pandemic. When I saw the very small amount of my taxes that went to TCCL, I was like, ooooh, they should up that. Getting a library card was one of the first things I did when I moved to Tulsa.

Q: What are some of your recent reads?

A: Over winter break I finished Transcendent Kingdom, How the Word Is Passed, and Salvage the Bones. Now I’m reading 100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet,  the Lost Art of Reading Nature’s SIgns, & Why We Make Things and Why It Matters. I have a strong penchant for nature books–recently read Fox & I and The Shepherd’s Life.

Q: What are your favorite memories around reading? 

A: As a kid, my mom would haul us into the town library and each of my siblings and I would choose an enormous stack of books. The library implemented a 20 books per person/per time rule because we checked out SO MANY BOOKS. I didn’t grow up with a TV, so we read ALL the books.

At TLI, we believe in the power of reading just like we believe in the power of research based professional development and our teachers! As a part of our annual 20 Under 2 Novice Teacher Award we celebrate and encourage a love of literacy by providing each honoree with a $250 gift card to Magic City Books.

Ways to spread a love of reading today!

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