Read Across America

 

Read Across America is our Nation’s largest celebration of reading. Launched in 1998 by the National Association of Educators (NEA), Read Across America begins each March 2nd in celebration of the birth of Dr. Seuss.  The celebration then continues through the entire month of March. Research has continued to show that children who are motivated to read and have access to quality books generally become better students.  This is the reason teachers and librarians work towards encouraging children to find joy in reading by including activities and books during the month of March that celebrate Dr. Seuss’ body of work as well as finding joy in reading all year long.  

Guided by a committee of educators, Read Across America helps to motivate children and teens to read by including books for young people in which students can see themselves reflected, as well as depict a world or character that might be different from them. During the month of March, you will see big celebrations of reading by teachers, librarians, parents, grandparents, and even actors, athletes, and politicians. Some of these celebrations are in the form of reading daily to kids, dress-up days of favorite book characters, book crafts, as well as contests for reading the most books in the month. Schools will often ask for volunteers such as the local mayor, public librarian, local television news journalist, and parents/grandparents, to join their classroom to read aloud to students. They encourage volunteers to dress up as their favorite book character, promote books by reading aloud, and display a general enthusiasm for reading.

Book and activity suggestions can be found at NEA.com, as well as by contacting your local school, education association, public library, and/or bookstores. Read Across America is a special time to encourage and celebrate the joy of reading. Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Below are a few events coming up in March to celebrate Read Across America. You can also check our calendar of events here, CMRLS Events Calendar. 

Seuss Celebration Thursday, March 6, 4:30 – 5:30pm Location:  Simpson County, Harrisville Public Library Join us for a whimsical celebration at our Seuss-themed gathering. We will explore the enchanting world of Dr. Seuss by reading "Bartholomew and the Oobleck" and creating our own oobleck goo. We invite you to join us and discover the creative activities we have planned for you. Family Trivia Night Thursday, March 6, 5:30 – 6:30pm Location:  Rankin County, Florence Public Library Do you and your family read Dr. Seuss books? If so, you will want to join us for our Dr. Seuss Family Trivia Night! We will have snacks and prizes! Family Movie Day Saturday, March 8, 10 – 11:45am Location:  Scott County, Forest Public Library Join us for Dr. Seuss Movie Day. We will be watching Horton Hears a Who. Produced by: Twentieth Century Fox Rated: G Runtime: 86 minutes  Guessing Jar Saturday, March 1 – Monday, March 31 Location:  Rankin County, Northwest Point Reservoir Library (Brandon) This month we have a Seuss themed guessing jar for a chance to win a gift card (sponsored by the Friends of the Library) Dr. Seuss Family Craft Night Thursday, March 13, 5 – 6pm Location:  Scott County, Morton Public Library We will be making Cat in the Hat masks and reading "Oh, the Places You Will Go by Dr. Seuss." Family Story Time Friday, March 14, 9:30 – 10:30am Location:  Rankin County, Northwest Point Reservoir Library (Brandon) Join us for family story time. This month's theme will be "Dr. Seuss". We will have fun stories, music, and a craft. Check out our online catalog for all things Dr. Seuss!

2025 Magnolia Book Awards

The Magnolia Book Awards celebrate the best in children's and young adult literature, as chosen by the young readers of Mississippi. Each year, students from Pre-K through 12th grade have the opportunity to read nominated books and cast their votes for their favorites. The 2025 nominees have been announced and voting is available! 

2025 Magnolia Book Award Nominees:

Pre-K – 2nd Grade:

• The Garden We Share written by Zoe Tucker & illustrated by Julianna Swaney
• Big Ship Rescue! written & illustrated by Chris Gall
• Cooler Than Lemonade written by Harshita Jerath & illustrated by Chloe Burgett
• Dear Street written by Lindsey Zier-Vogel & illustrated by Caroline Bonne-Muller
• Lupe Lopez: Reading Rockstar! written by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo & Pat Zietlow Miller & illustrated by Joe Cepeda
• Sari-Sari Summers written & illustrated by Lynnar Bontiago
• Sora's Seashells written by Helena Ku Rhee & illustrated by Stella Lim
• Somewhere in the Bayou written by Jarrett Pumphrey & illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey
• The Van Buren Sisters vs. the Pants Police written by J.F. Fox & illustrated by Anna Kwan
• This Book is Banned written by Raj Haldar & illustrated by Julia Patton
• Wombat Said Come In written by Carmen Agra Deedy & illustrated by Brian Lies

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3rd – 5th Grade:

• Building an Orchestra of Hope: How Favlo Chavez Taught Children to Make Music From Trash written by Carmen Oliver & illustrated by Luisa Uribe
• National Monuments of the U.S.A. written by Cameron Walker & illustrated by Chris Turnham
• Puppets of Spellhorst written by Kate DiCamillo & illustrated by Julie Morstad
• Hoops written & illustrated by Matt Tavares
• 9 Kilometers written by Claudio Aguilera & illustrated by Gabriela Lyon
• It Found Us written by Lindsey Currie 
• The Sky is Not the Limit written by Lindsey Currie
• Nell and the Netherbeast written by Adi Rule & illustrated by Ash Szymanik
• Shapes, Lines and Light written & illustrated by Katie Yamasaki
• Where the Water Takes Us written by Alan Barillaro

6th – 8th Grade:

• The Town with no Mirrors written by Christina Collins
• Global written by Eion Coffer & Andrew Donkin & illustrated by Giovanni Rigano
• Packing for Mars for Kids written by Mary Roach
• Children of Stardust written by Edudzi Adodo
• Chilling With Ghosts written by Insha Fitzpatrick & illustrated by Lilla Bolecz
• Confessions of a Candy Snatcher written by Phoebe Sinclair & illustrated by Theodore Taylor III

9th – 12th Grade:

• The Davenports written by Krystal Marquis
• Divine Rivals written by Rebecca Ross
• Something Close to Magic written by Emma Mills
• Promise Boys written by Nick Brooks
• Abuela, Don't Forget Me written by Rex Ogle
• Gather written by Kenneth M. Cadow

And in case you missed the 2024 winners:

Reading these nominated books not only provides entertainment but also offers insights into diverse perspectives and experiences. By participating in the Magnolia Book Awards, young readers can engage with literature in a meaningful way and have a voice in recognizing outstanding works.

Voting takes place annually in February, with winners announced each April at the Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival at the University of Southern Mississippi. Mississippi children from Pre-K through 12th grade are eligible to participate. To cast your vote, visit your local library, where we have the voting materials available for you! 

We encourage all young readers to explore these exceptional books and make their voices heard by voting for their favorites. Your participation not only supports your favorite authors and illustrators but also fosters a lifelong love of reading.

Happy reading, and don't forget to vote at your local library!

The 2025 ALA Youth Media Awards

 

The 2025 ALA Youth Media Awards will take place on Monday, January 27, 2025 from 8:00a.m.-9:30 a.m. MT during LibLearnX, The Library Learning Experience conference. The following awards will be given during this time: 2025 Coretta Scott King Award, 2025 Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults, 2025 John Newberry Medal, 2025 Randolph Caldecott Medal, 2025 Michael L. Printz Award, 2025 Pura Belpre Award, 2025 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book medal, and the 2025 Schneider Family Book Award.

 

The 2025 Coretta Scott King Award is a set of annual awards to honor African American authors and illustrators of outstanding books for children and young adults. Follet Content has put together a shortlist of contenders for these awards. Of those, the CMRLS has the following titles available for your perusal to decide which ones you think should win the coveted award: The Secret Library by Keekla Magoon, Black Star by Kwame Alexander, Black Girl You are Atlas by Renee Watson, and Freedom on the Sea by Michael Boulware Moore.

 

The 2025 Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults awards the best nonfiction books written for young adults published the previous year. Of those that Follet Content shortlisted, your CMRLS has the following title available: The Mine Wars by Steve Watkins.

The 2025 John Newberry Medal is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. Of those that Follet Content shortlisted, the CMRLS has the following titles available for checkout: The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon, Black Star by Kwame Alexander, Louder Than Hunger by John Schu, Winnie Nash is Not Your Sunshine by Nicole Melleby, Tree. Table. Book. By Lois Lowry, The Other Side of Tomorrow by Tina Cho, The Girl Who Sang by Estelle Nadel, The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys, Olivetti by Allie Millington, Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz, Ferris by Kate Dicamillo, and Deep Water by Jamie Sumner.

                                     

   

               

The 2025 Randolph Caldecott Medal is given to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published in the United States. Of those shortlisted this year, the CMRLS has the following titles available: The Fastest Drummer by Dean Robbins, illustrator, Susanna Chapman, Two Together by author/illustrator, Brendan Wenzel, Finding Things by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek, Home in a Lunchbox by author/illustrator Cherry Mo, Dalmartian by author/illustrator, Lucy Cummins, are you BIG? by author/illustrator, Mo Willems, and Ahoy! by author/illustrator, Sophie Blackall.

 

 

The 2025 Michael L. Printz Award is for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. Of those shortlisted, the CMRLS has the following titles available: Black Girl You are Atlas by Renee Watson, Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Yang, Kindling by Traci Chee, Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay, and Ash’s Cabin by Jen Wang.

  

 

The Pura Belpre Award recognizes outstanding Latinx authors and illustrators whose work celebrates the Latinx cultural experience in children’s literature. Of those Follet Content considers contenders, 

the CMRLS has the following titles available: Wild Dreamers by Margarita Engle, Brownstone by Samuel Teer, Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar, The Perfect Place by Matt de la Pena, Shut Up, This Is Serious by Carolina Ixta, and Tamales for Christmas by Stephen Briseno.

      

 

The 2025 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is given to the author and illustrator of the most distinguished book published in the United States in the previous year. Of those shortlisted, CMRLS has the following titles: Freedom on the Sea by Michael Boulware Moore illustrated by Bryan Collier, and The Fastest Drummer by Dean Robbins and illustrated by Susanna Chapman.

The 2025 Schneider Family Book Award is given to honor books that best portray the experience of children and adolescents with disabilities. Unfortunately, the CMRLS has no titles available in the collection, but those that are shortlisted may be obtained through ILL.

Who will win these prestigious awards on Monday, January 27^th? Tune in to find out and contact your local CMRLS library and check out some of the titles highlighted here.