May is Get Caught Reading Month

Tenth Annual Celebration of Literacy

May 19, 2009 Lisa Rufle

This year marks the 10th anniversary celebration of Get Caught Reading Month. A look at the history and how individuals and communities can join in the festivities.

First launched in 1999 as a nationwide campaign supported by the Association of American Publishers (AAP), the Get Caught Reading program strives to serve as a reminder "to people of all ages how much fun it is to read". The popularity of this important event has stretched far beyond the United States, with nations from Europe, Romania, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom participating in their own Get Caught Reading events.

The campaign has dubbed May Get Caught Reading month and in support of the program, schools, libraries and booksellers across the country offer special activities and events geared toward the promotion of literacy.

Activities to Promote Get Caught Reading Month

Teachers, parents, librarians and booksellers are all encouraged to play an active role in promoting the importance of literacy through Get Caught Reading month. The opportunities and ideas are endless, here is a small sampling:

  1. Download and print out Get Caught Reading posters from the website and display for all to see in classrooms, libraries and bookstores.
  2. Booksellers can organize special in-store events and promotions centered around Get Caught Reading month.
  3. Teachers, parents and librarians can download activities that directly tie-in to the promotional posters (Dora the Explorer and Nancy Drew activities).

Links to the above-mentioned materials can be found on the Get Caught Reading website.

Celebrities Who Have Participated in Get Caught Reading Promotions

Over the past ten years many celebrities from the world of professional sports and entertainment have lent their time and images for Get Caught Reading posters. Politicians have also been known to have their faces grace a few promotional materials for the cause. The list is long and varied, but some of the participants included: First Lady Laura Bush, Sammy Sosa, Derek Jeter, Jeff Gordon, Tiki Barber, The Olsen Twins, Whoopi Goldberg, Drew Carey, Alicia Keys, L.L. Cool J., Dolly Parton, Santa Claus, Veggie Tales, Spiderman and Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Get Caught Listening: Audiobooks and Literacy

A rather new addition to the Get Caught Reading program was launched in June 2008 called Get Caught Listening. The premise behind the campaign is to "promote the joys of audiobook listening" and serve as a way to further promote literacy in a more digital medium. Some of the goals of this new program include:

  • Using celebrities to voice-over the recorded readings;
  • Promoting the use of audiobooks in a classroom atmosphere;
  • Creating sponsorships with such companies and organizations as XM Satellite Radio, Audio-File Magazine, the American Booksellers Association and the Audio Publishers Association;
  • Encouraging authors and publishers to get involved in the campaign.

Other May literary events include Latino Books Month and Children's Book Week.

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Comments

Jun 16, 2009 10:58 AM
Katrena Wells :
We are habitual visitors at our public library, so I find reading a normal part of life. I'm very thankful that my kids love reading too!
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