Genuine Family Values

April 12 is National Drop Everything and Read Day.

From the website:

National Drop Everything and Read Day

What is National D.E.A.R. Day?
DEAR stands for Drop Everything And Read. National D.E.A.R. Day is a special reading celebration to remind and encourage families to make reading together on a daily basis a family priority.

Who Is Leading the National D.E.A.R. Day Celebration?
The National Education Association (NEA); National Parent Teacher Association (PTA); HarperCollins Children’s Books; the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association; Reading Rockets; and Ramona Quimby.

When is National D.E.A.R. Day?
The National D.E.A.R. Day partners are marking the 90th birthday of beloved author Beverly Cleary as the official event date, April 12th. Ramona Quimby is the program’s spokesperson.

Why is National D.E.A.R. Day celebrated on Beverly Cleary’s birthday?
Beverly Cleary receives thousands of letters a year from young readers, many who have participated in D.E.A.R. at school. Their interest in and enthusiasm for this special reading activity inspired Mrs. Cleary to give the same experience to Ramona Quimby, who gets to enjoy D.E.A.R. time with the rest of her class in Ramona Quimby, Age 8.

I doubt if I can get off work that day, but this strikes me as a wonderful holiday. I heard about it through Miss Snark, literary agent extraordinaire.