6 Ways To Celebrate National Reading Month

Calling all bookworms! March is National Reading Month–so we’ve rounded up some of the bookish fun happening around town.

Dr. Seuss’ Birthday
March 2
March 2 is the birthday of the famous children’s writer and there are celebrations everywhere. Libraries all over the city, including Yorkville Library and Francis Martin Library, are celebrating by hosting read-alouds and storytime. Morningside Heights Library and Hudson Park Library are two locations performing interactive musicals specially tailored to each age group. Visit nypl.org to find more events near you.

Young Filmmakers Newberry Film Festival
March 5
Young filmmakers competed to make 90 seconds films of their favorite Newberry Award-winning books and the NYPL will air the results on March 5 at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. Tickets are free but they advise to reserve your spots early as it can get crowded. This year’s guest host is Peter Larangis, author of the Colossus Rises series.

NYC Teen Author Festival
March 13- 20
The YA genre has exploded the past few years–and this month you can celebrate it at the NYC Teen Author Festival featuring panels, readings and more from your favorite YA authors! On March 13, The Strand will  host a NYC Teen Author Festival kickoff, with appearances by the authors of some of your teen’s favorite books, including Jesse Andrews (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) and Jerry Han (All The Boys I’ve Loved Before). Admission is free, but autographed copies require purchase of at least one book. Books of Wonder, on 18th Street in Manhattan will hold a mega-signing to close out the fest on March 20, with appearances by 66 different authors, including Kass Morgan, author of The 100, the basis for the hit TV show.

Author Appearances
Throughout the month
Bookstores throughout the city host authors to read from and speak about their work–including children’s book authors! Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn has a weekly author appearance every Saturday in March, and this month the featured authors have all written books for ages 3-8, so young elementary readers will love these events.

Book-Based Musicals
Throughout the month
Theaters all over the city are putting on shows and performances of classic books. For the younger kids, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show” is running at the 47th Street Theater  until April 17, and the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center on West 60th Street is running “Family Matters the Musical,” a story of the beloved children’s series the Berenstein Bears. If your children are too old for talking bears and ravenous caterpillars, “Caps for Sale: The Musical” is playing at The New Victory Theater (West 42nd Street) through March 6. Continue those Dr. Seuss birthday celebrations on March 12 at Childsplay’s performance of “Dr. Seuss’ the Cat in the Hat” at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center, suitable for ages 3 and up. Those with a bit more theater stamina can see an adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic “Matilda The Musical” at the Schubert Theater on West 44th street. Ticketing and seating information for all these performances can be found on their web sites.

Read to Therapy Dogs
Throughout the month
Celebrate National Reading Month with the finest of our furry friends! Yorkville Library on East 79th Street has two licensed therapy dogs and offers opportunities to read to the pups and their owners. Every Saturday in March you’ll be greeted by a pup named Fritz while Wednesdays are reserved for Chucky. Meanwhile, St. Agnes Library on the Upper West Side has a canine companion by the name of Stella who will be there on March 15 and 22. Ages 5-12 are welcome, pre-registration required for each 15 minute slot and registration opens one week in advance.