Nothing captures the essence of World Read Aloud Day better than our international partners and friends who have brought the spirit of this day to their corners of the globe!
We are so grateful to our international partners not only for bringing WRAD to their local communities, but for continuing to extend the joy of reading and the advocacy for literacy all year long by providing programs where young people can have a space to read, learn, and share stories together.
We also want to extend our gratitude to LitWorld friends around the world who organized beautiful celebrations! We love to see all the different ways in which each community chose to bring WRAD to life.
See below all for a glance at the global celebrations that took place on the 15th birthday of World Read Aloud Day. And don’t put your books away just yet- during this milestone year, we are celebrating the spirit of WRAD all year long, so the party is just getting started!
LitWorld International Partners
📍🇮🇳 India: Holy Cross NGO
Holy Cross NGO held two special World Read Aloud Day celebrations at locations dedicated to young readers as well as inspiring young girls. The day was filled with creativity and fun as the young readers crafted their own colorful Reading Crowns. They explored the art of storytelling through pictures and images, immersing themselves in the magic of sharing stories with one another. With smiles all around, the event truly highlighted the joy of storytelling and its impact on young minds.
📍🇰🇪 Kenya: Kenya Connect
A total of 7,673 students from 45 partner schools and 423 teachers joined in the celebration with Kenya Connect! Teacher Samuel from Muusini shared, "We had a great time celebrating WRAD as a school." 🏫✨ Teacher Margaret at Mang’olota PS commented, "It was my first time to celebrate WRAD!! It was so good, engaging and exciting for our students. We are thrilled that the day marked the start of library days at our school and our learners will be getting books that will boost their reading skills and improve literacy levels."
📍🇭🇳 Honduras: Un Mundo
Un Mundo in Honduras led their WRAD celebrations with this manifesto, and we think its a powerful statement for all WRADvocates:
On this World Read Aloud Day, we celebrate the power of words and their ability to transform lives. Reading not only opens doors to knowledge, but ignites the spark of leadership in our boys, girls and young people.
Every page they read, every story they hear, allows them to dream beyond limits, cultivating in them the courage to be leaders, the wisdom to make decisions, and the empathy to build a more just and loving society.
When a child or young person immerses themselves in a book, they not only acquire knowledge but also connect with their purpose, their voice, and the infinite potential to change the world. Reading unites us, inspires us, and guides us towards a future full of possibilities.
Today, more than ever, let’s encourage our little dreamers to read aloud, because in every word, the future we want for all is forged.
May we never stop dreaming, learning and leading through the magic of books!
📍🇰🇪 Kenya: Kenya Education Fund
Kenya Education Fund crowned their celebrations by making reading crowns and handmade bookmarks! We love seeing these joyful faces as the KEF team led storytelling sessions to foster a love for books.
📍Colombia: Museo Rayo
Museo Rayo began their month-long festivities with read alouds for LitClub members in the central park, bringing stories to life in a vibrant, shared experience. Their month-long celebrations also included doing read-alouds in various locations, including a local hospital.
📍🇷🇼 Rwanda: Ready for Reading
Ready for Reading in Rwanda celebrated with their LitClub members (and their moms!) and topped it all off by wearing their iconic Reading Crowns. Their founder, Betsy Dickey, joined the celebrations with a fun read-aloud of the “Rainbow Fish”.
📍🇵🇰 Pakistan: Seeds of Hope
Our partners at Seeds of Hope Foundation organized a fantastic WRAD program in the Maanpura community, bringing together over 320 participants, including members from various LitClub communities. It was a wonderful celebration of reading and community spirit!
📍🇿🇲 Zambia: Reach All
Reach All marked the occasion with the creation of Read Aloud Promotional Posters, showcasing the creativity of young readers! LitClub members at Ngwenya Community School shone with their beautiful stories, while Mwandi Primary School also joined in the celebrations. Finally, Zambezi Sawmills LitClub members celebrated WRAD in style by sharing poems, stories and reading books. Reach All shared that they are so proud of their young boys and girls for confidently embracing the power of reading aloud.
LitWorld Friends Around the Globe
📍🇮🇩 Indonesia: Reading Bugs
In partnership with the National Library, Reading Bugs hosted a Children’s Book Exhibition and workshops focused on reading aloud and children's literature. This exciting four-day event took place in the Children's area of the Indonesia National Library in Jakarta.
📍🇿🇦 South Africa: Nal'ibali
Nal’ibali’s celebrations began with an awareness march by children from various primary schools. The Nal'ibali team, in collaboration with the City of Cape Town, read the special story 'What is that?' by Baeletsi Tsatsi to the children at Red Cross Hospital. Their WRAD celebrations brought together the EC Department of Education, various local libraries, and the AB Xuma Local Municipality to highlight the importance of literacy through collaboration.
In addition, the Nal'ibali-Lebalelo Water Association Literacy Project celebrated WRAD at Mabu Primary School, involving learners from 13 schools in the Sekhukhune district. Nal'ibali continued the festivities the entire month of February, promoting a reading culture in South Africa.
📍🇹🇷 Turkey: Eksi 18 Edebiyat Topluluğu & Çocuklar Kitaplar Ejderhalar
Hundreds of kids across Turkey were reached through a collaboration between Eksi 18 Edebiyat Topluluğu and the podcast team Çocuklar Kitaplar Ejderhalar. Together, they organized numerous face-to-face events in schools and libraries, as well as virtual reading events.
Children enjoyed reading books, watching puppets, drawing, making and wearing masks, listening to songs, playing games, and participating in many other fun activities.
📍🇺🇸 Bronx, NY: Bronx Children’s Museum
The Bronx Children’s Museum celebrated WRAD with a special author event featuring Denise Rosario Adusei, the Museum’s Executive Director. She delighted young readers by sharing her book, Cesaría Feels the Beat — a heartwarming story about a deaf child who experiences the world through rhythm and movement.
Thank You,WRADvocates!
170+ countries have joined in onWorld Read Aloud Day™ celebrations since it’s inception in 2010, and we are overjoyed to see it grow year after year! We’ll be celebrating the spirit of WRAD all year long, so if you’d like to get involved, sign up to be a WRADvocate here so we can keep you updated on what’s to come next. Thank you!
