Celebrating Read Across America Day: Fun Activities for All Ages

By Aja McNair

Hello, wonderful people! Welcome to our special Read Across America Day celebration. Today, we're going to have a blast with ten engaging games and activities to revel in the joy of reading. So, grab your favorite book, and let's dive into it!

1. Book Character Dress-Up Relay

Start the festivities with a thrilling relay race where everyone is dressed up as their favorite book character. Gather not only your children but any adults available, and prepare for an exhilarating obstacle course. Use cones, hula hoops, jump ropes—whatever you have on hand—to create a challenging path. The objective is to navigate the course and return, acting in character. The first to complete the race wins and gets to read their book to everyone else. Even if you're homeschooling just one or two children, everyone can still enjoy reading their book at the end. 

2. Storybook Scavenger Hunt

Our next activity celebrates Dr. Seuss with a storybook scavenger hunt. Prepare clues related to popular Dr. Seuss stories and hide them along with the corresponding book around your home or designated area. Children will delight in solving the clues to find the hidden books. For example, a clue like "Ostriches are my favorite O animal" leads to the "Dr. Seuss's ABC" book. If a child needs help, they can read the book to uncover the answer. 

3. Literacy Trivia Challenge

Test your children's knowledge with a lively Literacy Trivia Challenge. Create a list of questions about famous books, authors, and characters—or narrow it down to Dr. Seuss trivia. Divide multiple children into teams to see who can answer the most questions correctly. It's a fun battle of wits, and if you're homeschooling just one child, they’ll have a great time regardless. 

4. DIY Bookmarks Craft Station

Get creative at the DIY bookmark-making station. Provide crafting materials like colorful paper, stickers, and glitter, and let children's imaginations run wild as they design unique bookmarks to use during their reading adventures. Remember the Barney bag? This is your modern-day version!

5. Storybook Charades Game

Bring your favorite stories to life with Storybook Charades. Write book titles on slips of paper, and let children act them out for others to guess. Titles can include Dr. Seuss books or any famous stories. Laughter is guaranteed, and it's a fantastic way to engage everyone. 

6. Book-Themed Pictionary

Test your drawing skills with Book-Themed Pictionary. Write down book titles or character names on paper strips, and take turns with the children drawing them out. For instance, if the paper says "Oh, the Places You’ll Go," you might draw the book’s cover, then let your child guess the title. 

7. I Am Dr. Seuss

In this activity, children can pretend to be Dr. Seuss and participate in a fun interview. Ask them questions like, “What inspired you to write The Foot Book?” or “Who was your favorite character to create?” It's a delightful way for kids to step into the shoes of a beloved author. 

8. I Am the Author

Encourage your kids to become authors themselves. Have them explore various Dr. Seuss books and then create their own rhyming stories. For an added challenge, provide blank books so they can write, illustrate, and bind their unique stories. 

9. Book-Themed Cooking Class

Incorporate a book-themed cooking activity, like making Green Eggs and Ham from "Sam I Am." It's a delicious and entertaining way to end the day, leaving everyone with happy, full bellies! Remember, every day is an adventure waiting in the pages of a good book.

Happy reading, everyone! Let us know in the comments which activities you’ll try with your little ones. See you next time!