February 27: National Day of Reading

Did you know there is a National Day of Reading? As a former teacher and lifelong literary enthusiast, I was excited to learn this. My first thought was that every day should be a National Reading Day. But then I did a little research and realized that this annual observance has an interesting back story.

It all started in a small Wisconsin town in 2016. Faculty at an elementary school there planned to read and discuss a children’s book called I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings. It’s a book about a transgender child who knew from age two that she had a girl's brain in a boy's body. The school was introducing the book in an effort to support a six-year-old transgender student.

As you might imagine, not everyone was jazzed about the idea. Before the book was even read, there was already the threat of a lawsuit from an anti-LGBTQ hate group. They insisted that the school must cancel the reading of the book and any discussion about it.

But then the community stepped up. A parent organized a public reading of the book, and hundreds of residents of this small town showed up to offer their support. And these supportive community members started a movement.

Ever since their act of kindness and acceptance, communities across the country have participated in a National Day of Reading. This day is designed for readers to show support for nonbinary and trans youth. 

Would you like to learn more about the National Reading Day and become an advocate? Check out some of these resources:  

• The Human Rights Campaign is a group that advocates for equality for the LGBTQ+ community and asks readers to pledge their support for and affirmation of transgender and non-binary youth in their communities. 

• At Bookshop.org, you can find a curated list of books that build awareness, empathy, and representation of LGBTQ+ youth.

• An organization called Unite Against Book Bans provides a rationale and encouragement for supporting LGBTQ+ youth through representation in books.

Every child is unique and precious, and all children should be able to see themselves represented in the books they read. That representation is the gift of acceptance. We all need acceptance.

Reading builds empathy. Empathy inspires compassion. And compassion makes the world a better place. Pledge to support ALL children with love and acceptance. Be a part of National Reading Day 2026 and spread a little love for both books and children.

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