The 13th annual World Read Aloud Day, founded by global nonprofit LitWorld and calling attention to the importance of sharing stories, arrives on February 2. To mark the occasion, Scholastic and LitWorld are inviting families, educators, and communities to join in the World Read Aloud Day Book Fest, a raft of free virtual events featuring authors and literacy experts, running from January 31 to February 2.

The festivities kick off on January 31 with games and read-aloud videos on Scholastic’s Home Base, a moderated online destination for kids, as well as a sing-along featuring Latin Grammy-winning musicians and authors 123 Andrés (Ten Little Birds/Diez pajaritos), and songwriter, musician, and author Divinity Roxx, (Me + You). Other highlights include a February 1 crown-making craft with author Peter H. Reynolds (Our Table) and a Q&A “I Survived” Trivia session with author Lauren Tarshis on the same day.

Tami Charles, author of All Because You Matter, illustrated by Bryan Collier, is the 2022 World Read Aloud Day Author Ambassador. She will take part in a February 1 panel of literary experts, and Collier’s art is featured on the World Read Aloud Day website.

The festival continues with a full slate of live read-alouds on February 2, and throughout the event parents and caregivers can find additional chats, literacy tutorials and tips, and such resources as activity guides, book lists, and printable bookmarks.