Today marks Nationwide Reading Aloud Day, a nationwide event filled with celebrities visiting daycare centers and schools to read stories to children. This year, several notable figures are taking part, including professional footballer Thomas Müller and actress Sonja Gerhardt. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, various ministers from the state government are participating, such as Social Affairs Minister Stefanie Drese, Justice Minister Jacqueline Bernhardt, and Finance Minister Heiko Geue.
For instance, Drese will be reading "The Big Book of Courage" to young patients on the children's ward at the Helios Clinic in Schwerin. Justice Minister Bernhardt is taking the book "Komm mit auf Vorlesereise" to an elementary school in Wöbbelin (Ludwigslust-Parchim district). Additionally, Finance Minister Geue is sharing stories with fourth-graders at the Neumühler School in Schwerin.
Adults seeking to be read to can also partake in the event. State Integration Commissioner Jana Michael invited 15 refugee women from Ukraine to the Ministry of Social Affairs to read from Jonas Jonasson's global bestseller "The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared," accompanied by homemade cookies and cake. Michael emphasizes that reading aloud can be helpful for learning German and fortifying relationships between people from different countries of origin.
Organizers expect more than one million listeners and readers to participate nationwide, with Adult Education Minister Anja Karliczek potentially engaging children by reading a science-themed book or sharing a renowned science writer's story. Culture Minister Monika Grütters might introduce children to classic German literature, emphasizing the significance of both education and literature in shaping young minds.
The event, a joint initiative of the weekly newspaper "Die Zeit," the Reading Foundation in Mainz, and the Deutsche Bahn Foundation, has celebrated every year since 2004. Globally, World Read Aloud Day is celebrated in more than 170 countries, with millions of readers, writers, and listeners joining the celebration each year, as well as notable figures participating in various locations. For instance, in Rwanda, LitMom Claudine Uwase shares her experiences with read-alouds, while in Colombia, Museo Rayo organizes a "Read Aloud Month" involving the entire community.
Worldreader partners with LitWorld to bring digital reading to underserved families and bring thousands of parents and caregivers to read digital books with their children in the United States. South Africa also celebrates the event, with Provincial Education Minister David Maynier emphasizing the importance of literacy and encouraging widespread participation in reading initiatives. Notable figures such as Kathleen Burkinshaw, Bil Lepp, and Jason Reynolds participate in the celebration, reinforcing the overall impact and reach of the event.
