Story time...It's WRAD...World Read Aloud Day

February 1, 2023 Mistofer Christopher

It’s appparent that tucked between fear and feel, on the top 1000 list, February is one of the most misspelled words in the English language. It joins the elite company of similar words such as cooly, miniscule, process, caught and which.

Today, February 1, on this day in 1865, United States President Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution:

Section 1

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Today on this day February 1, 1884, The first of 10 volumes of the Oxford English Dictionary was published in London.

Today, on this day February 1, 1991, President F.W. de Klerk reiterated his intention to build a “New South African nation” based on equal rights for all and announced that he would repeal all apartheid laws.

Photo by sippakorn yamkasikorn @sippakorn

Today on this day February 1, 1902, Manchu Empress Dowager Cixi (sometimes spelled Tzu Hsi), often called the Dragon Lady of China, outlawed by edict the practice of foot-binding which was a practice over 1,000 years old and affected millions to possibly billions of women.

Today, on this day, February 1, 1790, the first session of the Supreme Court of the United States was held, in the then capital of the United states, New York City. The Supreme Court first assembled on February 1, 1790, in the Exchange Building in New York City, then the Nation’s Capital. The Court ultimately decided the case on procedural grounds, holding that a writ of error (an appeal) must be issued within ten days by the Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States as required by federal statute, and not by a lower court located closer to the plaintiff in Rhode Island.

Photo by James Wainscoat @tumbao1949

Today, on this day, February 2021, Wisdom the albatross, the world's oldest known bird, hatches a chick at 70 at the Midway Atoll national wildlife refuge, North Pacific.

Today, on this day, February 1, 2023, is World Read Aloud Day. Inaugurated in 2010, founded by LitWorld, it is an international advocacy day celebrated by over 170 million people worldwide. This day calls attention to the importance of sharing stories by challenging participants to grab a book, find an audience, and read aloud.

Experts and educators around the world give various reasons for reading aloud.

Why Read Aloud

1. Builds vocabulary

2. Improves Comprehension and Active Listening

3. Reduces Stress and Makes Us Happy

4. Reading Aloud Strengthens Fluency

5. Improve Working Memory

6. Creates warm pleasant memories associated with reading with family, children, and students.

7. Instills a love of words, books, and learning.

Some of my favorite stories that my Dad read aloud to me were:

What next?

To join a read-aloud, visit www.storyvoice.live on February 1 and click “Start Watching”. Follow the prompts to watch on a computer or mobile device, then click on a session card to join a live show.
Start your own storyteller tradition with your friends and family.
Meditate on your own life and find the moments, core memories, and life lessons that define you. Create your own story from your narrative and perhaps use one of these prompts. Next share the story with your family or friends.
Join Scholastic for its events on World Read Aloud Day. See Schedule

My most prized possession…
My greatest challenge…
When I failed at….
The hardest lesson I learned…
Mama said…
My favorite picture book was…
My favorite place when I was a child was…
I remember the first time I….
If I could relive a day in my life it was when…

Photo by Gaia Girl

Today, on World Read Aloud Day, Mistofer Christopher is hosting a giveaway on INSTAGRAM of his children’s book, a signed personalized copy of his book “Talk About The Monster”. The first 3 people to accomplish any of the below will receive a gift sent to you or your child. To enter do one or all of the following:

o Follow @mistofer_christopher on Instagram and tag the post on World Read Aloud Day saying: “Done”.