On Wednesday, the Washington Post, "at the behest of owner Jeff Bezos," cut a third of its workforce with layoffs affecting "every corner of the newsroom," including the Books section. NPR reported that "with the job cuts, the storied newspaper narrows the scope of its ambitions for the foreseeable future. It is a remarkable reversal for a vital pillar of American journalism that had looked to Bezos--one of the wealthiest people on Earth--as a champion and a financial savior."

Calling the move "a strategic reset," executive editor Matt Murray said the Post will shutter its sports desk, while keeping some sports reporters to write feature stories. It will also close its Books section and suspend the podcast Post Reports. The international desk will shrink dramatically. 

The Associated Press noted that the Book World, "a destination for book reviews, literary news and author interviews, has been a dedicated section in its Sunday paper."

The Post Guild, which represents staffers, is planning a rally today outside the paper's headquarters. "These layoffs are not inevitable. A newsroom cannot be hollowed out without consequences for its credibility, its reach and its future," the union said. "If Jeff Bezos is no longer willing to invest in the mission that has defined this paper for generations and serve the millions who depend on Post journalism, the the Post deserves a steward that will."

Ron Charles at the Miami Book Fair in 2018.

The layoffs included Ron Charles, the highly respected longtime book critic for the Post. On his Substack, in a piece headlined "I've Been Laid Off. I'm Not Done," he wrote: "After 20 years at the Washington Post, I’m suddenly on my own--and still writing about books.... Wednesday morning, I learned that my services as a book critic at the Washington Post were no longer needed. My job, along with many others, was eliminated in the paper's latest effort to reinvent itself. How a major national newspaper will carry on without someone on staff to summarize the plots of midlist literary novels is beyond me. But I'll leave that challenge to the august managers who must now carry the Post forward."

Noting that in recent years, "there were plenty of warning signs at the Post that trouble was brewing--departing colleagues, shrinking sections, four horsemen in the heavens--but I vainly imagined I might hang on a few more years.... For book critics, getting laid off is practically a rite of passage--usually the last rite of the final passage.

"Ironically, I received my layoff notice from Human Resources while I was eating one of the two remaining Harry & David pears that the Post sent to celebrate my 20th anniversary at the paper.... In any case, I'm not rich enough or tired enough to retire quite yet. So long as I can flip pages--and publishers send me galleys--I intend to keep nattering on about books, authors and our imperiled literary culture. If you'd like to read along, please subscribe here--my new home."

Bookshop.org is partnering with Draft2Digital to bring self-published e-books to Bookshop.org. A large collection is already available for purchase, with many more to be added. 

"This is a watershed moment for independent bookstores," said Bookshop.org CEO and founder Andy Hunter. "Our mission has always been to help local bookstores thrive in the digital age. Partnering with Draft2Digital means self-published authors, an essential and rapidly growing part of the publishing landscape, can now work with indie bookstores, and they can support each other."

Bookshop.org added its e-book platform in January 2025. Titles purchased through the platform can be read via web browser or through the Apple and Android Bookshop.org apps. So far, it has sold more than 200,000 e-books and generated more than $9.5 million in sales. 

Launched in 2008, Draft2Digital is a digital publishing and distribution platform for independent authors and publishers. The company has generated more than $500 million in retail sales, with $283 million paid directly to authors. Today, Draft2Digital includes more than 300,000 authors and 1.1 million titles. Indie authors and publishers using Draft2Digital can opt-in to having their e-books distributed through Bookshop.org.

"Indie authors publish high-quality books that stand shoulder-to-shoulder with traditionally published works," saidDraft2Digital CEO Kris Austin. "Readers don't care whose logo is on the spine, they care about a great read. All the major e-book retailers carry indie titles because they sell. Our partnership with Bookshop.org ensures independent bookstores can now participate in that success by enabling self-published e-books to become a meaningful and permanent part of their inventory."

---

In other Bookshop.org news, in March or April Spotify will begin linking to Bookshop.org to allow audiobook listeners to buy printed books, much as affiliate partners like the Atlantic, the New York Times, NPR, and others link to Bookshop.org. Spotify users on audiobook pages will be able to choose a bookstore to benefit from their purchase or make a purchase and have the profit shared among all indie bookstores via Bookshop.org's profit pool program.

Kate and Joel Simpson have purchased Curiosity House Books, located at 122 Mill St., Creemore, Ont., Canada, from Rina Barone and Chris Dunk, who had owned the bookstore since 2014. The ownership change became official January 31.

"We are very happy to share that we have found who we feel are the perfect next caretakers of Curiosity House Books, and we are confident that you will feel the same as we do," Barone and Dunk said in a social media post announcing the change. "They are delightful, lovely people, and of course, book lovers--they have been huge supporters and members of the store for many years now. They are so excited to bring their ideas forward, and to shepherd Curiosity House Books into its 32nd year. And we couldn't be more excited for them."

"It has been our great privilege to care for Curiosity House Books for the past 11 years, and to now, be a part of its storied history, our names added to a long list of caretakers, a list that began with Pat and Chris Raible. Books bring people together, and for this, we will always be grateful. We hope you will join us in welcoming Kate and Joel."

In a letter, the new owners said they are thrilled to be taking over the shop, noting: "We moved to Creemore in April 2025 after years of visiting--visits that were usually sparked by the desire to find our next great read at Curiosity House. We're deeply grateful to the people who have made Curiosity House such a special part of Creemore for 31 years, and to the loyal customers who have supported it for decades. We're honored to help carry that legacy forward.

"What will stay the same? The spirit of the shop for sure! The thoughtful curation, the warm welcome, and the deep love of books. We love that all of the staff are passionate readers who have something interesting to say about the books, and what we might read next. We are new to the book business so we'll be learning as we go, but we're very excited for what's ahead. We can't wait to meet you, learn what you love to read, and host events that spark curiosity, conversation, and connection in this remarkable community."

The Simpsons posted on Facebook that they are "at the very start of our story here. The magic you'll eventually see is still taking shape, paragraph by paragraph. But if you're curious (pun intended) to meet the new custodians of Creemore's beloved bookshop, pop in and say hello. Proper grand reopening coming in February. Stay tuned for details on that. This weekend? Think of it as a sneak peek at the dedication page."

Eric Huntley, "who was the co-founder with his wife, Jessica, of the radical publishing house Bogle L'Ouverture, set up in London in 1968 to showcase black writing talent," died January 21, the Guardian reported. He was 96. The venture began on a printing press in their west London living room, and in 1975 became the Bogle L'Ouverture bookshop, "which established itself as a community hub and informal advice center as well as a place to buy books from outside the mainstream."

Authors championed by Bogle L'Ouverture included Linton Kwesi Johnson, Valerie Bloom, Lemn Sissay, Beryl Gilroy, and Donald Hinds. The Huntleys also became involved in creating the International Book Fair of Radical and Third World Books, which ran from 1982 to 1995.

In addition to his work in publishing, Huntley was for many years involved in racial justice campaigns in the U.K. He was a key figure in the Caribbean Education and Community Workers Association and the Black Parents Movement. He was also closely involved in the Black People's Day of Action in 1981.

Born in Georgetown in British Guiana (now Guyana), he married Jessica Carroll in 1950. The Huntleys linked up with Marxist politicians to help form the People's Progressive party in 1950, campaigning for independence, the Guardian noted. The party's election victory in 1953 resulted in the British government declaring a state of emergency and suspending the colony's constitution. In 1954, Eric Huntley was arrested for breaking curfew, and spent a year in Georgetown prison.

Upon his release, he decided to seek a better and safer life in Britain. He left for England in 1957, and was reunited with his wife and two children in 1962. In London, they met Walter Rodney, a young Guyanese political activist, who made a deep impression on them. In 1968, they decided to set up Bogle L'Ouverture (named after two heroes of black resistance, Paul Bogle and Toussaint L'Ouverture) to distribute Rodney's speeches in the U.K. 

Operating out of the Huntleys' home in Ealing, the press published its first title, Rodney's The Groundings with My Brothers, in 1969. Later they released Linton Kwesi Johnson's Dread Beat and Blood (1975), several books by Andrew Salkey, Beryl Gilroy's Black Teacher (1976), and poetry collections by Valerie Bloom, Lemn Sissay, Sam Greenlee, Lucinda Roy, Imruh Bakari, and John Lyons.

The Bogle L'Ouverture bookshop opened in 1975, and was renamed the Walter Rodney bookshop following Rodney's assassination in 1980. Between 1977 and 1979, when support for the National Front was at its height, the shop was the target of numerous racist attacks. Bogle L'Ouverture survived until 1991, with Huntley blaming its decline on rising rents and cuts to grants, the Guardian noted. After the shop closed they moved operations back to their house, where they continued to publish intermittently.

"Eric's advocacy of community causes went on well into his 10th decade," the Guardian wrote, "when he observed that 'the struggle never ends: there is always something to fight for.' " Papers relating to the Huntleys' activism and publishing are now held at the Friends of the Huntley Archives at the London Metropolitan Archives.

This past week, Shelf Awareness sent our monthly pre-order e-blast to more than 929,000 of the country's best book readers. The e-blast went to 929,116 customers of 275 participating independent bookstores.

The mailing features 11 upcoming titles selected by Shelf Awareness editors and a sponsored title. Customers can buy these books via "pre-order" buttons that lead directly to the purchase page for the title on each sending store's website. A key feature is that bookstore partners can easily change title selections to best reflect the tastes of their customers and can customize the mailing with links, images, and promotional copy of their own.

The pre-order e-blasts are sent the last Wednesday of each month; the next will go out on Wednesday, February 25. Stores interested in learning more can visit our program registration page or contact our partner program team via e-mail.

For a sample of the January pre-order e-blast, see this one from Gramercy Books, Bexley, Ohio.

The titles highlighted in the pre-order e-blast were:

Whidbey by Kira T. Madden (Mariner)
Python's Kiss by Louise Erdrich (Harper)
How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay by Jenny Lawson (Penguin Life)
Son of Nobody by Yann Martel (Norton)
Judy Blume: A Life by Mark Oppenheimer (Putnam)
The Keeper by Tana French (Viking)
The News from Dublin by Colm Toibin (Scribner)
Ruins by Lily Brooks-Dalton (Grand Central)
Chain of Ideas by Ibram X. Kendi (One World)
The Stowaway by Griffin McElroy (Choose Your Own Adventure)
Goldfinches by Mary Oliver and Melissa Sweet (Viking Books for Young Readers)

Mary Roach, author of Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy (W.W. Norton), was joined by 16 guests for a private dinner hosted by Book Society in partnership with Litquake in Berkeley, Calif. The gathering offered an opportunity for guests to dine under Book Society's signature sparkling chandelier surrounded by books, and converse with the beloved science writer.

Click here to see the latest Independent Press Top 40, the weekly bestseller list celebrating the bestselling 40 fiction and 40 nonfiction titles from independent publishers, as sold by independent bookstores across the country. The list is sponsored by the Independent Publishers Caucus and the American Booksellers Association.

In Her Defense by Philippa Malicka (‎‎Scribner) is the February pick for Reese's Book Club, which described the book this way: "Philippa Malicka's debut novel dives into two young women's desperate search for belonging, a journey that begs the question: where is the line between healing and harm in relationships? With a sensational celebrity trial, a complex female friendship, and layers of hidden secrets, this book will captivate you until every truth is revealed."

Reese said: "Our February Reese's Book Club pick is here! In Her Defense by Philippa Malicka. Such a good, twisty read."

Brazos Bookstore in Houston, Tex., will host a special event on Valentine Day, February 14. "Grab some flowers and dress up a little--we're going to the Brazos Wedding Chapel! That's right, you could get married (or do your vow renewal) at Houston's oldest bookstore," the bookseller wrote.  

Describing the event as "our version of the Vegas chapels," Brazos said the store will "provide the venue, a judge, a few chairs for witnesses as well as some light bites and great energy. We are taking reservations for the quick time slots--and any unclaimed spots can be filled by walk ups on the day of!... Couples will be responsible for obtaining their marriage licenses, rings, and any personalized bouquets."

Brazos also invited vendors, volunteers, and donors an opportunity to "participate in the day by providing services as an alternate Judge, stand in attendees, have a little one who desperately wants to volunteer as a flower girl, or you would like to help provide small cakes/cupcakes, photography, flowers or other décor--or even something we may not be thinking of."

Ingram's Two Rivers Distribution will provide sales and distribution services for two new client publishers, Three Wishes and the Artist Book Foundation, both effective March 1.

Founded in 2024 with headquarters in Sheffield, U.K., Three Wishes specializes in children's books featuring elevated design, next generation formats, and innovative concepts.

The Artist Book Foundation, North Adams, Mass., publishes books that celebrate the work of contemporary and historical artists. Their titles highlight the creative process and provide insight into the lives and works of artists across disciplines.

Today:
The Jennifer Hudson Show: Victoria Scott-Miller, owner of Liberation Station bookstore, Raleigh, N.C.

Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones) has joined the Season 2 cast of The Institute, MGM+'s series based on Stephen King's novel. Deadline reported that Allen will play Nolan Reeves, an eccentric European tech billionaire and one of the Institute's financial backers with an ambitious agenda of his own. Production is underway.

The second season cast also includes Joe Freeman, Ben Barnes, Mary-Louise Parker, Simone Miller, Fionn Laird, Robert Joy, Arlen So, Jeff Fahey, and Hannah Galway. The Institute is from executive producers King and Jack Bender (Lost, Game of Thrones), who directs; and exec producer and writer Benjamin Cavell (Justified, The Stand). 

Book TV airs on C-Span 2 this weekend from 8 a.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Monday and focuses on political and historical books as well as the book industry. The following are highlights for this coming weekend. For more information, go to Book TV's website.

Saturday, February 7
8 a.m. Marion Orr, author of House of Diggs: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Consequential Black Congressman, Charles C. Diggs Jr. (The University of North Carolina Press, $28.99, 9781469689326). (Re-airs Saturday at 8 p.m.)

9:30 a.m. Bret Baier, author of To Rescue the American Spirit: Teddy Roosevelt and the Birth of a Superpower (Mariner, $32.99, 9780063360754). (Re-airs Saturday at 9:30 p.m.)

2 p.m. John Carter Cash discusses The Complete Johnny Cash: Lyrics from a Lifetime of Songwriting (Voracious, $60, 9780316503549).

Sunday, February 8
8 a.m. Eve M. Kahn, author of Queen of Bohemia Predicts Own Death: Gilded-Age Journalist Zoe Anderson Norris (Empire State Editions, $34.95, 9781531511678). (Re-airs Sunday at 8:20 p.m.)

11 a.m. Max Perry Mueller, author of Wakara's America: The Life and Legacy of a Native Founder of the American West (Basic Books, $35, 9781541602595), at Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, Mass.

12:05 p.m. Bruce Schneier, co-author of Rewiring Democracy: How AI Will Transform Our Politics, Government, and Citizenship (‎The MIT Press, $22.95, 9780262057332).

1:05 p.m. Sam Kass, author of The Last Supper: How to Overcome the Coming Food Crisis (Crown, $30, 9780451494962), at Bold Fork Books in Washington, D.C.

2:10 p.m. Chuck Collins, author of Burned by Billionaires: How Concentrated Wealth and Power Are Ruining Our Lives and Planet (‎The New Press, $27.99, 9781620979099), at Politics & Prose in Washington, D.C.

4:10 p.m. Andrea Nolen, author of Lincoln's Counterfeiters: The Wisconsin Gang that Funded the Union and Started the Chicago Mob (The History Press, $24.99, 9781467157087), at Boswell Book Company in Milwaukee, Wis.

6:10 p.m. Brad Meltzer, author of The Viper (Morrow, $32, 9780062892430).

The winners of the 2025 Porchlight Business Book Awards were revealed at a publishing industry celebration in New York City on January 28. The four winners, one per category, are:

Current Events & Public Affairs: Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI by Karen Hao (Penguin Press) 

Innovation & Creativity: The Storyteller's Advantage: How Powerful Narratives Make Businesses Thrive by Christina Farr (Basic Venture)

Leadership & Management: Reset: How to Change What's Not Working by Dan Heath (Avid Reader Press) 

Personal Development & Human Behavior: Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age by Vauhini Vara(Pantheon Books)  

Additionally, the Jack Covert Award for Contribution to the Business Book Industry was given to Lynn Goldberg & Camille McDuffie, of Goldberg McDuffie Communications.

---

The shortlist has been selected for the 2026 International Prize for Arabic Fiction, which is sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism--Abu Dhabi. All the finalists receive $10,000; the winner, who will be announced April 9, receives an extra $50,000. 

The shortlist:
The Origin of Species by Ahmad Abdulatif (Egypt)
The Absence of Mai by Najwa Barakat (Lebanon)
A Cloud Above My Head by Doaa Ibrahim (Egypt)
The Seer by Diaa Jubaili (Iraq)
I Resist the River's Course by Said Khatibi (Algeria)
Siesta Dream by Amin Zaoui (Algeria) 

Chair of judges Mohamed Elkadhi said, "The shortlist features a diverse range of narratives that delve into the depths of the human psyche, while also exploring current Arab reality and its varied intellectual currents. They journey through time to past eras, reinterpreting them to reveal hidden aspects of evolving Arab identity.

"These novels illustrate the level the Arabic novel has reached, through their openness to contemporary issues and stylistic diversity. Shunning didacticism, they appeal to the evolving tastes of readers who aspire to be partners in the creative process, not merely consumers of texts."

Selected new titles appearing next Tuesday, February 10:

The Last Kings of Hollywood: Coppola, Lucas, Spielberg--And the Battle for the Soul of American Cinema by Paul Fischer (Celadon, $32, 9781250878724) chronicles the intertwining careers of three directors. 

The Chosen and the Damned: Native Americans and the Making of Race in the United States by David J. Silverman (Bloomsbury, $35, 9781635578386) explores Native American and white identity over the course of U.S. history.

End of Days: Ruby Ridge, the Apocalypse, and the Unmaking of America by Chris Jennings (Little, Brown, $30, 9780316381949) investigates the deadly 1992 Ruby Ridge siege and the resulting rise of apocalyptic Christianity in the U.S.

Cross and Sampson by James Patterson and Brian Sitts (Little, Brown, $32, 9780316599849) is the 35th Alex Cross thriller.

Cold Zero by Brad Thor and Ward Larsen (Atria/Emily Bestler, $30, 9781668066379) is a thriller about an airplane carrying advanced technology crashing in the Arctic.

Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman (Ace, $32, 9780593820308) is sci-fi about a space colonist defending his farm against a corporation.

This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman (‎The Dial Press, $29, 9780593447840) is an intergenerational family saga.

Antihero by Gregg Hurwitz (‎Minotaur, $30, 9781250871770) is the 11th Orphan X thriller.

Call Me Moby by Lars Kenseth (Balzer + Bray, $18.99, 9781250408747) is a picture book featuring a sweet white whale who desperately wants to play with a ship full of sailors.

Lulu and the Others by Eliot Schrefer, illus. by AG Ford (Clarion, $19.99, 9780063205376) is a picture book based on the true story of a bonobo raised by a human family then released into the wild. 

Paperbacks:
Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood (Berkley, $15, 9798217192335).

The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekera (Berkley, $18.99, 9798217187539).

Racing Hearts by Ann Adams (‎Dell, $20, 9780593976517).

From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:

Hardcover
Jean: A Novel by Madeleine Dunnigan (W.W. Norton, $29.99, 9781324105640). "Though the story of the 'forbidden love' is not unfamiliar, especially with stories of queer awakenings, a 1970s boarding school for 'troubled boys' felt inventive. This book is an incredible addition to the queer canon and history." --Brady Parkin, The King's English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, Utah

The Hitch by Sara Levine (Roxane Gay Books, $27, 9780802165923). "Sara Levine shows the pain of loneliness, the love of family, and the humor of a corgi's soul entering a woman's nephew. While laughing, readers will get a recipe for cream of tomato soup and a smoky pear margarita. What more could anyone want?" --Nancy Pierce, Bookmiser, Marietta, Ga.

Paperback
Mega Milk: Essays on Family, Fluidity, Whiteness, and Cows by Megan Milks (Feminist Press, $17.95, 9781558613584). "Milks takes on their own last name in this sweeping essay collection that deftly weaves together the dairy industry, white supremacy, and queerness. Mega Milk is thoughtful, vulnerable, and outlandish." --Pauline Hales-Brown, Literary Arts, Portland, Ore.

Ages 3-6
Love Finds a Way by Vern Kousky (Roaring Brook Press, $18.99, 9781250334756). "That grouchy Owl had no chance of hiding from love when he got that guard dog, Brutus! I love it and you will, too." --Leslie Jennings, Brewster Book Store, Brewster, Mass.

Ages 8-12
Gumshoe: A Graphic Novel by Brenna Thummler (HarperAlley, $24.99, 9780063335288). "Willa runs away from home and joins the 'Gumshoe Gang' to help find Two Gum Tilly, the outlaw mail stealer of Arizona. Will they be able to catch Tilly? Read to find out! Perfect for those who are quiet, struggle to make friends, or girls who need to know that they are wonderful just how they are!" --Abby Greaves, Werner Books, Erie, Pa.

Ages 13+
This Is Not a Test: The Definitive Edition by Courtney Summers (Bindery Books, $19.95, 9781967967124). "One of my all-time favorite zombie novels. The best post apocalyptic stories feature character depth along with a horrific scenario. This is the best of all of them and has been one of my favorites since it was published." --Kristian Beverly, Cupboard Maker Books, Enola, Pa.

[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]

Debut author Che Yeun's Tailbone presents a tense, chilling portrait of a teenager's perilous journey into unprepared independence. In 2008, as the global financial crisis hits Seoul, the unnamed 17-year-old narrator is a high school senior unsure she'll graduate with her falling grades. She instead skips classes and roams "the loud, polluted streets of my childhood." Home is made miserable by her abusive father, who only comes home in an alcoholic stupor to berate her mother trapped in eternal subservience.

"I ran away for good in the stinking slop heart of summer. Away from my mother and father, but mostly my mother. She was the only creature I would miss and the only one to miss me." She leaves abruptly, becoming "just another hollow teenager bobbing along the stream of Seoul." Traveling to "one of these ghost neighborhoods" just 15 subways stations away, she enters "an unrecognizable world" where she takes a room in a women-only lodging house advertised on a flimsy billboard.

Her lies--partially aspirational--begin there as she tells the landlady that she's finished high school and is training to be a flight attendant. The older woman, too, tells stories--of better times, of inheriting the building from her parents, of a bygone neighborhood of "some really nice houses" and the "oldest persimmon trees." The current inhabitants of the dilapidated building are unmoored young women, often referred to as a single entity "girls": "what made them all the same" is that they chase dreams of glamour and love while relying on "old desperate idiot men to feed their hunger for pretty things." Juju is the one who stands out, she who "insisted on fake-colored contact lenses no matter how bloodshot her eyes became," as if life is only bearable through a filter. Juju teaches the narrator about taking out questionable loans in a parent's name--"I'd feel better about screwing [my father] over," the teen admits, but Juju insists lenders prefer mothers. Juju reluctantly cares, possibly too much, attempting to protect the teen from devolving into one of the women pulled away by "creeps and cars and nightclubs."

Yeun writes with glaring clarity, exposing a tortuous cycle of twisted hope and bleak reality, exacerbated by a sweeping financial downturn that further threatens the girls' already tenuous existence. Societal--and personal--judgment stifles these girls, already openly commodified, but Yeun hauntingly commits to amplifying their humanity, as they confess uncertainty, fight invisibility, savor fleeting moments of kindness and empathy. --Terry Hong

Shelf Talker: Che Yeun's haunting debut novel, Tailbone, is an aching, raw portrait of an urban teen runaway's unplanned, unprepared independence.

At a time when statistics for reading for pleasure seem to be plummeting worldwide, and the U.K. has declared 2026 a National Year of Reading to help counteract the trend, it seems more important than ever to celebrate ongoing initiatives that promote the act of reading.

Yesterday, February 4, was the 16th annual World Read Aloud Day. LitWorld and Scholastic teamed up to mark this year's theme, "Celebrate Learning," honoring "the impact of reading aloud on knowledge-building, neural pathways, social-emotional growth, critical thinking, and literacy success. WRAD is a global call to action to recognize the read-aloud as a catalyst for connection, growth, and lifelong literacy."

Each year, individuals and organizations participate by hosting read-aloud events in their communities and online. Since its creation in 2010 by LitWorld founder Pam Allyn, WRAD has brought together 90 million participants in more than 170 countries, advocating for literacy as a fundamental human right. WRAD 2026 is sponsored by Scholastic, Outskirts Press, and Chooseco, publishers of the Choose Your Own Adventure series. 

"Reading aloud is a powerful tool for brain-building and connection that sets children up for success," said Allyn. "This year, we invite communities worldwide to remember that even in a world dominated by technology, human connection through reading aloud plays a critical role in children's learning lives."

On WRAD, LitWorld collaborates with schools, libraries, and organizations worldwide to host read-aloud events. Pam Allyn and New York City Public Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels will participate in a read-aloud at an elementary school in Manhattan as part of WRAD. Free virtual author read-alouds will also be available through Scholastic's Storyvoice Live and virtual read-alouds organized by award-winning author Kate Messner.

In a q&a with Scholastic, Allyn was asked for advice regarding parents who feel like they have "lost" reading time once their kids reach the tween years?

"For older children, it's so important to have them really feel engaged with you as a reader so they don't feel you too are simply just telling them to do their homework!" she replied. "Make sure to find wonderful and peaceful times together as readers. Visit bookstores and give them little certificates to buy a book of their choice. Visit the library together and turn it into a special time to be out and about together, with a cup of hot chocolate on the way home. 

"Use reading together as an opportunity to turn off the screens (my favorite piece of advice!). I am concerned about the overuse of screens at this age and the loneliness and alienation that sets in for them. Having print books in the home and rituals you create to read them together changes reading from what could feel like a chore to something special and precious that represents your family.... Let the work of reading feel a little less stressful, and a little more joyous at home."

Some indie booksellers got in on the #WorldReadingAloudDay fun, too, including Dartmouth Book Exchange, Dartmouth, N.S. ("Happy World Read Aloud Day!") and Anthology for Books, Geneseo, Ill., which asked: "What's your favorite book or author to read aloud? Beth finds it hard to choose, but Shel Silverstein is ALWAYS fun for reader and listener alike. To celebrate #WorldReadAloudDay today (as well as Children's Authors and Illustrators Week), tell us the  book(s) you love to speak and/or hear."

A special event featuring authors Bee Johnson, Sharee Miller, Traci N. Todd, and Katie Yamasaki, was held at Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn, N.Y., which noted: "Greenlight is excited to partner with LitWorld and join readers across the globe for World Read Aloud Day! WRAD has evolved into a global movement of millions of readers, writers, and listeners from across the world coming together to honor the joy and power of reading and continue expanding the definition and scope of global literacy. Greenlight will take part by inviting children's book writers from our community to read from their work throughout the day, and inviting schools and other youth organizations (as well as the public) to join us to enjoy their work read aloud!"

Zibby's Bookshop in Santa Monica, Calif., extended an invitation to come into the store "and read a book out loud to someone you love in honor of World Read Aloud Day! We're giving away books, offering 30% off our book fair, and serving cookies! Come in no matter your age and celebrate reading--and the bookstore's 3rd anniversary!" Owner Zibby Owens shared her own top picks for the occasion.

"Today is World Read Aloud Day!" Marsden Books, Wellington, New Zealand, posted. "Here's our Carol with a couple of her fave read alouds. What are yours? Whatever you do today, do read aloud if you can (even if you have big kids who only stare at their screens! Get out their fave old picture books and reminisce)."

Herringbone Bookstore, Redmond, Ore., observed: "Today is World Read Aloud Day! There's something magical about hearing a story come to life, whether it's a favorite childhood book, a new release, or a cozy chapter shared with someone you love. World Read Aloud Day is celebrated each year..., shining a light not just on reading, but on the joy of reading out loud. Long before books ever existed, stories were shared through spoken word, passed from one generation to the next as a way to preserve imagination, wisdom, and connection. Today is a little nod to that tradition, and a celebration of literacy in all its forms. Stop by Herringbone, grab a book, and read out loud... with a kiddo, a friend, a partner... or hey, yourself! Because stories are meant to be shared."