D.E.A.R. Drop Everything and Read Month

D.E.A.R. Drop Everything and Read Monthis an event to encourage children’s literacy by encouraging them to read independently and with adults. Initially referred to as D.E.A.R. Day, it was inspired by a passage in a children’s book by American author Beverly Cleary. As the idea caught on, April 12 was designated as D.E.A.R. Day because it was Cleary’s birthday. The event became so popular that it was extended to a month. Some schools use the D.E.A.R. concept as a regular part of their school curriculum. While the idea originated in Cleary’s books that were published in the United States, the concept has since been adopted by schools and libraries in other parts of the world.

Background

The concept behind D.E.A.R. Day and Month grew out of a passage in the second chapter of Cleary’s book Ramona Quimby, Age 8.Published in 1981, the book was the sixth in the Ramona series. Ramona was one of the award-winning author’s most popular characters. In it, Ramona’s teacher, Mrs. Whaley, initiates “Sustained Silent Reading Time.” Ramona, who loves to read, quickly seizes on Drop Everything and Read time as a favorite pastime. She even uses it as a “homework assignment” to get time away from her neighbor Howie’s pesky little sister, Willa Jean.

Cleary was born Beverly Atlee Bunn on April 12, 1916, in McMinnville, Oregon. She and her parents lived on a farm in a town so small it did not have a library. Cleary’s mother arranged to borrow books through a state library and set up a small library in a room above the town’s bank. Clearly initially struggled with reading, but she improved by third grade and spent a great deal of time reading. However, she found the stories in the books were often disappointing because the characters were not children growing up poor in small towns like her.

After she completed a degree in librarianship from the University of Washington, she worked as a children’s librarian in Yakima, Washington. There, she was confronted by a young boy who demanded to know where the books were that were about kids like him. Remembering her own childhood disappointment in the storylines in children’s books, Cleary began making up her own stories. She married, raised two children, and worked in libraries and the children’s department of bookstores. In 1950, she published her first children’s book, Henry Higgins.It became the first of thirty-nine children’s books she wrote before her death in 2021.

Throughout much of her career as an author, Cleary insisted on answering her own fan mail, which included countless letters from children. She said that it helped her understand what was important to children. Some of those children wrote about their own quiet reading time, or D.E.A.R. time, in school. Cleary credited this for her decision to have Ramona have D.E.A.R. time, thereby touching off a legacy of encouraging children to read on their own and with their parents.

Overview

Organized commemorations of Drop Everything and Read day started shortly after the publication of Ramona Quimby, Age 8.April 12 was chosen as the official date for D.E.A.R. and Ramona was the natural choice as the campaign “spokesperson.” A number of organizations became cosponsors, including the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association; First Book; General Federation of Women's Clubs; HarperCollins Children's Books (publishers of the Ramona series); National Education Association (NEA); National Parent Teacher Association (PTA); Newspaper Association of America Foundation; Read Kiddo Read; Reading Rockets; and Walden Media. The nationwide initiative has wide support around one main goal—to encourage children and their parents to set aside all other activities and read together for thirty minutes.

While D.E.A.R. Day remained the focal point of the event, Drop Everything and Read eventually became a month-long focus encouraging children and the grownups in their lives to read, and to read together. In some cases, schools have adopted the idea as an ongoing project. They add D.E.A.R. times where children can read anything that they want for the pleasure of it, without worrying about book reports, vocabulary words, or whether to book fits into the school curriculum. The concept is sometimes known by other names, such as sustained silent reading (SSR) or Million Minutes. Although it began in America where the Ramona books were first published, D.E.A.R. activities can be found in schools and libraries around the world.

During the official D.E.A.R. Day and month celebrations, families, school classes, and other groups are encouraged to read as well as to take part in other activities associated with reading. These can include discussing the stories that have been read and/or retelling the story, making up new related stories, reading other related material, journaling or writing about what has been read, drawing pictures to go with the story, and acting out what has been read. However, the major drive of the event is encouraging children to read books that they like just for the sake of enjoying them.

Proponents support D.E.A.R. because they say reading for at least thirty minutes each day benefits children in many ways. Through reading, they learn things that help them academically such as recognition of letters and words, discerning patterns, increased vocabulary, and an understanding of how written words go together to communicate complex thoughts. They also learn about the world about them and develop skills such as patience and empathy. Reading together with a beloved adult also helps to build and strengthen bonds and promote a sense of security.

Bibliography

“Beverly Cleary.” National Women’s History Museum, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/beverly-cleary. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

Brandt, Amber. “National DEAR Day (Drop Everything and Read).” National Heritage Academies,13 Apr. 2021, www.nhaschools.com/en/blog/parent-room/national-dear-day-drop-everything-and-read. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

“A Daily Experience, A Lifelong Benefit.” Reach Out & Read, 2024, reachoutandread.org/why-we-matter/child-development/. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

“D.E.A.R. Day, April 12th.” Reading Rockets, 2024, www.readingrockets.org/calendar/dear#about. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

Fink, Lisa. “Today is Drop Everything and Read Day!” National Council of Teachers of English, 12 April 2020, ncte.org/blog/2020/04/today-drop-everything-read-day/. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

Poe, Elizabeth. “In the Classroom with Ramona Quimby.” Harper Collins Children, b0f646cfbd7462424f7a-f9758a43fb7c33cc8adda0fd36101899.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/teaching-guides/TG-9780688220150.pdf. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

“Ramona Quimby, Age 8 Summary.” Gradesaver, 2023, www.gradesaver.com/ramona-quimby-age-8/study-guide/summary. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

The World of Beverly Cleary. 2024, www.beverlycleary.com/. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.