More than 5,400 readers read aloud to over 37,000 students across the five boroughs

NEW YORK, New York — On Feb. 4, New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) joined Litworld to celebrate World Read Aloud Day with events across the city.

At P.S. 3 in Manhattan, Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels and Emmy Liss Executive Director, Mayor’s Office of Child Care joined World Read Aloud Day Founder Pam Allyn to lead a lesson on short story writing to a group of third and fourth graders. Chancellor Samuels and Ms. Liss read The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson and Ms. Allyn read What Do You Do with An Idea? by Kobi Yamada, respectively.

“World Read Aloud Day is a powerful reminder that reading is not only a fundamental skill, but also a shared experience that builds confidence, curiosity, and connection,” said New York City Public Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “When adults read aloud to children, we help bring stories to life, strengthen language development, and foster a lifelong love of learning. Across New York City Public Schools, we are committed to creating joyful, literacy-rich environments where every student sees themselves reflected in their books and feels inspired to explore the world through reading.”

“It is only fitting that I read alongside the Chancellor on World Read Aloud Day, which was created right here in a New York City classroom by a third grader who was so inspired by a read-aloud that he believed the entire world should experience its power,” said LitWorld founder Pam Allyn. “New York City Public Schools’ unparalleled commitment to literacy, grounded in research and best practices, continues to demonstrate what is possible when we believe in the power of stories to change children’s lives.”

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Across the city, more than 5,400 volunteers from NYCPS leadership, staff, parent leaders, community members, and partner organizations read over 4,200 books to over 37,000 students, for more than 68,000 minutes of reading aloud. A selection of the schools that participated include:

Brooklyn

Bronx

Manhattan

Staten Island

Queens

Literacy remains a core priority for NYCPS. This past summer, NYCPS announced unprecedented growth in English Language Arts state test score results across all student subgroups, and Chancellor Samuels is committed to continuing this upward trajectory through targeted multi-tiered systems of supports.

Online resources for families

Reading at home is an important way for families to support their children to develop key literacy skills. Resources can be found at schools.nyc.gov/literacy. These resources include: